Within the United States, the New York metropolitan area has amongst the highest electricity prices, rates of asthma and levels of air pollution. In an effort to address these problems, SHARE and its member organizations are committed to advocating for the following agenda items in 2009:

Green Jobs and Effective Distribution of Stimulus Funds

The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRP) signed by President Obama presents a historic opportunity to strengthen New York’s economy in a way that ensures long-term, equitable economic development and environmental sustainability. If implemented correctly, this Act will create well paying, green-collar jobs, that allow workers to further develop their skills and thus advance their careers. For these reasons, any government entity distributing these funds should adopt the following principles:

• Stimulus funds must be disbursed with complete transparency. In particular, New York State should comply with Federal reporting requirements and track additional benefits such as job creation and energy use reduction.
  
  
• To maximize the economic and environmental benefits of ARRP, wherever appropriate, every project receiving stimulus funds should meet established environmental standards.
  
  
• All new jobs must pay prevailing wages, provide healthy and safe work environments and prioritize contractors that offer family sustaining wages, benefits, and career opportunities. These measures will help to ensure the creation of a robust green collar workforce.
  
  
• Establish contracting goals for the inclusion of Minority/Women Owned Businesses and disbursement of funding to minority communities.
  
  
  

Power Plant Siting Legislation - Article X

New York States power plant siting law, commonly known as Article X, expired in December 2002. Since then, the New York State Legislature has crafted multiple versions of new power plant siting legislation, but due to legislative sluggishness and noncooperation, Article X legislation has not passed into law. SHARE recognizes that communities of color and low-income communities in and around New York City have a disproportionate number of power plants, depressing local economies and damaging the health and quality of life of individuals in these areas. Consequently, SHARE believes that new Article X legislation must include greater protection for these communities and include the following provisions:

• an environmental justice analysis that clearly provides for substantial community input,
  
• an enhanced Environmental Impact Statement which includes an analysis of impacts on all surrounding communities as well as minority and low-income residents
  
  
• a cumulative impact analysis that includes fine particulate (PM 2.5) pollution, and
  
  
• an analysis that compares community impacts from the proposed location of a power plant to alternate locations in adjacent communities in an effort to prevent new power plants from being disproportionally placed in low-income and minority communities.
  
  
  

Securing the Operation of Clean Affordable Power:

SHARE is committed to clean, affordable and reliable power. To achieve these goals, SHARE supports increasing the supply of renewable energy – or energy generated from sources that are naturally replenished in a short period of time such as solar, wind, geothermal and hydropower. Energy produced from renewable sources is clean, meaning neither greenhouse gases nor air pollutants are released during its production.

In addition, SHARE members recognize that the continued operation of the Indian Point Energy Center (IPEC) is critical. IPEC provides over 2000 megawatts – enough electricity to power 2,000,000 homes - of clean, low cost, power to the New York City area and is an essential component of the New York metropolitan energy supply.

As power needs increase, existing power plants must be modernized. Replacing old turbines with new state of the art technology can make a significant difference in the efficiency of a power plant, the amount of pollution emitted and the amount of power generated.

Promoting Greater Energy Efficiency and Power Management:

Energy efficiency programs provide a substantial opportunity for individuals and families to reduce their electricity usage, costs and promote environmentally friendly behavior. By reducing the amount and altering the time of day electricity is consumed, residents can help lower the amount of pollution emitted by standard fossil fuel power plants. SHARE believes New York State should increase its investment in energy efficiency, energy awareness and power management programs through:

• additional funding of cost effective energy efficiency programs,
  
  
• strengthening energy building codes, and
  
  
• expanding programs that manage electrical power usage on the hottest days of the year. This is critical to lowering electricity prices and reducing pollution because peaking power plants that operate on the hottest days are the oldest, most expensive and least efficient power plants.
  
  
• creation of job training programs for minority’s and Minority/Women Owned Businesses to ensure the inclusion of all people and all businesses in the growing green economy.
  
  

Promoting Greater Energy Efficiency and Power Management:

Renewable energy projects such as wind, solar, and hydroelectric power can help address the state’s growing power needs. In September 2004, the NYS Public Service Commission issued an order requiring 25 percent of electricity used in NYS to come from renewable sources by 2012. In order for this effort to be successful, the following actions must be taken:

• require utilities to prioritize the interconnection of renewable energy projects to the grid,
  
  
• increase the amount of power that can be sold back to utilities, known as net metering, and
  
  
• expand net metering to commercial buildings.