| Climate Action Survey Questions | Vernon Williams Jr (Dem) |
| The science behind climate change goes back to 1862 when John Tyndall discovered that CO2 in the atmosphere radiates heat back to the earth and causes the earth to heat. In 1896 a Swedish scientist, Svante Arrhenius, was the first to claim that the burning of fossil fuel would lead to enhanced global warming. Do you accept the scientific consensus behind climate change? | Yes and I believe we as a county and country need to take this more seriously and be more conscious about how we effect climate change on a local level. |
| Since the industrial Revolution, the CO2 concentration has increased from 280 parts per million to 415 PPM today. Do you accept the scientific consensus this increase in CO2 is primarily due to burning fossil fuels? | Yes. |
| Will you commit to expanding the County’s Climate Action Plan to include community-wide emissions and not just emissions from County operations? For emissions that are difficult to eliminate entirely, such as process emissions from waste water treatment plants, the County can implement other mitigation measures such as tree planting. | Yes. I believe we need to be diligent in creating ways that help preserve and save our climate. |
| Ulster County Executive Pat Ryan recently signed an executive order committing to 100% renewable energy by 2030. The Dewitt Town Board unanimously approved a resolution pledging to work towards a goal of achieving 10% regionally sourced, clean energy consumption for municipal operations by 2020 and 100% regionally sourced energy across all sectors by 2035. Do you support the concept of committing to 100% renewable energy for all municipal operations for Onondaga County? | Yes. I believe as a county we need to set goals to work towards and hold our selves accountable for reaching those goals. Without a date we’re just kicking the can down the road which tells our community we’re not invested in climate change. |
| Do you support installing electric vehicle charging stations at County-owned buildings and facilities, for use by County employees and by the general public ( for example Rosamond Gifford Zoo, NBT Bank Stadium, Regional Market, Western Shore Loop the Lake parking lot, Long Branch Park parking lot, Jamesville Beach parking lot, County libraries…). | Yes. The County should take the lead on this issue and give our community every opportunity to make a conscious decision about climate change. |
| Do you support passage of a local law to join the Energy Improvement Corporation (EIC), ( www.energizeny.org/commercial/eny-open-pace ) a statewide local development corporation that administers the “Open C-PACE” (Commercial Property Assessed Clean Energy) finance program to make it easier for commercial buildings to make their property more efficient? | Yes. This could cut cost due to high energy cost that companies have to deal with. Along with cutting our carbon footprint and helps reach the goal the county should be setting for itself to be 100% renewable energy. |
| Next year the Climate and Community Investment Act in NYS will probably be introduced that will establish a carbon fee/tax of $35 per ton of carbon-dioxide equivalent and would raise $7 billion per year for clean energy investments. Do you support the concept of a fee on carbon dioxide? | Yes. |
| Do you support enacting a requirement that all new County buildings reach “net zero energy” status? | Yes. That will also say we’re serious about climate change and we’re serious about reaching our goals as a county with regards to climate change. |
| Do you support earning certification for Onondaga County as a Climate Smart Community from the NYS DEC ( https://climatesmart.ny.gov/ )? | Yes. That shows that we are going to be a leader when it comes to climate change and being 100% on renewal energy |
| Other actions you support to mitigate the effects of climate change in CNY. | I believe we need to invest more with public transportation and more bicycle and walkable paths within the county giving our community more options to be friendly to our climate. I would like to see Onondaga County be a leader when it comes to Climate Change partnering with the City of Syracuse and all municipalities in the county to really create a plan and goal to be ya 100% on renewable energy and what that looks like as a County. |