NY Renews to Hand Cuomo Check for $7 Billion in Potential Polluter Fee Revenue

ALBANY, NY – On February 27, impacted New Yorkers will pack the Environmental Conservation Committee budget hearing, then deliver a $7 billion check to Governor Cuomo’s office as part of a call for Governor Cuomo and legislators to include a commitment to transition New York to 100% renewable energy and fund investments in communities hit the hardest by climate change. The $7 billion check represents the amount New York State would generate to invest in clean energy and climate change-impacted communities by charging corporate polluters a fee for their emissions, according to a recent University of Massachusetts study.
 

Dozens of residents of New York and members of NY Renews—a statewide coalition of 139 labor unions, community groups, and environmental organizations—will tell legislators and the Governor that we need more ambitious climate policy--and we need it now. In his State of the State address, Governor Cuomo announced some positive climate-related initiatives but fell short of supporting a comprehensive and equitable plan to hold polluters accountable and move New York State to 100% renewable energy. 

With newly-elected Governor Phil Murphy of New Jersey announcing he supports 100% renewable energy by the year 2050, Governor Cuomo’s failure to publicly support the same goal--which he could have done by backing last year’s Climate and Community Protection Act—is drawing increased scrutiny.
 

After the hearing, the group will reconvene at 1 pm to march to the Governor’s office to demand action and deliver an oversized $7 billion check for the Governor to sign. The amount represents what the state would receive in revenue if a corporate polluter fee were passed.
 

Immediately following the check delivery, the demonstrators--many of whom have been impacted directly by worsening hurricanes and heat waves--will also be making stops at the offices of Independent Democratic Conference leader Sen. Jeff Klein and Senate Majority Leader John Flanagan to demand that they do everything in their power to ensure serious legislative action is taken to combat one of the widest-reaching threats facing New York State.
 

Source: Environmental Advocates of New York