Happy Summer, Rochester Sierrans!
Please note the following important announcements -
CALL TO ACTION!!
The New York Legislature is still in session and during this chaotic time bad bills can advance quickly with little notice. Case in point: the CCS/Jamestown Coal Plant bill (A.8802) will create a pathway for NY State to permit its first coal burning power plant in more than 25 years. Disguised as a carbon capture and storage (CCS) demonstration project, this coal plant will drain public subsidies at a time when NY should be identifying and funding renewable climate change solutions. This project is extremely expensive, the power is not needed, and the plant will still emit 190,000 tons of green house gases into the atmosphere.
PLEASE CALL SPEAKER SILVER'S OFFICE (Phone # (518) 455-3791) and your assembly representative TO OPPOSE THIS BILL! NO NEW COAL PLANTS IN NYS!
Talking points:
1. The power plant is not needed to meet electric demand. 80-90% of Jamestown's power is provided by low cost hydropower from NY Power Authority. Jamestown could easily close the remaining gap with cleaner options: buying off the grid, energy conservation and efficiency and wind energy.
2. It will cost too much to build - $300 Million, or more. Even if half this amount is provided by federal subsidies it is not fair to ask Jamestown ratepayers to cover the remaining huge cost since the cost of alternatives is so much less.
3. The electricity this plant will produce will be too costly. It will cost between 15-20 cents per kilowatt hour (kWh), compared to the current cost of buying off the grid (3 cents per kWh), energy efficiency (less than 4 cents per kWh) and wind energy (8 cents per kWh).
4. There is no market for electric power this costly unless NYS taxpayers subsidize it. While the Jamestown Board of Public Utilities (JBPU) could force its ratepayers to buy power generated at this plant, it has no such power in the open market. At current prices the plant would generate a loss of $26 Million per year for the JBPU, a loss which would have to be picked up by the NYS taxpayers in order to make the project economically "viable".
5. The new plant will pollute too much. Even assuming that the plant could capture and sequester 55% of its carbon dioxide emissions (as proposed), it would still emit 190,000 tons of CO2 into the atmosphere each year - equal to the emissions of 35,000 cars and trucks. In comparison, energy efficiency and wind energy produce ZERO emissions.
Please call Speaker Silver and your assembly representative today!
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Register now to exhibit at Green Fest 2009 - Friday thru Sunday, Auguest 7-9 join Greens from across NY State and adjoining states in Alfred, NY, to share ideas and skills for sustainable living and Green politics. Early-bird registration fee of $65 for the weekend is available through July 7th. Reservations may be made online at http://nygreenfest.org/registration.html Exhibitors will sell local food items, handmade crafts, art, books on Green topics, bicycles, and renewable energy systems. Swimming, yoga, hiking and drumming will be offered. This is a benefit for the Green Party of New York and other state Green parties in our region. For more info visit http://nygreenfest.org or call 607-569-2114
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Calling all volunteers! Help clean up and restore the Cohocton River! August 1st and 2nd (Saturday & Sunday) 8:30am - 4:00pm. The Canandaigua Lake Chapter of Trout Unlimited is organizing a project to clean up and restore five miles of the Cohocton River. Volunteers will meet at the Town of Cohocton Garage on Wilcox Street. Bring work gloves, suitable footwear (old sneakers or waders), bug spray, suntan lotion and a hat. For more info contact Al Kraus (krause...@earthlink.net, or 585-396-0242) or go to the website: http://canandaigualaketu.org/
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Every Wednesday, June 17 - October 14, 4:00-7:00pm - Monroe Village Farmers' Market, located in the parking lot of Blessed Sacrament Church on Monroe Avenue between Rutgers and Oxford. Each week they invite a community group to share information about their work or issue. Table and tent provided, free of charge. This years' focus is, "Why Eat Local". For more info please contact Holly Rockwell at hr...@rochester.rr.com or call 473-1990.
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Tuesday, July 21 - Wetlands Committee mtg, 7:30pm, call 442-6890 or 586-6085 for info and directions
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Do you need to dispose of hazardous household waste? Please note: Monroe County's Hazardous Household Waste (HHW) Appointment Scheduler (includes Pharmaceuticals) http://www.monroecounty.gov/hhw
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Check out our website! http://newyork.sierraclub.org/rochester/
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