CCE works to advance legislation that will protect our natural environment and public health, while working to oppose legislation that will have an adverse impact on our shared environment. The New York State Legislative Session occupies the first six months of each year (January to June), although, as events arise, it can be extended into July, August, or later. Below is a list of proposed legislation that CCE will be working to advance in the 2008 New York State Legislative Session.
LEGISLATIVE AGENDA ITEMS:
Victory! NYS Legislature passed the Compact in February 2008. Great Lakes-St. Lawrence River Basin Water Resources Compact (A. 7266-B Sweeney / S. 4324-B Maziarz)
In 2001, the eight Great Lakes Governors and two Canadian Premiers, known as the Council of Great Lakes Governors, began a process to develop strong standards by which all large water withdrawals would be scrutinized. On December 13, 2005, the Council released an interstate agreement known as the Great Lakes-St. Lawrence River Basin Water Resources Compact and an international agreement known as the Great Lakes-St. Lawrence River Basin Sustainable Water Resources Agreement. The Compact and International Agreement are a great first step in sustaining water quantity in the Great Lakes basin for generations to come. The Compact will now go before each of the eight state legislatures and then both documents will go to Congress for approval.
CCE’s memo in support of this legislation
CCE’s Great Lakes Compact campaign webpage
Victory! 2 MW Net Metering for solar and wind energy (S. 7171-b-Johnson, S.8415 Johnson / A. 11146-Englebright and S. 8481-Maziarz/A. 11582-Cahill)
Net metering is the policy that allows electric ratepayers to earn credits for excess renewable energy produced on-site. Net metering laws in New York State lag behind the rest of the Northeast and urgently need improvement. Expanding net metering provides multiple benefits to every New Yorker including:
- Increasing green collar jobs from research, manufacturing, construction, installation, and maintenance
- Every 2MW installed solar energy supports 16 local jobs.
- Investing New York energy dollars in New York
- Improving environmental and public health benefits, including improving water and air quality to reducing childhood asthma.
CCE’s memo in support of this legislation
Victory! New York City Solar Tax Abatement Legislation (A. 11202-Farrell / S. 8145-Padavan)
To support the proliferation of clean, renewable solar energy, this legislation empowers homeowners, condos, coops and commercial entities in NYC to receive a reduction in property taxes equal to 8.75% of expenditures on new solar generating system until the end of 2010.
CCE’s memo in support of this legislation
Victory! Prohibit the storage or pumping of water into the Lloyd Aquifer on Long Island. (S.1558-Marcellino, A.2986-Weisenberg)
Long Island is a designated sole-source aquifer region by the U.S. EPA, which means that 100% Long Island’s residents depend upon groundwater for their drinking water. This legislation would ensure the protection of the Lloyd Aquifer and drinking water quantity and quality for Long Islanders.
CCE’s memo in support of this legislation
Climate Change Solutions for New York State
This suite of legislation will ensure the proceeds raised from the sale of carbon credits benefit the public by providing for a transparent process to support energy efficiency and clean, renewable energy development. CCE strongly supports legislation, including Climate Change Solutions Program Act (A.7365 Sweeney/ S.5347 Marcellino) Climate Change Solutions Fund Act (A.7366 Gianaris / S.5371 Marcellino), and Climate Change Commission (A.7367 Sweeney / S. 5427 Marcellino), to help solve the climate crisis.
CCE's memo in support of this legislation
CCE's global warming web page
Oil Filter Recycling (A. 6777 Pretlow)
An estimated seven hundred thousand gallons of waste oil remains in the eighteen million used oil filters generated in New York each year. The filters currently end up in landfills and thus have the potential of contaminating our state’s waterways and groundwater supplies. This legislation requires that used oil filters are source separated and recycled in New York State.
CCE's memo in support of this legislation
Hybrid and High-Efficiency Vehicle Tax Exemptions (S. 3947 Skelos / A. 7626 Englebright)
Automobiles use approximately 40% of the oil consumed in the United States. The millions of automobiles in New York State use a substantial amount of oil, which increases dependence on foreign oil, creates pollution that adversely impacts our environment and public health, and puts consumers at risk to highly volatile price spikes. This legislation will compensate consumers in New York for purchasing vehicles that reduce greenhouse gas emissions, the chief pollutant that causes global warming.
CCE's memo of support for this legislation
Bottomlands Protection (S. 5528 LaValle / A. 7816 Englebright)
New York's underwater bottomlands are both economically and ecologically important. Our bottomlands provide essential habitat that in turn support the abundant fish, mammal, and bird life throughout the state. Bottomlands also serve as historically and culturally significant dive sites. A comprehensive, independent environmental review process is necessary before potentially harmful, permanent structures are erected on our valuable bottomlands
CCE’s memo in support of this legislation
Energy Efficient Lighting Act (A. 7944 Sweeney / S. 5823 Marcellino)
According to the Department of Energy, lighting consumes 22% of electricity produced in the United States. By switching to energy efficient lighting technologies and phasing out inefficient and outdated lamps, New York will help lead our Nation towards energy independence. This legislation requires that a general service incandescent lamps shall not be sold in New York State after June 1, 2012.
