March 3 Update – Budget letter, Wind, Pipeline fights, divesment

100% Renewables Now NYS
Update – March 3, 2016
www.gelfny.org

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Sign on To Budget Request Letter for Studies on 100% Clean Energy, Carbon tax
NYS Pension Fund Lost $5.3 Billion from DiNapoli’s Refusal to Divest
Thurs. March 3 – Help PCM NY Build Climate Action in NYC
March 9 Mock Trial in NYC on Exxon
Call Gov. Cuomo – Tell him to Stop Pilgrim Pipeline
More Arrests in Algonquin Pipeline Fight
Advocates Deliver Letter to Cuomo Urging Halt to Constitution Pipeline
Community Solar Forum in Syracuse on March 18
Attend LIPA Meeting March 21 to show Support for offshore wind
Climate Change Getting March Worse
Oregon Passes Landmark Climate Legislation – But Some Feel Way too little
Tarrytown Latest School to go Solar
Break Free from Fossil Fuels – Albany, Sat. May 14

Sign on To Budget Request Letter for Studies on 100% Clean Energy, Carbon tax – March 7

In order to help advance the proposals to move to 100% clean energy by 2030 (A7497 / S5527) and a state carbon tax (A8372 / S6037), we have been working with various Assemblymembers to obtain funding in this year’s state budget to help advance the issue.

We urge the Assembly to include in its budget resolution funding for two studies that will assist in the effort to address climate change:

– funding requested by Assemblymember Colton for Cornell University to do a study of how New York State could move to 100% clean, renewable energy as quickly as possible (e.g., 2030). The proposed funding is $200,000 a year for three years;

– $50,000 in funding requested by Assemblymember Cahill to conduct a study on a carbon tax for New York State.

You can find a copy of the letter and the sign on form here. We are looking for 50 organizations. The one-house budget resolutions must be passed by April 14. If the budget funding proposals are not in the one house bills, then they would not be in the final budget that both houses are supposed to pass by April 1. Assemblymembers Colton and Cahill have already sent formal requests to the Speaker of the Assembly asking for the funding allocation. We will send our letter by Mon. March 7.

While we are primarily looking for organizations, we will take individuals as well. Organizational sign ons should be approved by the organization (e.g., don’t just list organizations you are a member of). Please provide us with your name, organization (if any) and your email address and city. You can send the information to dunleamark@aol.com or fill out a form

 

NYS Pension Fund Lost $5.3 Billion from DiNapoli’s Refusal to Divest from Fossil Fuels

There was a full house on Feb. 29 at the legislative forum in Albany on fossil fuel divestment by Sen. Krueger and As. Ortiz. Advocates then did several dozen meetings with legislators around divestment and 100% clean renewable energy. Bill McKibben skyped in his testimony. Here is 350NYC’s testimony.

The refusal of State Comptroller Tom DiNapoli to divest pension from fossil fuels cost $5 billion over last 3 years. Instead he focuses on trying to pass shareholder resolutions to require Exxon to study climate risk – while the state Attorney General investigates Exxon for lying to the world about climate risk.

 

Thurs. March 3 – Help PCM NY Build Climate Action in NYC

Are you ready to roll up your sleeves and dig into the work the People’s Climate Movement NY is planning for the next few months?  Thursday, March 3rd. Launch of the PCM-NY’s Spring Calendar, 6 pm to 8:30 pm at DC 37 AFSCME 125 Barclay Street, entrance on Murray St. just east of West St.

This important meeting will be all about moving forward on work already in motion and putting things in place for several new initiatives. Most of the time at the meeting will be in small groups to go deep into the planning process. These efforts are all part of our ongoing campaign calling for NYC to commit to the ambitious but much needed goal of 100% renewable energy by 2030:

  • a city-wide effort to keep the pressure on Mayor de Blasio as we also strengthen our legislative committee focused on the City Council and NY State Legislature
  • expand our support for struggles to stop fossil fuel infrastructure
  • plan for creative action around the April 22nd signing of the Paris Climate Agreement at the UN
  • put together a direct action group to help train people for non-violent civil disobedience
  • develop new ways to keep people aware of the urgency of the climate crisis, such as a periodic report on how NYC is doing on cutting greenhouse gas emissions

March 9 Mock Trial in NYC on Exxon

4 PM – 7 PM, Union Theological seminary, 3041 Broadway, NYC-Rm. AD 304

Since 1977, Exxon knew from its own scientists that warming from CO2 could eventually endanger humanity. Instead of acting to protect the planet, Exxon hid the findings and mounted a massive campaign of denial and disinformation for profit-motives. The looming climate crisis could have been avoided had the fossil fuel industry acted ethically and in accordance with science some 40 years ago.

NY Attorney General Schneiderman and others have opened investigations into Exxon’s deceit of the public and its investors.  Witnessing to the devastating impacts of climate change will be UTS International & US students, First Nations voices, and local organizations. Assisting our judgment with evidence and remedies: Mark Dunlea- Green Education & Legal Fund; Resist AIM-Spectra Pipeline; Dave Anderson- Union of Concerned Scientists

350NYC and others will hold a climate change Exxon event on April 1 – April Fuels Day.

 

Call Gov. Cuomo – Tell him to Stop Pilgrim Pipeline

Ultimate authority over the Pilgrim Pipelines rests with Governor Cuomo. He has the power to cut through the red tape and kill this project right now by denying Pilgrim the access it needs to our Thruway’s right-of-way.

Please join us by calling the Governor’s office at 518-474-8390 and tell him to Stop the Pilgrim Pipelines!

