Environmentalists Lobby Albany for Action on Electrification, Renewable Heat Measures in New York’s Building Regulation
Share Your Climate Concerns, Part 2
The Potential of Algal Biofuels
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Environmentalists Lobby Albany for Action on Electrification, Renewable Heat Measures in New York’s Building Regulations
By WAER General Manager Chris A. Bolt
How far could New York State move toward widespread electrification to reduce fossil fuel use? A number of environmental groups are pushing for the passage of several bills that take steps toward the state’s climate crisis goals.
Renewable Heat Now is a campaign by more than a dozen groups to help adopt more ground-source and air-source heat pumps across the state. One of the bills backed by the campaign, the Fossil-Free Heating Tax Credit and Sales Tax Exemption, would give tax incentives to those installing heat pumps for heating and cooling. The group also believes it can have the added result of growing manufacturing and workforce of heat pumps in New York.
Another measure backed by the group is the All-Electric Building Act that would require all new construction to utilize all-electric heating for both spaces and for water. It would set as a deadline December of 2023, after which building permits using fossil fuel systems could not be issued.
Zachary Fink, owner of ZBF Geothermal, has built ground-source heat systems in New York City, Long Island and elsewhere, around and under both high-rise apartment buildings and smaller structures. He not only believes the technology has advanced to be ready for widespread utilization, but also sees cost advantages, even in large apartment buildings, including affordable housing.
Fink worked with a builder to compare structures with geothermal vs. conventional systems.
“The tenants living in these buildings have lower noise,” Fink explained. “…and the geothermal building had a 67% cost reduction for heating and cooling for the tenants. For affordable housing, that’s huge impact on their monthly budgets. …Geothermal and air-source heat pumps can be implemented anywhere. And every building we build with fossil fuels now is one building tougher to convert later.”
A related measure, the Advanced Building, Appliance and Equipment Standards Act, would ask New York’s Codes Council to incorporate greenhouse gas emissions reductions standards into building codes. It would also require updated efficiency standards for home appliances that Renewable Heat Now suggests would lower both energy usage and utility bills for customers.
The final bill in the package backed by the groups is the Gas Transition and Affordable Energy Act. It would require the Public Service Commission to come up with an orderly and equitable way to transition off of gas and toward renewable ways to heat homes, cook and heat water.
“This comes at a really critical moment in the climate crisis and the state’s ability to meet our critical climate law that calls for society to move off of fossil fuels as rapidly as possible,” said Liz Moran of EarthJustice.
There’s widespread thought among renewable energy advocates that New York will not meet the climate crisis and energy transition goals laid out in the Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act (CLCPA) without specific building requirements and codes changes.
“This can take place across New York State and it’s already happening. So we just need the policies in place … to meet the state’s climate goals,” said Moran.
Action is happening at the federal level as well. In mid-March almost 100 House Democrats sent a letter to President Joe Biden to restart negotiations on the climate portions of the Build Back Better legislation. The group, representing progressives and centrists, say they have a ‘science-affirming’ majority in Congress and have a mandate to take action on climate, especially in the wake of increasingly dire reports on climate change.
The Renewable Heat Now campaign believes such action can happen during this legislative session in Albany.
“Relying on dirty fossil fuels to heat our homes and cook our food leads to startlingly high indoor air pollution. There’s an opportunity to ensure that neighborhoods that are hit first and worst with this pollution see all-electric development and improve the air quality for the residents who call these places home,” said Lonnie “LJ” Portis, Environmental Policy & Advocacy Coordinator at WE ACT for Environmental Justice. “Building electric also enables New York to meet its climate targets in a way that ensures everyone has a safe, warm and healthy home.”
Last month I presented some ideas on ways to broaden the reach of the concern we feel about climate change. Sharing this newsletter with others, letting people know about CCAA, and learning more about the climate crisis are certainly recommended. I also mentioned making a list of groups you belong to: family, civic, religious, and recreational. All bring you in touch with people you know and respect, and who know you and respect you. These are settings for you to express in your own words why climate change is important to you. I hope some of you have begun to try it out.
This month I’d like to talk about visiting places near and far and looking for a climate information there. Two weeks ago I was in Salt Lake City, and went to the Natural History Museum of Utah, which is well worth a visit. When I arrived, I asked where I might learn about climate change and was told that there was information on the top floor, which turns out to have a patio, a spectacular view of the city and a wall devoted to climate change—sort of. If you didn’t know a thing about climate change, you’d likely walk away believing that the climate regularly changes, and that the impacts in the Salt Lake City Basin are modest. A visitor could easily leave believing that climate change is not all that important.
