{"id":1389,"date":"2015-04-27T08:08:00","date_gmt":"2015-04-27T12:08:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.nypirg.org\/capitolperspective\/?p=1389"},"modified":"2015-05-12T06:45:07","modified_gmt":"2015-05-12T10:45:07","slug":"new-yorks-next-step-in-combating-global-warming","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.nypirg.org\/capitolperspective\/new-yorks-next-step-in-combating-global-warming\/","title":{"rendered":"NEW YORK\u2019S NEXT STEP IN COMBATING GLOBAL WARMING"},"content":{"rendered":"

NEW YORK\u2019S NEXT STEP IN COMBATING GLOBAL WARMING<\/p>\n

April 22 was the 45th<\/sup> anniversary of Earth Day.\u00a0 Earth Day has been a way to focus public consciousness about air and water pollution.\u00a0 This year\u2019s Earth Day focused on the need for actions to curb the growing public threats resulting from climate change.<\/p>\n

2014 was the hottest year in recorded history. The world\u2019s experts have stated that the global warming is largely due to human activity \u2013 primarily as the result of reliance on fossil fuels.\u00a0 They argue that the only way to respond to this crisis is to dramatically slash the use of fossil fuels, like coal, oil and gas, which, when burned, emit the greenhouse gases warming the planet.<\/p>\n

How will we generate the energy necessary to power the world?\u00a0 As societies scramble to answer that question, events in New York may offer a blueprint for action.<\/p>\n

New York is not only contemplating how to respond to the climate change menace, but it is also trying to move its energy system into the digital age.\u00a0 Under the current utility structure, the power sector in New York is on track to spend an estimated $30 billion to replace and modernize the state\u2019s aging energy infrastructure over the next decade.\u00a0 Unless the state makes changes, that $30 billion of investments will increase costs to ratepayers and perpetuate the use of an outdated, inefficient, polluting system.<\/p>\n

Ironically, the need to modernize the state\u2019s energy system dovetails with the goal of developing policies that encourage energy use reduction, efficiency measures, and the move to reliance on alternative energy sources, such as solar power.<\/p>\n

In New York, the proposed solution is the state\u2019s “Reforming Energy Vision (REV)” plan.\u00a0 REV is under active discussion before the state\u2019s Public Service Commission.\u00a0 REV holds great promise for overhauling the state\u2019s rickety energy infrastructure, placing a priority on energy use reduction and efficiency, promoting renewable energy production and building system reliability.\u00a0 REV, initiated at Governor Cuomo\u2019s direction, has the potential to fundamentally reshape the production and distribution of electric power throughout the state and significantly reduce the creation of heat-trapping carbon emissions\u2014making New York a national and global leader in climate change reversal.<\/p>\n

The future of the state\u2019s renewable power and energy efficiency programs now are tightly linked to the REV initiative.\u00a0 Many of the state\u2019s energy conservation and environmental programs are expected to be absorbed by the new REV system.<\/p>\n

According to the plan, these programs will serve as a bridge to smooth transition to the new energy efficiency and renewable products expected to materialize when REV is fully implemented\u2014 a process that is expected to span many years.<\/p>\n

But in order to further strengthen the state\u2019s REV plan, New York must establish aggressive but achievable long-term goals for efficiency and renewables, with interim targets and other related goals, such as:<\/em><\/p>\n