What are your thoughts about energy in Buffalo? Are you looking for Greater Buffalo to become more green? Do you think that are energy bills are out of control compared to other cities, despite the fact that we are situated in close proximity to, say, Niagara Falls? Are we heading down cleaner, greener energy roads? Or are we stuck with agendas promoted by bi energy lobbyists? If you thought that your input on this subject could possibly make a difference in the way energy was sourced and allocated in New York State, would you fill out a short form saying so? I just did. This is what I had to say:
What the heck ever happened to the Niagara River electric hydro energy turbine initiative? At one point it appeared that there were companies vying to get in on the action (see FastCompany.com 2011 article), and it’s been dead silence for years now. This is absurd considering the potential, and after the studies in the East River (New York), there was a lot of excitement buzzing around the project. Instead of wind, with huge turbines along our waterfront (and migratory birds being bladed), why aren’t we looking at the non-stop flow of the river that would conceal the turbines from view?
Bill Nowak, a West Side energy activist and coordinator for the Sierra Club Climate and Clean Energy Writers Group, is asking all Buffalonians to submit their own thoughts and concerns to NYS.
“New York State is in the process of developing an Energy Plan,” Bill told me. “It is important that the NYS Energy Board understands that WNYers care about our energy future, that we’re watching what they’re doing and that we expect a strong, focused plan to get us to the clean energy future we deserve and need. They will get plenty of technical comments detailing how to do the right thing. They need to know you care. The draft plan has some good features but is clearly not a strong plan and it will not lead us away from fossil fuel use quickly enough as written.”
If you believe that we should be diverting from dirty fuels of the past, like coal, gas and nuclear, and heading toward the clean, renewable energy solutions of the future… the time is NOW to make your voice heard.
TODAY, please go to energyplan.ny.gov. Check out the plan and offer your comments. Wednesday, April 30th deadline.