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B

Printed on 100% Post-Consumer Recycled Paper
A
G
REENER
W
AY



T
O
D
O
B
U
SINESS




I
N
M
ONROE
C
OUNTY



B
E

THE
C
HANGE

Submitted by
Democratic Members of the
Monroe County Legislature
August 2007 2
Printed on 100% Post-Consumer Recycled Paper
A
SPECIAL

THANKS

TO

THE

FINGER

LAKES

CHAPTER

OF

THE

CENTER

FOR

WORKING

FAMILIES

FOR

ALL

THEIR

SUPPORT

AND

WORK

IN

PUTTING

TOGETHER

OUR

GREEN

AGENDA
.


D
EMOCRATIC
C
AUCUS

OF

THE

M
ONROE
C
OUNTY
L
EGISLATURE
3
Printed on 100% Post-Consumer Recycled Paper
T
ABLE

OF

CONTENTS

I
NTRODUCTION




PAGE
5

R
EDUCING
M
ONROE
C
OUNTY S

E
NERGY
C
ONSUMPTION


PAGE
6-7

R
ENEWABLE
E
NERGY

P
URCHASING




PAGE
8-9

C
URBING
L
IGHT
P
OLLUTION

IN
M
ONROE
C
OUNTY



PAGE
10-11

G
REEN
P
ROCUREMENT

S
TANDARDS




PAGE
12-13

E
STABLISHING

A
L
EGISLATIVE

R
ECYCLING
C
OMMISSION


PAGE
14-15 4
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P
REVIOUS

G
REEN

I
NITIATIVES

FROM

D
EMOCRATIC
M
EMBERS

OF

THE

M
ONROE
C
OUNTY
L
EGISLATURE

INCLUDE
:


Reducing Diesel Emissions in Monroe County

Lead Exposure Prevention

Supporting the Bigger Better Bottle Bill in the
NYS Legislature

Supporting Wetland Protection

Supporting the Safe Climate Act, comprehensive
Federal legislation to combat global warming

Supporting the CLEAN Act (Creating Long-Term
Energy Alternatives for the Nation Act) of 2007

Proposing the Neighborhood Pesticide
Notification law

Supporting the Clean Water Restoration Act

Supporting State legislation that strengthens
hazardous wastes siting law





You must be the 
change 
 
you wish to see in the world. 
 Mahatma Gandhi   5
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I
NTRODUCTION


Carla M. Palumbo
Democratic Leader

You must be the change you wish to see in the world, words
spoken by a influential man urging people to take ownership of
their world and their place in it. This way of thinking will
enable area elected officials to promote a
greener
way to do
business in Monroe County.

For decades, we have watched energy costs skyrocket and the
depletion of our natural resources. Through the promotion of
alternative forms of energy production and the adoption of
comprehensive, sustainable purchasing-practices, Monroe
County can emerge as a leader in energy conservation and
environmental stewardship.

This document details Democratic legislators initiatives to
be
the change
by bringing a
greener
way to conduct County
business. By encouraging renewable energy purchasing,
reducing the Countys total energy consumption, enacting
green procurement standards, curbing light pollution, and
establishing a legislative recycling commission, Monroe County
will be able to support greater energy independence, regional
economic development and job growth while continuing to
protect our local environment.


6
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In 2002, the New York State Energy
Research and Development Authority
(NYSERDA) found that county governments
could reduce their annual operating budgets
through the implementation of energy-
efficient practices. New York State consumes
1.24 trillion kilowatt-hours of energy annually, produced largely
from about 338 million barrels of petroleum. While New York
has been praised as one of the most energy-efficient states in
the nation, our per capita energy use has risen 25 percent in the
last two decades.

In 2002 Erie, Broome, and Albany counties set forth aggressive
agendas to reduce the amount of energy used by their local
governments. In 1998 the Erie County Legislature passed a
resolution pledging to reduce the countys energy consumption
by 20 percent over a five-year period. In 2001 alone, our
neighboring county reported saving more than $60,000.

Monroe County has been a leader in environmental
stewardship. By altering daily practices and adopting a new
energy-conscious approach to county business, we can
continue to set an example to the community and region. From
utilizing energy efficient products, implementing turn-off
periods and retrofitting existing facilities with better
conservation techniques, Monroe County can implement
energy efficient practices that will not only reduce taxpayer
costs, but protect our local environment.

Therefore, I have submitted a proposal that calls upon the
Monroe County Legislature to adopt a resolution setting a goal
to reduce the Countys overall energy consumption by 25
percent of its 2006 levels over a five-year period.

Sponsored by: Carla M. Palumbo
R
EDUCING
M
ONROE
C
OUNTY S

E
NERGY
C
ONSUMPTION
7
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R
EDUCING
M
ONROE
C
OUNTY S

E
NERGY
C
ONSUMPTION

E
NERGY
S
AVING
T
IPS



Replacing your current incandescent light bulbs with com-
pact fluorescent light bulbs (CFLs) will save nearly $30
over the life of each bulb.

Energy Star
®
CFLs use 66% less energy than a standard
incandescent bulb and last up to 10 times longer. This
means that over the life of one CFL, a consumer can avoid
replacing up to 10 incandescent bulbs!

Energy Star
®
approved computers use half the required
electricity of standard models.

The use of 50 high-volume Energy Start
®
copiers can re-
move an equivalent of the annual emissions of 40 cars from
the highway. 8
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Power generation from polluting, non-
renewable resources, such as oil and coal,
results in serious human impairments,
negative impacts on wildlife, plants, and the
natural environment, and has become a factor
in conflicts over the worlds dwindling non-
renewable resources. Energy conservation alone is insufficient
to reduce the serious negative impacts caused by fossil fuels
used for energy generation.

The use of clean renewable energy sources, such as wind, solar,
ocean, geothermal and hydro, has many benefits: minimal
environmental impacts, increased income for local producers
of such energy sources, and dramatic air quality improvement.
It is my intent that it should be the policy of Monroe County
to improve environmental quality and redirect energy policy,
promote energy efficiency, clean energy production and clean
renewable energy markets.

Recently New York State set a goal of purchasing 20 percent of
its own electricity from wind, solar, biomass and hydroelectric
sources by 2010. The Renewable Portfolio Standard intends to
make 25 percent of all power sold in the state come from
renewable sources by 2013. Suffolk County has set a goal of 25
percent renewable energy by 2010. New York City and a
number of smaller cities and towns have set similar standards.
For retail consumers, increasing the share of renewable
electricity typically costs 1 to 2 cents per kilowatt, a premium of
about 10 percent.

My proposal calls on the Monroe County Legislature to
adopt a resolution encouraging the County set a goal to have
25 percent of all purchased energy to be from non-polluting,
renewable energy technologies produced in New York State by
2012.

R
ENEWABLE
E
NERGY
P
URCHASING

Sponsored by: Ted OBrien 9
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R
ENEWABLE
E
NERGY
P
URCHASING

Monroe Countys gas-to-energy power plant at the
Mill Seat Landfill utilizes methane gas produced by
the landfill to turn waste into watts. The power
plant produces 4.8 megawatts of power, and prevents
about 9,562 tons of methane gas and 27,342 tons of
carbon dioxide, both known greenhouse gases, from entering the
atmosphere. Clearly, Monroe County has an established
commitment towards achieving greater energy independence.
In February 2007 the East Rochester School District
commissioned their acquired fuel cell technology, that
now provides 50% of the districts energy needs. It has
been estimated that this initiative will foster the
realization of $100,000 savings a year in energy costs.
L
OCAL
I
NITIATIVES

AND
S
UCCESSES
!