 

Pilgrim Pipeline Holdings has proposed building two parallel pipelines connecting oil terminals in Albany, New York to a refinery in Linden, New Jersey. Bakken shale oil would be sent south; refined products (including kerosene) would be sent north. Their proposed route crosses 5 counties and 30 municipalities in NJ and 5 counties and 25 municipalities in NY.

 

More Arrests in Algonquin Pipeline Fight

 

Eleven people were arrested in Verplanck, where they blocked two entrances to Spectra Energy’s work areas for the Algonquin natural gas pipeline project, state police said. The protesters’ latest anti-pipeline efforts were made on the same day that Gov. Andrew Cuomo called for the federal government to halt construction of the Algonquin Incremental Market project, which carries natural gas from Pennsylvania to New England. http://www.lohud.com/story/news/local/westchester/2016/02/29/algonquin-pipeline-protesters-arrested/81104696/

 

Indian Point and pipeline opponents held a vigil at Cuomo’s home.

 

Advocates Deliver Letter to Cuomo Urging Halt to Constitution Pipeline

 

http://www.frackaction.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/Governor-Cuomo-Letter-on-Constitution-Pipeline.pdf

 

We, the undersigned individuals, community groups and organizations, respectfully urge you to protect the people, water and environment of New York by directing our state’s Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) to immediately reject the 401 Water Quality Certificate for the proposed Constitution Pipeline. We ask you to continue with this forward-thinking leadership by stopping the Constitution Pipeline, which threatens to disrupt more than 1,800 acres of farmland and forests, crossing multiple drinking-water sources, three watersheds and more than 250 waterways in central New York. If allowed, this pipeline would clear-cut more than 700,000 trees in a region of our state that has suffered three 100-year floods in the past decade, devastating businesses and costing the state millions in cleanup and recovery efforts

 

Megan Holleran lost the latest round of her long-running battle with the natural gas industry on Tuesday when men with chain saws began to fell trees on her family’s property to make way for an interstate pipeline. Story

Community Solar Forum in Syracuse on March 18

The Energy Democracy Alliance is partnering with the Central New York Regional Planning and Development Board to put on a Community Solar Forum on March 18 in Syracuse. Community solar (also known as shared solar) is a way to develop large shared arrays that benefit many people. They allow renters and anyone who doesn’t have a suitable roof for solar to invest in or subscribe to a shared project and receive the credits for the solar generation on their own utility bill.

We will hear from community organizations in the process of developing shared solar projects to benefit their neighborhoods and constituencies. Then we will hear from experts on the national context and New York State shared solar policy to get you up to speed on what’s allowed in New York and what state resources are available to help develop projects. Experts who have helped launch community solar projects in New York and other states will follow, to discuss community solar project design and different ownership models, including cooperative ownership, that will work in New York.

Registration link: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/community-solar-forum-tickets-21305755087

Attend LIPA Meeting March 21 to show Support for offshore wind

 

(From Sierra Club). Right off the coast of Long Island–from the Rockaways to Montauk–lies one of the biggest untapped renewable energy resources in the country: offshore wind. The wind off our shores could power millions of homes and create thousands of jobs, making New York into an undisputed leader in the transition to clean energy.
LIPA wants to bring more power to the South Fork of Long Island, and they’re trying to decide whether to supply it with dirty new gas peaker plants, or with affordable, job-creating offshore wind energy. It’s up to us to make sure the Governor and LIPA choose renewables over fossil fuels, for the sake of the climate and the economy! The March 21st LIPA board meeting will be the last chance to weigh in before a decision is made, and they’re inviting the public to testify.

We’ll be providing transport for New Yorkers out to the meeting so that we can stand alongside Long Islanders in demanding offshore wind, not new fossil fuel power plants.

RSVP HERE to join us, and we’ll follow up with more details as the date gets closer.
Where: 333 Earle Ovington Blvd. 4th Floor, Uniondale, NY
When: Monday March 21st, 11am

(Transportation provided from Manhattan)

 

Offshore Wind Picking up Speed in the US

 

Business leaders and politicians who gathered for an industry conference in Boston said wealthy investment firms and seasoned European offshore wind companies are increasingly committing to projects along the East Coast. That is evidence a domestic industry dreamed about for nearly two decades is finally on its way. http://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/news/2016/mar/02/offshore-wind-projects-in-us-see-renewed-interest/

 

Climate Change Getting March Worse

 

Atmospheric carbon dioxide, in early February, reached a level not seen on the planet in the last 15 million years. In January, the Arctic averaged a stunning 13.5 degrees Fahrenheit above average temperatures, which led to a new record low of Arctic sea ice extent for the month. Global water scarcity is a far, far greater problem than many had previously thought: It is already affecting 4 billion people – two-thirds of the world’s population Full Story.

 

Oregon Passes Landmark Climate Legislation – But Some Feel Way too little

 

“Oregon lawmakers on Wednesday gave final approval to pioneering legislation that will eliminate coal from the state’s energy supply by 2030 and provide half of customers’ power with renewable sources by 2040. http://wapo.st/21EJfN7 Some local climate activists however said it is time to stop pushing incremental reforms that are totally inadequate to halt climate change and instead focus on more aggressive demands for real change. http://www.climatedisobedience.org/oregon_leaders

 

Tarrytown Latest School to go Solar

 

More than 300 schools have signed up for the state’s K solar program. Tarrytown is the latest.

 

Break Free from Fossil Fuels – Albany, Sat. May 14

 

From 7–15 May, 2016 350.org and other climate change groups are mobilizing to keep fossil fuels in the ground and accelerate a just transition to 100% renewable energy and a sustainable future for all. Disruptive actions – including nonviolent civil disobedience – are being planned at locations all over the world.

 

In NY, the events will be in Albany on Saturday May 14, targeting the oil bomb trains that come into Albany. Buses will be organized from around the northeast, including NYC.