The museum’s presentation is more common than you might think. When you visit places that celebrate nature, I encourage you to look for climate messaging. If you are not satisfied, talk to the staff, leave a suggestion or write a letter. Here’s the letter I sent to the Natural History Museum of Utah on my return. It’s a little long, and in hindsight I should have emphasized that most Americans understand that climate change is occurring, that humans are mainly responsible, and that it is not good.
Soon, Kim and I are going to her high school reunion in New Orleans. We are looking forward to checking out the Audobon Aquarium of the Americas for its climate information. I’ll tell you what we find there in a future newsletter. In the meantime, if you happen to go to your library, the MOST, Green Lakes, or Baltimore Woods, for examples, check out what someone would learn there about climate change. If you think there could be more, make that suggestion, post some pictures on our Facebook page or email us at newsletter@climatechange-action.com and let the rest of us know what you found there. Perhaps they will get a few more letters and suggestions as a result.
After all, it’s another way we can share our climate concerns.
The Potential of Algal Biofuels
By Jacob Stewart
Algae are unique plants that often get a bad rap. When you think of algae the first thing that may come to mind is an off-putting layer of green sludge covering the surface of a pond or lake. But did you know that this diverse group of plants may be key to sustainable fuel in the future?
There are over 65,000 known species of algae that all undergo photosynthesis. The vegetable oils from these plants can be refined and used to create a variety of fuels, including diesels and even jet fuels. These fuels created from algae are so similar to their petroleum counterparts that engines designed to run off petroleum fuels require no alterations to run on algal fuels instead. This fact, combined with other beneficial characteristics of algae, are what makes algal biofuels such an enticing idea to replace fossil fuels.
Algae are some of the fastest growing organisms in the plant world, and they don’t need arable land to grow, which makes them so well suited as renewable fuels. Algae don’t need freshwater to grow, and can grow in brackish, salt, or polluted water. This means that land or water that is unusable for agriculture can be used towards algae farms, reducing any risk of an algal fuel industry from encroaching on the growth of other necessary crops. On top of this algae can produce anywhere between 2000 up to 5000 gallons of fuel per acre, making them far more efficient than other land-based crops currently used for biofuel. Potentially the biggest advantage of algal biofuels is that algae recycles CO2 in the atmosphere rather than emitting it. Algae use photosynthesis to grow, which sequesters CO2 from the atmosphere to use as an ingredient in growth, while releasing Oxygen as a waste product. This means that in a world that runs completely on biofuel the net CO2 release from fuels would be zero, unlike the fossil fuels used today.
There are a number of hurdles that algal biofuels need to overcome before they can ever become a main source of energy and overtake fossil fuels. Three specific hurdles are ones that come with any type of agricultural industry; land, water, and crop protection. In 2008, the US needed 19,497,950 barrels of oil per day which would require a land area of 30 million acres for algae to be able to meet that demand. This land would need to be specially selected so that it does not interfere with land needed for food crop production and in places that would minimize environmental impact. The next issue is water. Algae requires a substantial amount of water to grow, although not necessarily freshwater. There are many areas that contain reservoirs of non-potable water that would be suitable for algae growth, but it is important that when deploying a large-scale algal industry that water-use is placed as an important factor to avoid overexploitation of such a vital resource. Crop protection is yet another variable that needs to be considered when relying on algae as a renewable resource. Like any crop, algae farms are at risk for invasion of pests or pathogens that can destroy their growth. This means that a number of successful protection strategies have to be planned and implemented, including identifying resistant strains of algae, in every large-scale operation that is developed.
Because of the work and logistics that will have to be involved in solving the hurdles that come with algal biofuel production to make it sustainable, fossil fuels will still remain as the dominating source of energy for the foreseeable future. But that is not to say that the idea will never come to fruition. While the algae farming industry is not ready to scale up to replace fossil fuels by itself, it could be a good solution in areas where electrification is not easily accomplished, examples being aircrafts and shipping. A more widespread knowledge of the industry may also bolster the support and necessary funding for the research and science that could lead to the successful development of this sustainable fuel in the future. With enough support, maybe one day we’ll see a world run on algal fuel and see an end to the dangerous increase in CO2 emissions from the fossil fuels we rely on today.
Call Governor Hochul about the All-Electric Buildings Act
Call Governor Hochul at 877-235-6537 to let her know that we want to see the final budget include the All-Electric Buildings Act to ban fossil fuels in new buildings by 2024 – not her proposed timeline of 2027!
