ACE NY Commends Governor Cuomo's State of the State Address...

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
January 4, 2012  

CONTACT:
Carol E. Murphy, 518-432-1405, cemurphy@aceny.org  


ALBANY, NY—The Alliance for Clean Energy New York (ACE NY), a statewide coalition of clean energy and environmental advocates, praised Governor Andrew M. Cuomo for his continued support of clean energy and energy efficiency in today’s State of the State address.

“ACE NY applauds Governor Cuomo’s call for increased energy efficiency and the expansion of our renewable resources,” said Carol E. Murphy, Executive Director of ACE NY.  “The Governor’s goal of upgrading and improving our transmission infrastructure is a necessary investment and will allow New York to further develop its renewable resources. When combined with reductions in energy consumption and accelerating the development of clean energy resources such as solar power, New York will be well positioned to maintain a sustainable energy future.”  

“Reshaping New York’s current energy portfolio will require a significant increase in renewable resources like wind and solar, as well as continued progress in reducing overall energy consumption,” said Ms. Murphy.  “We strongly believe that policymakers, regulators, utilities, and private industry must join together to increase investment in these technologies. By strengthening and expanding the programs administered by NYSERDA, NYPA, LIPA and the utilities, and ensuring that all state agencies are operating in support of the state’s renewable energy goals, New York can and will become a leader in the green energy economy.”   

“Clean energy and energy efficiency both present significant environmental and economic opportunities that will benefit all New Yorkers. We commend the Governor for his ongoing commitment to the state’s clean energy goals and look forward to working with him and members of the Legislature to see those goals met and expanded in the near future.”  


About the Alliance for Clean Energy New York
The Alliance for Clean Energy New York (ACE NY) is a broad coalition dedicated to promoting clean energy, energy efficiency, a healthy environment, and a strong economy for the Empire State, and is New York’s premier advocate for the rapid adoption of renewable energy and energy efficiency technologies. www.aceny.org

 

 

New Yorkers Call For Action on Offshore Wind

Diverse Coalition of Environmental, Business, Public Health, and Labor Leaders Call on Federal and State Agencies to Bring Clean Energy Ashore

12-21-2011 // Catherine Bowes

A broad coalition of New York’s environmental, business, and labor organizations today called on state and federal leaders to move forward with offshore wind development. New York has substantial offshore wind resources and there are currently several proposals to develop job-producing clean energy off the coast of Long Island.

The Wind Works 4 Long Island Coalition set a single, clear message: It is time to get moving and generate much-needed clean energy for New York from offshore wind.

Statements from coalition partners:

"The diversity of this coalition demonstrates broad and unprecedented support for harvesting the region’s abundant offshore wind resource,” said Gordian Raacke, Executive Director of Renewable Energy Long Island, a regional not-for-profit organization. “As environmental, business, public health, and labor groups we know that offshore wind power means cleaner air, a stronger economy, and more jobs."

"In 2012, LIPA and Governor Cuomo will make significant energy decisions for Long Island that will impact us for decades to come. Offshore wind needs to be advanced and embraced as part of our energy mix in order to lead us away from the hazards of fossil fuels. Our new coalition is here to let Albany and LIPA know that we need their leadership to achieve the essential goals of cleaner air, energy independence and cost control," said Adrienne Esposito, Executive Director at Citizens Campaign for the Environment.

"Our energy challenges present economic development opportunities for Long Island. Renewable energy projects like offshore wind initiatives can help our environment and our economy. Long Island has the potential to be the clean energy capital of the east coast and we are supportive of the wind and solar industries as we think it will create jobs for Long Islanders," said Kevin S. Law, President & Chief Executive Officer of the Long Island Association.

"We must continue with a common goal to push the boundaries toward a renewable energy future," said Action Long Island Chairman Sheldon R. Sackstein. "It is essential to recognize that we are here today writing the energy history of Long Island, being called upon by the future to take action now. This must be our legacy."

"Wind energy and other renewable energy sources can create hundreds of thousands of new American jobs," said Roger Clayman, Executive Director of Long Island Federation of Labor, AFL-CIO. "Clean energy plays a vital role in our economic recovery."

