Poughkeepsie Journal, November 10, 2010, Wednesday

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Poughkeepsie Journal (New York)

November 10, 2010, Wednesday

Paterson: Weigh in on climate plan

BYLINE: By, Jacob Fischler

BODY:
ALBANY - Gov. David Paterson released an interim New York State Climate Action Plan on Tuesday and is seeking public comment on it until Feb. 7.

Pending further research and public response, a final report will be released sometime next year. Paterson is leaving office at year's end, to be succeeded by Gov.-elect Andrew Cuomo.
The Climate Action Council was a group formed by Paterson a year ago with the intention of reducing greenhouse gas emissions, by 2050, to 80 percent lower than they were in 1990.
The plan will lead to the creation of jobs when solar panels are installed and other energy-saving technologies de-velop, said Peter Iwanowicz, acting Department of Environmental
Conservation commissioner.

"We want them manufactured here and installed here," he said.

The state is mainly focusing on solar, wind and water power to lead the way as new sources of low-carbon or no-carbon energy sources.

Lower greenhouse gas emissions will lead to lower energy bills, Iwanowicz said.

"There is a climate crisis, and there is a jobs crisis, and we must address both at the same time," said Sean Sweeney, director of the Cornell Global Labor Institute.

The Climate Action Council plans to achieve its goal through five main strategies:
• Accelerate the development of low-carbon power sources.
• Improve construction codes.
• Move to low-carbon fuel standards in public transportation.
• Reduce waste on farms.
• Target research toward helping businesses develop low-carbon energy technologies.
Public response
• To read the plan, visit www.nyclimatechange.us/InterimReport.cfm.
• To submit a comment, visit www.nyclimatecomments.us or mail it to Climate Action Plan, NYSERDA, 17 Co-lumbia Circle, Albany, NY 12203.

LOAD-DATE: November 10, 2010