Letters to the editor and feedback always welcome: news.ccaa@gmail.com.

Please note that the CCAA Newsletter will not be published in July and August. Look for our next issue in September 2025.

President’s Musings

Submitted by George Lorefice, CCAA President

(loreficegj@gmail.com)

The month of May saw another CCAA meeting/presentation along with a series of informative emails, this time on the school board vote across the state, highlighting the push for e-school buses.  Kudos to Yvonne Chu and Sonia Kragh (board members) for their efforts in setting this up. In CNY there is pushback on e-school buses, but word has it that other parts of the state are moving ahead.  And now the governor is allowing up to two postponements of two years each if the district applies for them.

 

On an important issue for CNY, CCAA has its sights set on reviewing the Micron Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) when it is finally officially released.  We hope to provide well thought out appropriate recommendations to ameliorate the potential adverse effects of this monumental project.  It’s going to happen, folks, and trying to stop it is not in the best interest of our CNY community.  We can only hope that the impacts will be as minimal as possible. 

 

CCAA is part of Sustaincny.org which is reviewing not only the environmental aspects but also social, traffic, jobs, etc.

At the federal level the environment keeps getting its derriere kicked by rollbacks of the IRA, misinformation, pseudo-science and downright lies.  It seems that attacks on our health, our environment, universities and our moral compass are coming at us from all directions. One thing is certain; however, CCAA will continue on the path it has taken to inform and take action on issues related to climate change until the cows come home!

 

It has been a wet spring but the mourning doves who built their nest in our awning and the phoebes who built their nest above our cabin’s bedroom window don’t seem to care.  We are waiting for the eggs to hatch and hear the chirping of the chicks that will usher in a glorious summer.

Image provided by Roseann Lorefice

Alert! We are still waiting for the release of the Draft Environmental Impact Statement from Micron. And despite local efforts by Sustain CNY, CNY Solidarity, CCAA, the Sierra Club and local activists asking for a longer public review timeframe and more public meetings, there has been no response.

 

It is obvious that there will be substantial impact to the Central New York Community. With a thorough and committed review of the entire project, our hope is that we can lessen the impact and not lose sight of the climate goals that New York State has set.

 

We urge our members to be vigilant and participate when the opportunity presents itself to have a seat at the table.

 

Charging Stations. We are still interested in discovering where EV charging stations are located. Send us your pictures and tell us where you saw them. Here are some from the Manlius Academy Apartments.

WINDMILLS, ANYONE?  One of our Board Members recently traveled to the Netherlands and besides seeing lots of tulips, was amazed by the presence of so many windmills!

If you are contemplating home energy improvements with an eye to taking advantage of current federal incentives, the time to act is now. The budget bill that passed the US House of Representatives on May 22, 2025, cuts short most investment, production, and consumer clean energy incentives and adds a tax for EV and hybrid owners. In the 2023 tax year, more than 3.4 million families took advantage of these incentives, claiming $6 Billion in credits. (Last year’s numbers, likely much larger, are not yet available.)

 

From a consumer perspective, here’s what may go away:

 

• the 30% credit for rooftop solar, home batteries, and geothermal heating and cooling
• The Energy Efficient Home Improvement tax credits for air source heat pumps, high‑efficiency HVAC, windows, insulation and other home upgrades
• the 30% credit for home and commercial EV chargers.
• the $7,500 new‑EV credit and $4,000 credit for used EVs

 

If the House bill is passed by the Senate and becomes law, then you’ll have until Dec 31, 2025, to complete projects to claim these incentives. The credits, as established under the Inflation Reduction Act, were originally available through 2034. The one exception was a limited extension through 2026 for the $7,500 tax credit on certain EVs built by automakers that haven’t yet sold 200,000 EVs. This eliminates EVs from companies like General Motors, Tesla and Toyota. 

 

As noted above most clean energy investment and production incentives are also being eliminated. However, the bill is not yet final and will still have to be reconciled with the Senate’s bill. As such, the final rules are a moving target, with just one certainty: the time to act is now.

 

Increased incentives through Comfort Home

Coincidentally, NYSERDA is increasing the financial incentives available under the Comfort Home program as of June 1, 2025. Insulation and air sealing improvements will now receive a $2500 rebate when installed through a participating contractor, up from $1600. Comfort Home is open to people of all income levels (although low-to-moderate income households will benefit more from the EmPower+ program). You can utilize both Comfort Home and federal tax credits together to reduce the cost of your energy efficiency improvements!

