GENEVA — Six Finger Lakes-area groups have signed a letter objecting to Gov. Kathy Hochul’s recent decisions on environmental issues.
The groups — Committee to Preserve the Finger Lakes, FLX Craft Beverage Environmental Coalition, Finger Lakes Region Makers Collective, Seneca Lake Guardian, Sustainable Finger Lakes, and We Are Seneca Lake — were six of 131 environmental organizations statewide signing the letter. Representatives of the groups will protest the governor’s environmental policies at her State of the State address Jan. 13 in Albany as part of a “Hochul: Stand Up For Climate” rally.
The letter tells Hochul she has made decisions in recent weeks “that eviscerates the state’s ability to reduce greenhouse gas emissions that make climate change worse.
“Never before in recent memory has a New York State governor done so much harm in such a short period of time,” the letter says. “Your decisions have been irresponsible and comes at a time when the federal government has launched a full scale assault on environmental protection. You have publicly said that the federal government is retreating on climate change issues and rather than fighting the Trump Administration, you use this as a justification to roll back climate policies in New York. You are doing just the opposite of what is needed.”
The letter criticizes Hochul for reversing earlier regulatory decisions and approving the North East Supply Enhancement fracked gas pipeline; granting a five-year air permit to the Greenidge Generation crypto mining operation in Yates County; derailing the statewide All-Electric Buildings Act after it survived legal challenges; and refusing to establish a program to strongly reduce greenhouse gas emissions, as a judge confirmed is mandated by the Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act.
“These approvals mark an appalling reversal of New York’s climate commitments and are a direct violation of the CLCPA,” the letter says. “They open the door for more fossil fuel expansion at the very moment when New York should be leading the nation in addressing climate change.”
The letter urges Hochul to take these actions to restore the state’s climate leadership:
- Rescind the Greenidge Generation permit.
- Rescind the NESE fracked gas pipeline approval.
- Enforce and fully fund the CLCPA.
- Stop permitting new fossil fuel projects, including fracked gas pipelines.
- Remove suspensions of the All Electric Buildings Act.
- Adopt the state cap and invest program.
- Accelerate the transition to locally built, community-powered renewable energy and direct the New York Power Authority to comply with the state Public Renewables Law.
- Protect the health, safety and economic stability of all New Yorkers, not the profits of polluters.