Here’s a suggested script for your call:
“Hello, my name is ____ and I live in ____. I am calling to ask Governor Hochul to ban fossil fuels in new construction by 2024 in the final version of the budget. I also thank Governor Hochul for proposing to end the 100-foot-rule which makes all New Yorkers subsidize new gas hookups in her Executive Budget, and ask that she fights to end the 100-foot-rule in the final budget. Thank you.”
Support the proposed new solar law in the Town of Manlius
Manlius residents, attend the Manlius Town Meeting on Wednesday 23rd at East Syracuse-Minoa high school auditorium or via Zoom, and comment to show your approval for a proposed new solar law. Details are under Upcoming Events.
March Quiz Question!
How many House Democrats sent a letter to President Biden this month, asking him to restart negotiations on the climate portions of the Build Back Better legislation?
*See the “Follow Us” section at the bottom of this newsletter for details on how to enter.
Hochul’s budget for the environment is the biggest yet, but advocates push for more
While Governor Hochul’s executive budget for New York State’s 2023 fiscal year includes over $5 billion to deal with environmental issues, the NY Renews coalition of environmental and clean energy groups argues that at least $15 billion is needed to make a difference.
Effects of ancient carbon releases suggest possible scenarios for future climate
Source: UC Santa Cruz
https://news.ucsc.edu/2022/03/petm-precursor.html
A new study, just published in the journal Science Advances, shows that the world has faced extreme global warming very similar to our current situation. But rather than human-caused, the blip from 56 million years ago was caused by increased volcanic activity. The good news? The excess CO2 was absorbed by the deep oceans over a few hundred years and the temperature stabilized, suggesting that if we can quickly curb greenhouse gases today, the natural world will help us clean up our mess.
How I learned to love weeds – and why you should, too
Alys Fowler takes us on a delightful journey through the plants many gardeners try to eradicate. The story and species are from the UK, but the principles apply everywhere. What wonderful native plants might you be trying too hard to root out?
Attend the next Monthly CCAA Meeting
When: Tuesday, April 12th, 6:00 – 7:00 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.
If you are a Town of Manlius resident, attend virtually or in-person to comment in support of a proposed solar law. This law will authorize the Town Board to proceed with building a solar farm on the town landfill, similar to what DeWitt has already done.
GreeningUSA Newsletter
To subscribe to a comprehensive list of climate change and sustainability events, and to publicize an event you are organizing, email GreeningUSA:
When: Wednesday, March 23, 10:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
Where: Village of Cazenovia Municipal Building, 7 Albany St. Cazenovia, NY 13035
Virtual Tour of Pete Wirth’s Home
When: Saturday, March 26, 3:00 – 4:30 p.m.
Join our very own CCAA Vice President, Pete Wirth of Fayetteville, NY as he gives a virtual tour of the energy efficient upgrades he has made to his home, featuring his hybrid system, an Air Source Heat Pump connected in conjunction with his natural gas furnace and solar PV array! Pete will also briefly touch upon the many ways he is moving away from fossil fuels and his long term goal of net zero. This is an interactive event via Zoom: please ask questions! Co-sponsored by HeatSmart CNY and Sustainable Manlius.
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.
The temperatures in the article, Utilizing Big Data to Analyze Algal Blooms in the Finger Lakes, were incorrectly stated as Celsius, but the values were Fahrenheit. Grateful thanks to our reader, Dr. Hughes for pointing out our error.
The article, First Fossil Fuel-Free Mixed Use Renovation in Syracuse, was incorrectly attributed to Tom Goodfellow. In fact that piece was written by Pete Wirth.
The editor regrets these errors. All feedback is much appreciated. Please send any comments, suggestions and submissions for future content to newsletter@climatechange-action.com.
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 email Zasu Scott at zasu@nyrenews.org so we can get more info about your interests and experiences (it’s not competitive). We would love to hear from you!
We encourage you to follow our social media accounts to support CCAA and stay up to date on other environmental news.
*Monthly Quiz Please email your answer to newsletter@climatechange-action.com within 14 days of this newsletter’s publication date to be entered into a random drawing for a small prize (typically under $5 value). For fairness, no more than one entry per reader, please. CCAA will respond to the randomly selected winners by reply email in order to send out prizes. CCAA may recognize winners by first name only in the next newsletter, so please let us know if you do not want a mention. Strictly no other personal information will ever be shared or used for any other reason. CCAA reserves the right to not select winners or distribute prizes in the event of any difficulties, or if the quiz stops being fun. CCAA’s only goals are to encourage readership, build the community and hear directly from like-minded individuals. No purchase necessary because this newsletter is free to you. Thank you!
Newsletter Committee Staff Writer: Jacob Stewart Publishing and Design: Yvonne Chu, Annalena Davis Editor: Gavin Landless
