ESFPA E-News Volume 3 - Issue 20June 2, 2022A round-up of our interesting stories from the past week. The CAC Draft Scoping Plan Deadline was EXTENDED to July 1st! New York State's Climate Action Council (CAC) Co-Chairs, New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) President and CEO Doreen M. Harris and New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) Commissioner Basil Seggos, announced the extension of the public comment period deadline for the Draft Scoping Plan to July 1, 2022. The Draft Scoping Plan, released on December 30, 2021, provides several scenarios informed by proposed policies and actions to help New York meet its ambitious climate directives as part of the Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act (Climate Act). The extension is based on significant feedback following 11 public hearings - nine in-person and two virtual - and builds on the more than 18,000 public comments received to date. The Climate Action Council is working to meet the Climate Act goals and make recommendations to the Governor and Legislature by the end of the year as part of the Final Scoping Plan. New Yorkers are encouraged to review and comment on the Draft Scoping Plan by July 1, 2022. Members must get involved. Over 18,000 comments have been submitted. MAKE SURE YOURS ARE PART OF THE FINAL COUNT! We can no longer say we are too busy, too tired, not tech savvy. We may work in an industry that is rural by nature, but our society at large – and those who make the decisions – are urban minded. We either meet this reality or we will lose. This process is simple and quick. If we all do not partake in every issue – whether there is a direct impact to your business or just the industry as a whole – we have no one to blame but ourselves when things do not go our way. Do your part – take a moment and “click.” ESFPA's 6th Advocacy Letter is Ready for YOUR Participation! We Need to Tell the Climate Action Council that a one-size fits all strategy for zero emissions for medium and heavy-duty equipment will cripple the supply lines from the forests to mill. This isn’t just difficult for our sector, but it is impossible. The current infrastructure cannot support such regulations. THIS IS THE 6th LETTER IN OUR CLCPA ADVOCACY CAMPAIGN! We need each and every member to speak up EVERY WEEK. The Climate Action Council (CAC) is proposing the adoption of zero emission vehicles (ZEV) for all trucks, busses, and non-road equipment. As it currently is written, the draft scoping plan does not acknowledge the lack of any ZEV technology for medium and heavy-duty vehicles which are essential in many sectors, including forestry, across the state. This will require the rural market of farm and forest transports and long-haul transports to have viable low carbon fuel alternatives that are currently not even mentioned in the draft scoping document. We support the establishment of a clean fuel standard for New York, which would be designed to foster investment, facilitate transition, and provide a range of technology alternatives in the clean fuel economy, including renewable liquid fuels for difficult to decarbonize transportation sectors. WE NEED TO TELL THEM! ESFPA has written a letter which outlines all the benefits of forestry and what we provide on our private lands as well as specifics on how we want them to change the plan. WE ENCOURAGE YOU TO EDIT THIS LETTER TO FIT YOUR SPECIFIC BUSINESS! Tell our leaders and decision makers that the New York forestry community practices sustainable forestry, taking care of the land so that it provide all the benefits society relies upon for generations to come. Describe the very real the land use pressures on your ownership if regulations are tightened even more. We need to do this for ourselves! Follow Us! |