In a major win for climate activists, New York State becomes the first state to ban natural gasand other fossil fuels in most new buildings. The law bans gas-powered stoves, furnaces and propane heating and effectively encourages the use of climate-friendly appliances such as heat pumps and induction in most residential buildings across the state. It requires all-electric heating and cooking in new buildings under seven stories by 2026 and for taller buildings by 2029.
The state’s budget doesn’t ban gas in all new buildings -there are exceptions for large commercial and industrial buildings like stores, hospitals, laundromats and restaurant, for instance. But the impact of new residential buildings could be significant. Buildings account for 32% of New York State’s planet-warming emissions, according to a 2022 report.
Image from unsplash.com
While New York is the first state to pass such a law, other cities have led the way. In 2019, Berkeley became the first U.S. city to pass a code banning natural gas hookups in new buildings. Other cities, including San Francisco in 2020 and New York City in 2021, followed suit
But other municipalities looking to take similar action have not been as successful.More than a dozen states having GOP-controlled legislatures have passed so-called “preemption laws” that prohibit cities from banning natural gas.
Hochul Spokesperson Katy Zielinski said the new budget “will protect our families and our residents, while putting New York on a trajectory to a cleaner, healthier future.”
The mandate is aimed at helping New York meet its greenhouse gas emission reduction targets. It would not affect existing buildings.
Sharing Our Climate Concerns in May: School Budget VoteLooms
Submitted by Jan Kublick, CCAA Member
Image from unsplash.com
School board elections are coming up on May 16th. If you can, find out what the candidates’ positions are on electric school buses and climate sustainability plans for the district. These are examples of important issues decided at the local level by people in your community, people whom you can easily contact, people who will listen to your concerns.
Governor Hochul’s budget proposal was announced late last week. It did not contain a proposal to weaken the State’s climate law despite furious lobbying by the fossil fuel industry, specifically to lessen restrictions on natural gas. New York, along with Maryland are alone among the states in the focus on restricting the use of natural gas, since its drilling, storage, shipping, delivery in tanks and pipes, and use releases methane, a much more damaging greenhouse gas than carbon dioxide. The industries, businesses and even publicly regulated utilities which are warning about higher prices simply want to put off the inevitable as long as they can to make as much money as possible in the short run. It is and has been the strategy of the major oil companies: to delay action on climate change for as long as possible.
New York’s commitment to a green renewable economy is a commitment to the future. To a new economy and the jobs that it brings with it. The fossil fuel industry cannot afford to have New York succeed in creating new jobs, a healthier environment and lowering energy costs. The stakes are too high for us to let them succeed.
CCAA encourages everyone to consider the sources and vested interests of those claiming that it will be too expensive, too disruptive, that it needs to move more slowly. Look instead at the jobs being created, the lives made better and more affordable, the air cleaner, and public health improved.
Just because climate advocates, and NYRenews in particular, were successful in pushing back on proposals to weaken the Climate Act, those proposals have not gone away, and will resurface at the end of the Session. Expect more scare tactics, and more lobbying behind the scene to protect fossil fuel interests to protect the status quo. Please share your opposition to weakening the Climate Act with your state legislators. It is how you can share your climate concerns.
The Benefits of Plastic Bag Bans
Submitted by Kim Cameron, CCAA Secretary
Image from unsplash.com
During Earth Month (April), I picked a roadside area that is going to be “mine”.I just decided to take this responsibility to pick up all the trash along a 2-mile stretch of state roadwaynear the northern edge of Cortland County.Why?Because this is where I live and I hate driving by and seeing all the plastic pollution in my neighborhood.Millions of others have made similar decisions, so this is no great feat.
From what I can tell no one has touched this area for a long time.The clues:Styrofoam cups half buried in the dirt (no new styrofoam because styrofoam was banned on January 1st, 2022), plastic bags that disintegrate into tiny fragments when I uncover them, plastic bottles flattened by the NY State lawn mower.
