NYS Senate District 53

Incumbent Rachel May is running against Sam Rodgers for the NYS Senate. Sam Rodgers has not responded at this time. Rachel May’s answers are below.

Climate Action Survey Questions	Rachel May (Dem)
Do you agree that there is a nearly unanimous agreement among scientists studying climate that burning fossil fuels is the primary cause of global warming leading to the climate crisis? Do you accept that scientific conclusion?	Yes on both counts
Do you believe that climate change is already adversely affecting your district? Please give examples of such effects.	We have seen flooding from extreme weather events, heat waves, droughts affecting farmers, and much more. The City of Syracuse even spends more on collecting leaves and yard debris much later into the fall.
What priority would you assign to climate change matters?	I have worked on climate issues for years and place this very high on my list.
Do you support a carbon tax? Please explain.	I do. It has the twin benefits of sending a message to consumers of energy that the cost is higher than they thought and of raising funds to implement efficiency and energy alternatives.
If so how would you use the money raised? If not, how would you allow the market to reflect the impacts of burning fossil fuels?	Start with climate justice – efficiency, green energy, and jobs efforts targeted at the communities most affected by climate change, and job training and transitional support for workers displaced by the shift away form fossil fuels. Fund carbon sinks like forestation and carbon farming efforts. Fund transportation alternatives like bus rapid transit and high speed rail.
Do you support building more nuclear plants? Please explain.	No. I think we should phase nuclear energy out as renewable energy alternatives become more feasible.
Would you support rejoining the Paris Climate Accord?	Yes
Would you support measures to immediately reduce the release of methane a very potent greenhouse gas from drilling, pumping and refining sites throughout the state?	Yes. I have sponsored legislation to require environmental review for drilling on public lands.
Do you support incentives for renewable energy development?	Yes, but this should mostly be done at the federal level
Do you support a changeover to electric vehicles? If so how would you do so?	Yes. We need to get away from internal combustion as quickly as possible. There should be a buy-back program for the most energy inefficient vehicles. I think plug-in hybrids are an excellent “bridge” vehicle until we have the infrastructure and the cultural shift to all-electric.
New York State has enacted one of the most ambitious climate changes laws in the nation, the Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act. How would you support its implementation?	We need to fund it! The carbon tax and an environmental bond fund are two prongs of that. We also need close oversight of the Climate Action Council to make sure they are carrying out their mandate.
Energy Conservation through efficiency standards and building codes is essential to lower greenhouse gas emissions. How would you support these efforts?	I think all local codes should include targets for net zero building. We also need robust funding for retrofitting buildings for energy efficiency. White roofs, green roofs, and rooftop solar should be standard as well.
If elected, what steps would you support to address global warming at the state level?	I’ve been very involved in the CLCPA and additional efforts like closing the hazardous waste loophole for fracking waste coming into the state. We need a forest management plan, carbon farming, and an efficient transportation plan including high-speed rail.
Would you support banning fracking for oil and natural gas in NYS?	Yes.
Would you support divestment from the fossil fuel industry by the State Pension Fund?	I do support this, though ideally it will come from the Comptroller, not the legislature. I believe that is happening, because fossil fuels are an increasingly bad investment.