Earth Day 2010

For Immediate Release: April 22, 2010

Contact: Ami Shah | shah@senate.state.ny.us | 518-455-3531

APRIL 22nd IS EARTH DAY

Celebrate Earth Day and Protect New York

Senator Shirley L. Huntley (D- Jamaica) reminds New Yorkers that April 22nd is Earth Day and encourages everyone to take a stance against pollution, as well as to take action to protect our planet, keep our air and water clean for generations to come. Senator Huntley states “by working together to Go Green, we can protect our neighborhoods and communities, and develop a new economy which creates jobs based on green technology.”

In 1970, U.S. Senator Gaylord Nelson from Wisconsin declared April 22nd as Earth Day. A promoter of environmental issues, Nelson struggled for years to thrust the evidence of environmental degradation into the political mainstream. He organized a nationwide grassroots demonstration to allow people throughout the country to speak and express their concern for the land, rivers, lakes and air. This event brought the nation together and led to the creation of Earth Day.

Recently, the New York State Senate passed a package of environmental laws that protect the environment and promote “green” industry developments.

Included in the package:

• S. 1145A, which would reduce the allowable sulfur content in home heating oil to no greater than 15 parts per million beginning July 1, 2011.

• S. 4407, which would provide environmental justice to minority and disadvantaged communities by ensuring they are not saddled with an unfair share of incinerators, dumps, factories and other sources of pollution.

• S. 3712, which would permit service charges on natural gas bills for the installation of capital improvements and fixtures to promote energy efficiency.

• S. 6700, which would eliminate the peak load limitation on the size of non-residential solar and wind electric generating equipment eligible for net metering.

Several more bills are expected to be taken up by the Senate marking Earth Day.

As a longtime resident of Queens, New York, Senator Huntley understands the crucial need for more green initiatives to limit pollutants that have an adverse affect on our kids, our parks, and our environment. She urges everyone to think of the Go Green initiative as something more than just recycling. It is a lifestyle change that has numerous benefits from your wallet to your health.

One way to save money and the planet, for example, is walk, bike, or use mass transit as a form of transportation. Another way is to utilize energy efficient products which use less energy and yield less amounts of carbon dioxide emissions which adversely heats up the planet.

For more information on how to make a difference and live green, go to the Department of Environmental Conservation website at www.dec.ny.gov/public/337