James Rowley (R) has not responded to our survey requests.
| Climate Action Survey Questions | Nodesia Hernandez (D) |
| 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. I still have my Al Gore DVD on climate change. I am a true believer of the fact that the earth is way healthier without human influence and we as humans need the earth to survive. It is very important that myself and other candidates educated our voters about the importance of climate change. We are living today with the effects of climate change. |
| 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. It is very important that we move away from fossil fuels, ensuring environmental justice. In my platform, it is important that I approve and create policies and budgets that focus on creating a clean energy economy. |
| 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 that we should always take things one step further. Why stop at county operations when the world is affected, not just the county. |
| 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 feel that it is a crisis going on within our world dealing with climate change. There is no reason why our county of Onondaga isn’t one of the many counties that has pledged to 100% renewable energy thus far. It is time to elect elected officials who believe 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. We need our county-owned buildings, facilities, and municipal operations to be 100% renewable energy, including transportation, heating, and cooling. |
| 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 is a great local law. We need to make sure that the main focus of this program is small local business. |
| 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. I need to look at the act in further detail. |
| Do you support enacting a requirement that all new County buildings reach “net zero energy” status? | Yes. I believe that supporting net zero energy buildings also ensures a reduction of energy cost, improves efficiency and reliability. In order to have sustainability, we need renewable energy. |
| Do you support earning certification for Onondaga County as a Climate Smart Community from the NYS DEC ( https://climatesmart.ny.gov/ )? | Yes. I do support. There is no reason to pass up on opportunities to have access to free technical assistance grants and rebates for electric vehicles. If elected, I will support the pledge and certify Onondaga County as a Climate Smart Community. |
| Other actions you support to mitigate the effects of climate change in CNY. | One way to start is by electing the right candidates for local offices. Individuals can mobilize for political transformation. Education and awareness needs to change. It will be important for me to create more guides for the community on how individuals can take action on climate change. It is important to make landlords and homeowners accessible to home energy audits. Business owners as well. It is very important to involve youths who will become our next leaders before 2050. |