The environment is not just the natural areas where we go to relax and enjoy the beautiful world. It is the air we breathe, the water we drink, the food we eat, and the basis of life. Protecting the environment is essentially about protecting ourselves – our health and well-being, our economy, and our planet. The human impact on the natural world is ushering in changes that will shape society for decades to come. We need to be proactive in reducing our emissions and redesigning infrastructure to be more resilient.
Energize NY Open C-Pace Financing – Property Assessed Clean Energy is a program endorsed by New York State that must be authorized by a local taxing authority like the County. The law enables Energize NY, an Energy Improvement Corporation, to administer low-cost loans for clean energy improvements. It also reduces the long-term risk to businesses by placing the loan on the property as a lien, rather than on the business. Yearly savings from the energy upgrades are calculated to be more than the annual cost of the loan payments. This program is good for the economy and the environment. UPDATE: Monroe County Executive Adam Bello signed C-PACE into law on July 7th. Many thanks to the Monroe County Climate Action Plan Advisory Board for making the recommendation, Legislator Yudelson for submitting the referral, the Legislature for their 27-0 vote in favor, and the environmental community for their advocacy! NEXT STEP: Implementation!
Organic Waste Diversion
Monroe County is perfectly suited to lead the state in the development of residential organic waste diversion due to our progressive outlook on sustainability and our proximity to agricultural areas. Food makes up 18 percent of all NYS waste. Unfortunately, when organic material decomposes in the landfill, it produces methane, a potent greenhouse gas that accelerates climate change. When organic material is composted, it undergoes a different decomposition process that does not produce methane. Recovering these food scraps, converting them to compost, and applying it on fields would also return valuable nutrients to the soil. Developing a County-wide composting program is an opportunity not only to reduce the effects of climate change, but also to improve soil quality, develop local businesses, and offer farmers access to a valuable commodity.