CCE's memo in support of this legislation
Aquatic Nuisance Species Coalition Participation Act (S. 959 Maziarz)
There are currently 185 aquatic invasive species that have been established in the Great Lakes. One new non-native species is found in the Great Lakes on average once every twenty-eight weeks. More than 60% of all aquatic invasive species-54 of 85 invaders-discovered in the Great Lakes since the opening of the St. Lawrence Seaway in 1959, are attributable to ballast water discharge from ocean-going vessels. Invasive species are a detriment to the Great Lakes ecosystem and economy. This legislation authorizes NYS to work collaboratively with other Great Lakes states to develop effective basin-wide regulations to address the discharge of aquatic invasive species from ballast water of ocean-going vessels.
CCE's memo in support of this legislation
State Smart Growth Public Infrastructure Policy Act (S. 4369 Lavalle / A. 7335 Hoyt)
New York State has a history of making decisions when funding state infrastructure that have supported sprawling development. These decisions have resulted in loss of open space, higher costs to taxpayers and a failure to adequately address aging infrastructure in existing urban and suburban communities. This legislation will require state agencies that fund projects to construct, expand, or reconstruct infrastructure, to give priority based on “smart growth” criteria defined in the legislation.
CCE's memo in support of this legislation
Article X Energy Siting Law
The review and approval process for siting major electric generating facilities expired on December 31, 2002, which provided NYS with an opportunity for much-needed reform. CCE urges the legislature to adopt an Article X energy siting law that protects vulnerable communities, ensures resources for meaningful public participation, prohibits industrial development on conservation easement lands, and advances cleaner, more efficient energy generation.
CCE's memo of recommendations on this bill
Bruce S. Kershner Heritage Tree Preservation and Protection Act (S. 4637A Rath / A. 8145A Hoyt)
Much of the forests that covered New York State prior to European settlement have been logged long ago. However, in rare pockets throughout New York State, vestiges of these old-growth trees still exist. This legislation will ensure that the magnificent heritage trees and old growth forest that still exist in New York State are protected for current and future generations.
CCE's memo in support of this legislation
Oak Brush Plains State Preserve Expansion Act (S.6728 Johnson, A.9870 Ramos)
The Oak Brush Plains State Preserve was established in 1987. The preserve represents a transitional forest between the historical grassy plains of Nassau County and the pine lands of central and eastern Long Island. This preserve is also located on a Special Groundwater Protection Area (SGPA) as defined by Article 55 of the New York State Environmental Conservation Law. This bill amends the sections of 7 and 8 of Chapter 635 of the Laws of 1987 by requiring the transfer of certain lands, where native foliage may be reasonably reestablished, within or formerly within the Pilgrim State Hospital site on Long Island to the Oak Brush Plains State Preserve.
CCE's memo in support of this legislation
New York Pesticides-Free Schools Act (A. 10923 / Kellner)
Pesticides are used indoors and outdoors at most schools in New York State, even with no evidence of need. Peer reviewed scientific studies indicate that pesticide exposure can lead to serious health problems, especially in children. Schools can use readily available and affordable non-toxic alternatives to pesticidies, which have been proven to be effective and save schools money. This legislation will ban the use of non-essential pesticides in schools in NYS, grades K - 12, as well as daycare facilites.
CCE's memo of support for this legislation
CCE's Pesticide-Free Schools campaign page
2008 NEW YORK STATE BUDGETARY AGENDA
CCE works to advance budget items that will protect our natural environment and public health, while working to oppose budget items that will have an adverse impact on our shared environment. The budget process begins as soon as the legislature begins, in January, and lasts until April 1, although many times the budget isn’t passed until after April 1. Below is a list of proposed budget items that CCE will be working to advance in the 2008 New York State Legislative Session.
BUDGETARY AGENDA ITEMS:
Environmental Protection Fund Enhancement
The Environmental Protection Fund (EPF) supports numerous programs designed to improve the quality of life for New York’s citizens, to protect critical resources such as drinking water and air quality, and to preserve community and state character. CCE supports increasing the EPF to $275 million in the 2008-09 NYS budget.
CCE's memo in support of this budget item
CCE's EPF campaign information
Oceans, Estuaries, and Great Lakes Funding in the Environmental Protection Fund
New York State is dependent, both economically and recreationally, on the waters that surround it. We are fortunate to have over 1,500 square miles of bays and estuaries, 120 miles of ocean shoreline, and over 700 miles of Great Lakes shoreline. These waters are a part of our history, our current culture, and our future. CCE supports a significant increase in funding for the Ocean and Great Lakes category of the Environmental Protection Fund (EPF) in the 2008-2009 NYS Budget.
CCE's EPF campaign information
Updated by dglance 6/23/08