“Since the Climate Action Council’s (CAC) inception I have watched their meetings online. The November 4, 2020 Just Transition Working Group meeting was most informative. Specifically, slide 6 University of Colorado Boulder “ensure that decision making process for climate and energy solutions are truly public and representative of those most impacted”. And slide 10 Canadian Task Force “Just transition means that society shares the cost of transitioning to a low- carbon economy. It would be unjust for workers and communities in affected sectors to shoulder the full cost of transition.”
Watching CAC meetings it appears that the intent is for the decision making process to be inclusive and equitable. This makes the absence of rural New York landowners from the CAC working groups even more concerning. The abutting landowners to solar and wind power plants are those most impacted by the siting, construction, and operation of thousands upon thousands of renewable energy power plants across upstate and western New York. (see Exhibit A) This interactive map locating solar power plants 1MWac and larger is derived from NYISO and NYSIR data. The omission of these long term stakeholders may lead to Gov. Cuomo’s administration’s inability to achieve their ambitious goal of 70% renewable energy by 2030.
My 84 year old mother is an abutting property owner to an approved 10MWac solar power plant in rural upstate New York. She first learned of the 65 acre project with 45,455 photovoltaic panels on July 11, 2019 from a one page photocopied notification for the public hearing on July 18th. I would like to share our experience with how solar power plants are being proposed and approved in economically disadvantaged rural towns across New York State.”
read Lynne Bruning Letter December 1, 2020 PDF
read supporting exhibits PDF
Bruning, Lynne. 1 December 2020.