"Expanding the use of renewable energy sources such as offshore wind power will not only conserve energy, it will reduce pollution and improve the quality of air we all breathe," said Michael Seilback, VP of Public Policy and Communications at the American Lung Association in New York. "New Yorkers, including the 2.5 million who suffer from lung disease, deserve the clean air benefits that wind power provides."

"With progress on clean energy short-circuited in Washington, New York has an unprecedented opportunity to lead the nation," said Marcia Bystryn, President of the New York League of Conservation Voters. "Offshore wind energy will not only help clean the air, it will create 21st century jobs that are desperately needed on Long Island and around New York State. We urge Governor Cuomo, Senate Majority Leader Skelos, Speaker Silver and LIPA to get behind this and other clean energy advancements."

"By failing to capture the power of offshore wind, we're ignoring pollution-free power for nearly four million New York homes," said Ross Gould, Air & Energy Program Director for Environmental Advocates of New York. "So while New Yorkers are debating the dangers of industrial gas drilling and fracking, we should be harnessing a true clean energy source--offshore wind."

"Governor Cuomo has a golden opportunity to lead the nation in the pursuit of local, job-producing clean energy from offshore wind," said Catherine Bowes, Senior Policy Representative at National Wildlife Federation. "On behalf of our over two hundred thousand members and supporters in New York, National Wildlife Federation calls on our state and federal leaders to rapidly move offshore wind energy development forward in order to protect future generations of people and wildlife from the harmful pollution resulting from our reliance on fossil fuels."

"Offshore wind can help New York meet its renewable energy goals while creating new green collar jobs and sustainable economic growth," said Carol E. Murphy, Executive Director of the Alliance for Clean Energy New York. "The level of economic impact that offshore wind has to offer far exceeds that of conventional generation, and when combined with the environmental benefits of having an emissions-free resource that is immune to the volatility of fossil fuel prices, offshore wind is easily one of the best options for meeting Long Island and New York City's growing energy needs. We encourage our leaders and policy makers to keep the momentum going and ensure the successful development of Long Island's proposed offshore wind projects."

"Long Island and New York State are blessed with an abundant offshore wind resource which presents a unique opportunity to reduce our dependence on fossil fuels while reducing our carbon footprint," said Robert Catell, Chairman of the Advanced Energy Research and Technology Center at Stony Brook University. "We must increase the amount of renewable energy in Long Island’s energy mix and environmentally acceptable and competitively priced offshore wind projects should be seriously considered."

"By harnessing the wind blowing off our shores, not only can we power New York with clean energy, we can create much-needed jobs and attract new industry to the state," said Brandi Colander at Natural Resources Defense Council. "With enormous potential for offshore wind power in New York, we can develop a sustainable source of domestic energy here at home, while capturing the enormous economic and environmental benefits that come with it."

"Offshore wind has the potential to reduce New York's reliance on dirty fossil fuels, improve our air quality and our health, and provide thousands of local jobs," said Vanessa Pierce, Director of the Eastern Region for the Sierra Club's Beyond Coal Campaign. "By being the first state to develop offshore wind in the Atlantic, New York can lead the way to a cleaner energy future."

"For the first year ever, more global investment capital went toward renewable energy than fossil fuels. Offshore wind is an exciting, technologically-available form of renewable energy that can rapidly contribute to fulfilling our energy needs and creating a cleaner environment, while keeping billions of energy dollars in Long Island's economy, where they belong," said Bob DiBenedetto, President/Executive Director of HealthyPlanet.

"The HIA-LI applauds the offshore wind coalition for this much needed effort toward a renewable energy future," said Terri Alessi – Miceli, President, Hauppauge Industrial Association (HIA-LI). "We understand that offshore wind power helps create a more efficient economy."

Covanta Withdraws Waste-to-Energy Petition to Public Service Commission...