One of my favorite pastimes is to think about how that piece of trash (most of which is plastic) arrived at its destination.Did that bag of fertilizer blow out of a garbage truck?Who was that person who threw their cigarette butt out the window?Why would you chuck a McDonald’s wrapper out the window?
The little tiny bottles of alcohol really get my imagination going – I find them everywhere.I imagine someone driving along late at night, taking a big swig of alcohol, putting their window down (does it roll or is it electric?), and flinging that bottle as far as they can.Their way of hiding their sorrows from themselves and the world.
What’s missing in my trash pickup?Plastic bags for starters.Yes, there are plastic bags buried in the dirt.They have been there so long they literally disintegrate when I try to dig them up.But, new bags?Mercifully, they are almost nowhere to be seen.I am so thrilled. While I haven’t ever seen any statistics showing that our New York plastic bag ban actually works to reduce single-use plastic, I have observations of my own.
Our ban went into effect on March 1, 2020.Recently, my husband and I drove to Maryland.As our car announced the state border as we crossed (“Welcome to Pennsylvania” in a lovely but somewhat creepy female voice) we were met with an onslaught of plastic bags along the side of the road.“Wow!Look at all those bags!”.“Boy, am I glad we live in New York!”
While I don’t have statistical info about how well our New York State bag ban works, Philadelphia has done a great job providing statistical info!It estimated that 1 billion (yes, that is billion with a “b”) single-use disposable plastic bags were being used annually, so they banned retail establishments from distributing single-use plastic bags on July 1st, 2021.
The results have been astonishing.“Prior to the ban, 64% of shoppers used at least one plastic bag when shopping at sample grocery stores in the city. This proportion dropped to only 4.1% of shoppers after October 1st 2021. This decrease was offset by an increase in the usage of paper and reusable bags. The percentage of shoppers who used paper bags nearly tripled from 17.7% to 45.5%, and the usage of reusable bags almost doubled from 21.8% to 41.7%.” (Check this out here:)These numbers are impressive!I wish I had had such clear statistical data when I was a research scientist!
Do plastic bag bans work?You bet they do!Let anyone and everyone know how well they work!Feel free to shout it from the mountain tops!
And, if you go visit another state that does not have a plastic bag ban, think about sending one of their legislators this article or even just the link to the Philadelphia report along with a picture showing all their plastic bags by the roadside.
My Journey To and With Electric Vehicles
By Greg Tyler, Professor Emeritus – Morrisville State College
Photo by Greg Tyler
I guess my journey towards electric vehicles (EVs) started with my father. By helping him maintain and repair the family cars I became somewhat of a “car guy.” To me, that meant understanding the value of a car and the importance of taking good care of it. I also inherited his frugality and DIY approach. That frugality led me to seek out vehicles with better than average fuel economy resulting in owning a number of vehicles that were a bit tight for my 6′ 5″ height.
I attended college in the 1970’s, the decade that started with the first Earth Day celebrations. So, I was also aware of environmental issues and tried to do what I could to conserve and reduce waste.
More recently when I became aware of electric vehicles it was actually the low cost of operation that attracted me, not the environmental advantages. The fuel economy alone made EVs a clear winner over gas powered vehicles. I also liked the simplicity and efficiency of an EV. It had so many fewer moving parts to break down. With little advanced knowledge about EVs I was ready to dive in. Unfortunately, at that time, production EVs were all but non-existent and used EVs from the early 90s where expensive. My only real choices were to do a conversion or buy a converted EV.
My first EV was a 1993 Ford Escort that was converted to an EV when new. I bought it in 2009 without many of the key components, including the 18 six-volt lead/acid batteries that powered it. You can learn more about this vehicle here. After fixing that up and using it for a few years I moved on to production EVs starting with a 2012 Nissan Leaf then later a 2019 Chevy Bolt and a Chrysler Pacifica Plug-in Hybrid EV. I am now driving a 2023 Chevy Bolt EV.
