Hearing on climate act to be held March 1
State lawmakers have scheduled a public hearing for March 1 on revisions to New York environmental law that seek to eliminate greenhouse gas emissions by 2050.
The hearing is to begin at 2 p.m. in New Paltz Village Hall, 25 Plattekill Ave.
Under the proposed Climate and Community Protection Act, or CCPA, which updates goals that were set in 2009, initial efforts would be made to reduce greenhouse gas emissions to 85 percent of 1990 levels by the end of next year.
State Sen. Jen Metzger, D-Rosendale, said in a prepared statement that climate change is the “greatest challenge” to public health, safety and the economy.
“The CCPA offers a path forward, and I believe it is very important that we get input on this legislation directly from a broad array of stakeholders here in the Hudson Valley,” Metzger said.
The state proposal includes the creation of a Climate Action Council, which would develop a system for charging energy producers fees for the amount of greenhouse gas they produce.
The council also would be required to develop a report on the amount of greenhouse gas emissions generated by sources outside of New York that produce electricity used within the state, as well as the amount of gas produced as part of fossil fuels that come into the state.
There also would be a report on whether the state should establish a mandatory registry of sources of greenhouse gases within the state.
Among major goals in the proposed regulations is establishing “measures to reduce emissions from the electricity sector by displacing fossil fuel-fired electricity with renewable electricity or energy efficiency.”
The Climate and Community Protection Act also states that New York would evaluate “land-use and transportation planning measures aimed at reducing greenhouse gas emissions from motor vehicles.”