The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) and New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) announced the release of two key documents and a series of stakeholder meetings in the ongoing development of New York’s Cap-and-Invest Program (NYCI), a program to reduce harmful climate-altering greenhouse gas emissions, improve public health, and help combat climate change while advancing environmental justice and investing in disadvantaged communities statewide.
Richard Ellenbogen recently gave an important presentation on New York State’s Energy Transition that details his concerns with the net -zero mandate of the Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act (CLCPA). I think it is important that his message gets out to all New Yorkers.
Firstly, environmental justice is a component of the Climate Act and many other current GHG emissions reduction initiatives, and this document explains the rationale behind its inclusion. Secondly, it is a disturbing example of the machinations and cherry picking associated with the scientific justification of the demands of environmental justice advocates.