While all these vehicles confirmed that EVs are much more economical to fuel, I found they are also much less expensive to maintain since they have simpler designs without oil to change, exhaust systems to maintain and other costs associated with a gasoline only powered vehicle. Another big, if less important, benefit is that they are really fun to drive with instant power, smooth response, and great handling.
Initially, environmental issues were not a factor for me in buying an EV. However, over time, given the obvious and increasingly dire situation we’ve created on this Earth, I’ve come to appreciate most of all the environmental advantages of EVs. While they are not the one and only answer to reducing pollution that contribute to climate change, EVs can be a big part of the solution.
If you want to break the gas habit, go induction. It’s better for your health, better for the environment and a great cooking experience. Not a week goes by without an article crossing my desk on the negative health impacts of cooking with natural gas. Asthma in particular is connected to nitrous oxide, a byproduct of cooking with natural gas. Homes with gas stoves have nitrogen dioxide concentration 50 – 400% higherthan homes with electric stoves. Exposure to nitrogen dioxide, even in the short term and at low levels, can aggravate respiratory diseases such as asthma.
My wife loves our gas stove and isn’t ready for an all induction stove. I must admit I am also used to cooking with gas.This past Christmas I thought I would dip my little toe into the “induction waters” and bought an induction hotplate. The cost was approximately $100.
Photo by Peter Wirth
I love it! It cooks fast and even, much faster than our gas stove and even better, no greenhouse or other polluting gases. I use it often. Another benefit is every time I use the hotplate it reminds me that I am helping the next generation by reducing our greenhouse gases. A win – win situation!
Go toPBS Nova specialfor a 3 minute PBS Nova special on induction cooking.
Fayetteville: A Climate Smart Community
By Mark Matt, Village of Fayetteville Trustee
Photo by Cheryl Matt
The Village of Fayetteville was designated as a Climate Smart Community in 2018. Over the past year, I partnered with the Village Clerk, other Village departments, members of the committee, DEC, and NYSERDA to document achievements already completed by the Village to earn us “points” towards the designation. We also accomplished additional projects this past year to earn the distinction as a Bronze Certified Climate Smart Community for 2023. Here are some of the Village accomplishments we attained this year.
We conducted two greenhouse gas inventories in the Village, one of government operations, and one of community use, and followed up with a climate action plan to track and reduce emissions. We replaced existing street and decorative lights with energy efficient LED lights. We had our codes officer complete energy code enforcement training programs for residential and commercial. We also encouraged residents to sign up for participation in a renewable energy program through a solar energy company.
Earning the Bronze Level Climate Smart Designation is noteworthy. Only two communities were designated Bronze in Onondaga County by the NYS DEC for 2023, making Fayetteville one of only three in Onondaga County to date.
“Taking local action to combat climate change.” Our next goal is to attain the Silver Level. We have already started work on that. We purchased a plug-in hybrid vehicle for our codes officer and we have replaced additional lights in the Village with LED lights. We are initiating a pilot curbside pickup residential kitchen composting program that will complement the current programs we already have of recycling and composting leaves, yard waste, and construction debris. Our Village of Fayetteville has also completed a Village Comprehensive Plan that includes segments pertaining to sustainability.
Meet Our New Intern
Photo by Marie Stewart, taken at Mount Monadnock, NH
Welcome to our energetic, newly recruited intern, Marie Stewart, a 2023 graduate of LeMoyne College with degrees in biology and Environmental Science Systems. A native of Massachusetts, she plans to continue her studies at LeMoyne while working with us, where she will be starting a year-long MBA program with a focus on Leadership. She is looking forward to incorporating her passion for biology, specifically urban ecology, into the business world. Some of the research she was involved in centered around the implications roadway disturbance has on migrating and breeding bird communities and she will be sharing the results at the International Urban Wildlife Conference in June.
When asked about her thoughts on climate change, she responded: “I am cautiously optimistic about our future . I feel as though there is a lot of great work being done, but we can always do more as individuals, organizations, and as a nation. I am particularly interested in the biodiversity crisis at hand, and how the anthropogenic effects we cause can be remediated. Above all, though, I am interested in the climate because I want to experience a world that I feel like a friend to, not just an acquaintance to. And I firmly believe that friends take care of each other.”