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
December 8, 2011

FOR MORE INFORMATION:
Laura Haight, NYPIRG, 518-588-5481 or lhaight@nypirg.org
Carol Murphy, Alliance for Clean Energy NY, 518-701-9085 or cemurphy@aceny.org
Erica Ringewald, Environmental Advocates of NY, 518-210-9903 or eringewald@eany.org
Eddie Bautista, NYC Environmental Justice Alliance, 347-841-4410 or nyceja@gmail.com
Kathleen O’Neill, American Lung Association in NY, 518-465-2013 x322 or koneill@alany.org



ALBANY, NY—Covanta Energy Corporation today withdrew its request to the New York State Public Service Commission to make garbage incineration eligible for the state's Renewable Portfolio Standard.

Environmental and clean energy advocates hailed this as a major victory for clean energy.  Over the summer, dozens of advocacy groups, businesses, and elected officials and thousands of individual citizens submitted comments strongly opposing Covanta's petition, arguing that garbage incineration is not renewable energy and should not be given the same incentives as wind and solar power.

Groups opposing Covanta’s petition included the Alliance for Clean Energy New York, American Lung Association in New York, Center for Health, Environment & Justice, Citizens Campaign for the Environment, Citizens' Environmental Coalition, Clean and Healthy New York, Consumers Union, Earthjustice, Environmental Advocates of New York, Natural Resources Defense Council, NYC Environmental Justice Alliance (NYC-EJA), New York Lawyers for the Public Interest, New York Public Interest Research Group (NYPIRG), and Sierra Club – Atlantic Chapter.

New York’s Renewable Portfolio Standard (RPS) was established in 2004 to promote clean, renewable energy such as wind and solar power to replace dirty fossil fuels.  Consumers pay for the RPS through a small surcharge on their monthly utility bills.

This is the third time that the PSC has weighed including garbage incineration in the RPS.  Due to its adverse environmental impacts and strong public opposition, the PSC has rejected including garbage incineration in the RPS twice before, in 2004 and 2010.  At its November 17th meeting, the PSC staff again recommended that the Commissioners deny Covanta's petition.  A vote had been expected at their upcoming meeting.  


About the Alliance for Clean Energy New York
The Alliance for Clean Energy New York (ACE NY) is a broad coalition dedicated to promoting clean energy, energy efficiency, a healthy environment, and a strong economy for the Empire State, and is New York’s premier advocate for the rapid adoption of renewable energy and energy efficiency technologies. www.aceny.org

For immediate release:
November 17, 2011

Groups Disappointed by Public Service Commission’s Delay on Waste-to-Energy Petition

(ALBANY, NY)—In response to the Public Service Commission’s decision to delay the vote on a petition by the Covanta Energy Corporation to make garbage incineration eligible for the state’s Renewable Portfolio Standard (RPS), Alliance for Clean Energy New York, American Lung Association in New York, Center for Health, Environment & Justice, Citizens Campaign for the Environment, Citizens’ Environmental Coalition, Environmental Advocates of New York, Natural Resources Defense Council, NYC Environmental Justice Alliance, New York Public Interest Research Group, and Sierra Club – Atlantic Chapter released the following statement:

“The Public Service Commission had a simple task today, to reject a petition to consider trash burning clean energy. Thousands of New Yorkers, as well as good government, environmental, and public health groups, and the Commission’s own staff, all agree the petition should be rejected. Today’s delay won’t change the fact that investing New York’s precious dollars meant for clean energy to burn trash would be a major step backward in the state’s ongoing attempts to reduce air and climate pollution and invest in a clean energy future.”

New York’s Renewable Portfolio Standard (RPS) was established in 2004 to promote clean, renewable energy such as wind and solar power to replace dirty fossil fuels.  Consumers pay for the RPS through a small surcharge on their monthly utility bills.

More than 2,500 letters opposing Covanta’s petition were sent in to the PSC this summer from a wide range of organizations, businesses, elected officials, and individuals.  Due to its adverse environmental impacts and strong public opposition, the PSC has rejected including garbage incineration in the RPS twice before, in 2004 and 2010.

While Covanta is trying to recast garbage burning as “clean,” municipal solid waste incinerators are major polluters, generating both harmful air emissions and large quantities of toxic ash.

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