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Pete Looker, the Green Party candidate in the 100th
Assembly District, today called upon the State to increase its
commitment to renewable energy, energy conservation and energy
efficiency as part of the State Energy Plan (SEP) presently being
developed. Looker also called for changes in the Article X siting plan
for power plants; a requirement that 10% of the state's electricity be
generated though renewable energy such as solar and wind; and for
increased efforts to create jobs through investments in energy
efficiency.
Statewide hearings on the SEP began last week in Western New York. The
Albany hearing is on March 5th.
Looker also called for New York to re-institute and fund the Citizen's
Utility Board to make sure that consumer interests are represented in
energy hearings and before the Public Service Commission.
"Energy deregulation has been a disaster for Americans, from
blackouts and huge price increases in California to defrauding of
billions of dollars by Enron. The Democrats and Republicans in the State
Legislature claimed energy deregulation was about lowering prices while
instead they are forcing New York consumers to spend billions of dollars
to bail out failed nuclear plants. Our energy policy should focus on
lowering costs for residential consumers while promoting clean and
renewable energy sources," stated Pete Looker.
Looker called upon New York to put efficiency improvements and
conservation measures on equal footing with building new power plants in
terms of meeting our electrical needs. He called for the establishment
of specific goals with the SEP for energy efficiency, such at least a
10% reduction in statewide energy demand by 2010, as well as investing
at least $25 per year per capita ($450 million) in energy efficiency,
conservation, and demand management. Most of our neighboring states
spend twice as much per capita as New York.
New York needs a ‘‘Renewable Portfolio Standard'' or RPS, that
requires that 10% of electricity sold in New York be from new clean and
renewable sources, such as wind, solar, or sustainable biomass, by 2012.
Twelve U.S. states have a RPS in place. Looker said that New York should
also reduce dependence on nuclear power and phase out the use of nuclear
power, starting with the immediate shutdown of Indian Point in the Lower
Hudson Valley. : Nuclear power is inherently dangerous and expensive.
Radionuclide pollution and disposal of radioactive waste from nuclear
plants are un-solved and serious problems.
Looker said that Article X - the portion of the Public Service Law that
governs siting of new power plants - needs serious reform. The siting
process should include an environmental justice analysis; an analysis of
fine particulate affects (PM2.5), an assessment of health effects, and a
needs analysis. The siting process should be changed to allow for
meaningful public input earlier in the process, allow the use of
intervener funding for legal costs, and not allow the waiver of local
law.
Looker also stated that the reauthorization of the siting law should be
linked to clean up of existing older plants ‘‘grandfathered'' plants
that avoid current emission standards by using a loophole in the Clean
Air. The power plants built before 1977 are grandfathered under the
Clean Air Act and thus do not have to meet the same standards as newer
plants. As a consequence, these outdated plants are the largest
stationary sources of the pollutants that cause acid rain, smog, haze,
mercury contamination of lakes, and contribute to global warming. The
SEP should include a recommendation to phase-in cleanup of these plants
using a four-pollutant approach that reduces sulfur dioxide (SO2) by an
additional 75% from current law, NOx by 50%, mercury by 90% and caps
carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions. These plants should be a target for
reductions in greenhouse gas emissions (carbon dioxide) and as part of a
State policy to reduce greenhouse emissions, the SEP should include a
goal of reducing CO2 emissions from the electricity sector by 30% below
1990 levels. Further, these outdated plants use millions of gallons of
river water each day. The SEP should include a recommendation to
modernize cooling systems and minimize water use.
Looker said that increased investment in "new energy technologies
and energy efficient appliances, machinery, and building techniques have
great promise both in creating jobs and reducing that state's demand for
energy."
The Green Party candidate also called for the SEP to set specific
targets for energy reduction in transportation sector, including
investment in public transit and rail freight infrastructure, continued
promotion of clean vehicles (including State procurement policies for
its own fleets), provision of pedestrian and bicycling alternatives,
pricing policies, and financial assistance for conversion of
school bus and public transit bus systems. These programs should
be funded by a fuel economy based registration fee administered by the
Department of Motor Vehicles.
Looker said that until such recommendations are implemented, there
should be a moratorium on power plant siting and construction unless the
project will result in a direct reduction of overall pollution due to
the re-powering of an older plant with new technologies or fuel
switching, such as is presently proposed in Bethlehem. Construction of
new plants has a long-term affect on New York's electricity sector
and should only be done in the context of an overall balanced
energy plan.
http://www.gpnys.org/
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