It’s obvious that Marie will certainly be an integral part of our team! We are so pleased and so lucky to have her aboard!
May 16, 2023: School Budget Vote
Time to take action and weigh in on your school district’s planning for the future. Support budgets and candidates which are thinking green, and making plans for electric school buses and ways to minimize the district’s carbon footprint.
May 17, 2023Climate Action Plan Open House
301 Brooklea Dr., Fayetteville
5:30 p.m. – 7:00 p.m.
Calling all Town of Manlius constituents! The Town of Manlius has drafted a Climate Action Plan and needs your feedback. A Climate Action Plan is a strategy document that helps set goals and outlines initiatives to help reduce greenhouse gas emissions. We want to hear your feedback on the current draft, which can be located online at https://www.townofmanlius.org/243/Sustainable-Manlius, or a hard copy is available to view at the Town Hall. The primary audience for the Climate Action Plan is Town of Manlius residents, but those located in the village of Manlius, Minoa, and Fayetteville and/or those that work or go to school in the town of Manlius are also encouraged to review the draft and provide feedback.
Pleaseuse this formto provide feedback on the draft CAP electronically, or visit us at the Climate Action Plan Open House on Wednesday, May 17 from 5-6:30pm at the Manlius Town Hall to submit feedback in person.
Thank you for your participation! If you have any questions, please reach out to Amanda Mazzoni at amazzoni@cnyrpdb.org.
September 20 – 22, 2023NYS Association of Conservation Committees Conference. Registration is FREE. This is a great way to engage in local, state, regional, and national happenings. Use this LINK.
§Can the U.S. reach Net-Zero Carbon Emissions by 2050 and avoid the biggest impact of climate change? Experts say it can be done. Here’s the technology that can get us there: PBS NOVA (CHASING CARBON ZERO – 55 minutes).
§The Sierra Club wants you to know that plastic straws and climate change have a lot in common. Read about it HERE.
§Earth Fest 2023 was a tremendous success! Area residents were treated to the EV car show with 30+ vehicles, dozens of organizations tabling, live music, activities for children, a raffle with more than $500 in prizes, an electric bus and more! And a select group was treated to a ride on an electric school bus.
Electric school bus photo provided by Alice Massa
Party in the Planet photo by Sonia Kragh
Pompey Earth Day celebration photo by Peter Wirth
Earth Fest 2023, Fayetteville photo by Rena Tretler
Attend the next Monthly CCAA Meeting When: Tuesday, June 13, 6:00 p.m. Each month, CCAA invites you to join us, in-person or over Zoom. Come meet people who are committed to working towards fossil-free communities. The meetings are held on the second Tuesday of every month, 6:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. The room opens at 5:45 p.m. for socializing.
GreeningUSA Newsletter To subscribe to a comprehensive list of climate change and sustainability events, and to publicize an event you are organizing, email GreeningUSA: info@GreeningUSA.org.
Feel like saving the world? Why not donate a few dollars to CCAA? Maybe it won’t be quite enough to save the whole planet, but it will help keep us going, and that’s the next best thing! We appreciate your support.
CCAA Internships and Other Volunteering Opportunities If you are interested in volunteering with CCAA in any capacity, please contact us at newsletter@climatechange-action.com or call 315-308-0846. Don’t worry about your skill level. We are all learning. We need people who can:
Within NY Renews, the Youth Committee is a space mostly for high school and college age individuals. We’re moving towards bi-weekly trainings followed by community organizing to support our campaigns. Joining the youth committee is a great opportunity to level up your organizing, learn about campaigning, and get involved in the climate justice movement.
We meet every other week with additional time on projects for those interested. If you are interested, please fill out the sign-up form so we can get more info about your interests and experiences (it’s not competitive). We would love to hear from you!
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