Albany Gets Kudos from Environmental Group

The New York League of Conservation Voters Education Funds (NYLCVEF) says our State Legislature has improved its environmental efforts. The organization has about 150 members who live in Croton-on-Hudson and Ossining. The improvement comes in the form of a grade that the organization gives to lawmakers each year. This year NYLCVEF is giving the State Senate and Assembly a “B.” Last year lawmakers received a “C.”

The group says the difference this year has been the Legislature’s effort to bring more environmentally-friendly jobs to the Empire State. “The contrast between this year’s environmental progress and 2010 is great,” said Marcia Bystryn, president of the New York League of Conservation Voters Education Fund. “Although New York missed an opportunity by not passing comprehensive solar energy legislation, the Assembly and Senate made headway in other important areas, including green jobs and making it easier to bring wind energy to New York. We look forward to working with the Assembly, Senate and Gov. Andrew Cuomo to build on 2011’s successes and make New York the clean-energy and sustainability leader it should be.”

Assemblywoman Sandy Galef, who represents Croton and Ossining, says her office was please with the report. “The Assembly accomplished many of its legislative goals in order to protect the environment, including maintaining funding for the EPF in this year’s budget, passing the ‘Power NY’ energy bill which will support energy-efficiency in the State, and the Assembly passed a to abstain from natural gas drilling upstate until there is concrete proof that the drilling will not negatively affect our water resources,” said Assemblywoman Sandy Galef.

To view a copy of NYLCVEF’s report click here.