Environment & Science

  Lots of people will be traveling into and out of Central New York this holiday by planes, trains and buses.  And many of them might be seated next to someone with too much cologne or someone who just ate garlic and anchovy pizza or one who’s done more traveling than showering recently.  You know, a passenger that smells. 

  Upstate New Yorkers seem ready to have renewable energy replace any power and economic boost that might have been gained by Hydro-fracking.  The Cuomo administration banned expanded gas drilling.  Now a poll by the group A Renewable America finds almost five-out-of-six people believe renewable energy is a key strategy for energy independence and reduced costs.  Matt McArdle chairs the New York Biomass Energy Alli

As the Carrier Dome’s roof protects Orange fans from the elements, now the rain run-off streaming down the Dome’s roof will be collected into two 25,000-gallon bulk storage tanks. The water captured will be chlorinated and then used to flush toilets in eight of the Dome’s restroom facilities. There will be about 8,000 gallons available for use throughout the facility, stored in an indoor room by the concourse. Environmental Facilities Corporation President and CEO Matt Driscoll says it’s a sign of the times: 

  Hundreds of national companies are supporting stronger federal regulations regarding greenhouse gases.  One of those is Syracuse power provider National Grid, which is looking for more action on climate change. 

  A large group of conservation and sportsmen’s organizations is trying to push for a new way to regulate water levels on Lake Ontario.  Groups such as Ducks Unlimited,  New York State Conservation Council, Onondaga County Federation of Sportsmen, Onondaga Audubon, The Nature Conservancy and others say  5 decades of hydro-electric and shoreline concerns might be damaging wildlife and the environment …and the economy that’s based on them.

An offer to “go solar” through a low-cost program has resulted in 70 Onondaga County homeowners placing energy saving solar panels on their rooftops. 

The time to enroll for Solarize Syracuse has passed; but the CNY Regional Planning and Development Board’s Chris Carrick says there are still ways to save.

“So, the federal tax credit is currently 30%, and it’s scheduled to go down to 10% by the end of 2016. So this is a great time for folks to go solar if they’re thinking about it,” Carrick said Thursday.

Politicians and scientists from around Central New York gathered Monday to mark a major milestone in the restoration of Onondaga Lake. Honeywell, which has been overseeing the lake’s restoration, announced that the dredging of the lake has been completed one year ahead of schedule. 

This comes after decades of concern regarding contamination levels in the lake. SUNY-ESF president Doctor Quentin Wheeler put the importance of the newly dredged lake in perspective: 

Advancements in using biomass technology for heat were front and center Wednesday at SUNY ESF for the second annual National Bioenergy Day. The event was held with the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) which seeks to find ways to incorporate renewable heating methods into everyday living.