July 24, 2019

The New York Climate Plan

Listen Later

2 minutes

New York lawmakers have passed a sweeping climate plan that requires the state to eliminate almost all of its greenhouse gas emissions by 2050. The plan calls for the phase-out of gasoline cars and oil- and gas-burning furnaces and requires all of the state’s electricity to come from carbon-free sources.

The Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act requires the state

to slash its carbon emissions to 85% below 1990 levels by 2050 and to offset

the remaining 15% by other means such as removing carbon dioxide from the

atmosphere. The bill requires New York

to get 70% of its electricity from renewable sources by 2030.

The challenges of reaching the program’s goals are daunting. New York has so far only reduced its

emissions by 8% since 1990. The state

currently does get 60% of its electricity from carbon-free sources – mostly

hydroelectric dams and nuclear power plants – but it will require offshore

windfarms, ramped-up solar installations, and battery storage systems to push

the numbers dramatically higher.

Transportation, which is responsible for a third of New York’s

emissions, will be particularly tough to tackle. The Trump administration is rolling back

federal vehicle efficiency rules and is trying to prevent states from setting

stricter standards. Currently, electric

car ownership is primarily attractive for single-family homeowners who can plug

in their cars at home. Far more

pervasive charging stations – for example, all over the streets of New York

City – would be needed to make electric cars practical for everyone.

The plan aims for industries to bear most of the financial burden, but

supporters say that the costs of not acting on climate will be vastly greater

for businesses. The plan’s deadlines for

major emissions reductions are a decade away but there will be much to do quite

soon.

**********

Web Links

New York to Approve One of the World’s Most Ambitious Climate Plans

Photo, posted September 17, 2009, courtesy of Flickr.

Earth Wise is a production of WAMC Northeast Public Radio.

...more

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Earth Wise

By Randy Simon

4.7

1515 ratings

July 24, 2019

The New York Climate Plan

Listen Later

2 minutes

New York lawmakers have passed a sweeping climate plan that requires the state to eliminate almost all of its greenhouse gas emissions by 2050. The plan calls for the phase-out of gasoline cars and oil- and gas-burning furnaces and requires all of the state’s electricity to come from carbon-free sources.

The Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act requires the state

to slash its carbon emissions to 85% below 1990 levels by 2050 and to offset

the remaining 15% by other means such as removing carbon dioxide from the

atmosphere. The bill requires New York

to get 70% of its electricity from renewable sources by 2030.

The challenges of reaching the program’s goals are daunting. New York has so far only reduced its

emissions by 8% since 1990. The state

currently does get 60% of its electricity from carbon-free sources – mostly

hydroelectric dams and nuclear power plants – but it will require offshore

windfarms, ramped-up solar installations, and battery storage systems to push

the numbers dramatically higher.

Transportation, which is responsible for a third of New York’s

emissions, will be particularly tough to tackle. The Trump administration is rolling back

federal vehicle efficiency rules and is trying to prevent states from setting

stricter standards. Currently, electric

car ownership is primarily attractive for single-family homeowners who can plug

in their cars at home. Far more

pervasive charging stations – for example, all over the streets of New York

City – would be needed to make electric cars practical for everyone.

The plan aims for industries to bear most of the financial burden, but

supporters say that the costs of not acting on climate will be vastly greater

for businesses. The plan’s deadlines for

major emissions reductions are a decade away but there will be much to do quite

soon.

**********

Web Links

New York to Approve One of the World’s Most Ambitious Climate Plans

Photo, posted September 17, 2009, courtesy of Flickr.

Earth Wise is a production of WAMC Northeast Public Radio.

...more