Just In! (from NY-GEO)

Below are G.E.T.’s top picks from NY-GEO’s weekly “Just-In” Newsletter. Just In! features three fresh news item summaries on the NY-GEO home page every Monday. NY-GEO members get the full newsletter, which includes an advanced look at the website articles, plus event listings and job openings and several bonus article summaries with links, usually on the Saturday before website publication.

Bowman Chairs Energy Subcommittee – Newly Elected Congressmember Jamaal Bowman (D-NY-16 Bronx & Westchester) has been unanimously elected Chair of the Energy Subcommittee of the House Committee on Science, Space and Technology, “a responsibility his team said he will use to further his goal of achieving 100 percent renewable energy and an equitable response to the climate crisis.” See full article from the Norwood News here.

Biden Expected to Raise Carbon’s Dollar Value – The administration is expected to temporarily increase the “social cost” of carbon, at least to the level set by Obama, but climate-concerned economists say that’s not high enough. By Marianne Lavelle February 19, 2021 – The Trump administration…calculated that the benefits of action on climate change added up to as little as $1 per ton of carbon dioxide, and it set policy accordingly. Almost any steps to reduce greenhouse gases seemed too costly, given the paltry potential gain for society. President Joe Biden’s White House…is expected to direct federal agencies to use a figure closer to $52 per ton as their guidance for the so-called ‘social cost of carbon’ number on a temporary basis”. Find the full article here. NY DEC recently provided guidance for state agencies that centers on a CO₂ price of $125 per ton. NY-GEO has calculated that adding the cost of methane leaks as required by the Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act (CLCPA) raises that price to at least $157 per ton of CO2e (equivalent)  produced, which works out to more than $700 worth of carbon pollution per year from an average gas-heated New York home. Write nygeoinfo@gmail.com for a copy of NY-GEO’s calculations.

Westchester Community Group Forms to Reduce Carbon Emissions and Educate Citizens – Rising out of a desire to reduce carbon emissions among fellow citizens, Yorktown100 was formed with volunteers in 2020. With participation from the town supervisor and leadership from concerned citizens Yorktown 100 recently held its February public meeting featuring several NY-GEO partners (Sustainable Westchester and NY-GEO member Rob Feuer). Yorktown100 founder Bob DeAngelis, a retired corporate environmental and energy manager, gave a very comprehensive presentation on making sustainable choices for space heating, air conditioning and hot water (18:30 on this link). This presentation is an excellent consumer education tool which includes the planning, economic decisions and geothermal heat pump solutions for homeowners. Yorktown100 is also proud to be a member of Communities United to Reduce Emissions 100% (CURE 100). CURE100 is a non-for-profit consortium that seeks to eliminate greenhouse gases by 2040. Note: NY-GEO was a key player in addressing Westchester County’s gas moratorium in 2019.  You can learn more about Yorktown 100 at https://yorktown100.org/

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