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Earth Day Presents Time to Gauge Green Energy Progress in NY at Local Symposium

Chris Bolt/WAER News
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www.aceny.org/NYOWA

As Central New Yorkers and the Nation honor Earth Day, Renewable Energy experts and advocates looked to the future of power.  Experts from industry, government and non-profit advocacy groups were in Syracuse to share their views about which technologies might be making our electricity in the future … and helping save the environment. 

How the state and nation generate the electricity we all use is a big factor in how much more we will or won’t warm the climate.  The 14th Energy in the 21st Century Symposium this past week shared what speakers say is a lot of good news on the development of green energy sources.  They added New York is a leader in many areas.  The National Resources Defense Council’s Kit Kennedy says despite decisions made at the national level -- pulling out of the Paris climate accord, and weakening environmental and clean energy policies – there’s really positive movement here in New York.

“We went from really not having any commitment to off shore wind in New York State to one of the largest commitments to offshore wind.  We’ve made huge progress on solar (power).  I think the statistic is a 1000% growth in solar power in New York in the past 7 years.  New York is working with other states to think about how to clean up the transportation sector, get the carbon out of the transportation sector through scaling up electric vehicles, doing better on public transit.” 

The news about wind power might be the biggest development.  Former Department of Environmental Conservation Commissioner Joe Martens now directs the Offshore Wind Alliance.  He praises the state's commitment for about 1.2 gigawatts of offshore wind generation in the next two years.

“This is extraordinarily exciting because I think it is one of the best alternatives for transitioning to the clean-energy economy.  It is not without problems; it’s not without challenges but working with the environmental community, the labor community and the business community, I’m very hopeful this can be another success story for New York State and the United States.” 

Martens says the Northeast might be the best place in the world for off-shore wind power and that could mean not only the clean power, but tens of thousands of jobs, if New York continues to grow the sector. 

Credit Chris Bolt/WAER News / https://www.nationalgridus.com/Upstate-NY-Home/Contact-Us/
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https://www.nationalgridus.com/Upstate-NY-Home/Contact-Us/
Projects such as solar power, connected communicators and electric vehicles are some options National Grid is using to increase efficiency and move toward fewer emissions.

energy_21_arun_web.mp3
National Grid's Arun Vedhathiri, Director of New Energy Solutions, explains how you can have solar power on your home that you don't pay for, and how smart phone and other communications could save energy and money.

Ross Gould with the Workforce Development Institute sees 25,000 new jobs in renewables, another 30,000 in the growing field of energy storage, and maybe more in ramped up energy and building efficiency.  And coincidentally, Governor Cuomo just released a plan to invest $36 million into training for a new efficiency program that he claims could create 19,000 jobs. 

Dr. Rhea Jezer has coordinated the conference for 14 years, to bring local and national experts in the field of renewable energy together.  Representatives from industry, utilities and advocacy groups joined students who might be looking to work in the field in some capacity.  

The Renewable Energy panel members – from government, business and advocacy groups – see green energy from wind, solar and increased hydro-power continuing to replace electricity generated by dirtier sources.  They hope policies will continue to back such growth for the positive impact on jobs and the planet.

Chris Bolt, Ed.D. has proudly been covering the Central New York community and mentoring students for more than 30 years. His career in public media started as a student volunteer, then as a reporter/producer. He has been the news director for WAER since 1995. Dedicated to keeping local news coverage alive, Chris also has a passion for education, having trained, mentored and provided a platform for growth to more than a thousand students. Career highlights include having work appear on NPR, CBS, ABC and other news networks, winning numerous local and state journalism awards.