 

Where to Start

To get started, enroll with EnergySmart CNY on our website or if you are already part of our program, contact our energy advisors at 315-313-5050 or advisor@energysmartcny.org.

 

To take advantage of the existing tax credits for this year, visit the IRS website’s Residential Tax Credit page and consult an accountant. We’ll provide updates as the final bill takes shape.

EnergySmart CNY’s team of energy advisors are happy to help and to assist with your energy journey. 

 

To read the House bill, please visit H. R. 1 One Big Beautiful Bill Act

Submitted by Kiran Hubbard, CCAA Intern (khubba03@syr.edu)

A recent transportation study conducted by the Syracuse Metropolitan Transit Council (SMTC) in the villages of Minoa, Fayetteville and Manlius had an environmental undercurrent: how to design for less dependence on fossil fuel-powered vehicles.

 

The report lays out a range of strategies for implementing bike- and pedestrian-friendly connections between population centers. Manlius Town Councilor William Nicholson explained the benefits of active (as opposed to passive) transit in terms of both individual health and the environment.

 

“Anything we can do to make it easier for people to take advantage of the low-cost self-care practices, such as long walks, bicycle rides, connections to community,” said Nicholson, “if we can provide more of this to our community, it will be a great benefit to everyone.”

 

Decreasing the use of cars can also help slow the rapid climate change already observed in Central New York. “Every day that goes by that somebody doesn’t have to fire up their combustion engine is a day in the right direction, as far as I’m concerned,” Nicholson added.

 

One of the SMTC report’s suggestions for connectivity improvements involves “alternate trails and links,” which would create neighborhood-scale trail networks for the safety of cyclists and pedestrians.

 

“A quiet residential neighborhood can really be a nice amenity for bicyclists who are trying to get from Point A to Point B. We should be friendly to that option,” said Nicholson. “We should get used to people riding their bicycles to get from place to place, and not just as a form of recreation.”

Submitted by Jan Kublick, CCAA Legislative Chairperson (jan.kublick@gmail.com)

There are some wonderful sources of information about climate and renewable energy out there, and some organizations of special note. All are free, and most importantly all are easily shared and recommended as a great way to spread your concern about climate change.

 

Here are some of our favorites: 

 

Outrage and Optimism: a weekly podcast that discusses both a selected topic and recent events. Delightful trio of hosts with deep experience in climate, with a worldwide perspective. The title captures the tone. (Outrageandoptimism.org) 

 

Yale Climate Connections: subscribe to receive frequent reports from studies and surveys about attitudes and understanding of climate change. Mostly aimed at understanding American views, it has been surveying these topics for more than a decade. (Climatechange@yale.edu)

 

Volts: for those of you with an interest in the Energy Transition, David Roberts puts out a weekly deep dive into all aspects of the topic, one interview at a time. It often runs more than an hour, so we would suggest looking to see what the topic is and following your interests. (Www.volts.wtf) that is not a typo. 

 

Bill McKibben, the Crucial Years: Many of you know McKibben as author, climate columnist for the New Yorker, and perhaps America’s most effective climate journalist and activist, the founder of 350.org and Third Act. The Crucial Years is a weekly column of both current climate events and his perspective on them. (Search for McKibben the Crucial Years. He publishes on Substack, but you can subscribe directly.)

 

Third Act:  as noted above is an organization founded by McKibben for people over 60 to get information, take action and organize at a national level. Free membership. (Thirdact.org) 

 

Environmental Voter Project: a wonderful non-partisan not for profit. It uses data to locate nonvoters who would support environmental and climate causes if they did vote. Then contacts them to encourage them to vote in any election, year around. The organization operates in 21 states year around and has 6 million targeted nonvoters. Its goal is to create a political voting block for climate.  Well worth investigation and support. Its founder did a wonderful webinar for CCAA several years ago. (Info@environmentalvoter.org ) 

–2015: we organized a showing and discussion of “A Sea Change” to promote climate change awareness

–2017: we organized the People’s Climate March

–2018: we participated in the Rise for Climate Rally

–2019: we collaborated with the Sierra Club to support the Town of Dewitt as it pledged 100% renewable energy by 2030

2019 and 2020: we surveyed local candidates for their environmental views and posted them on our website

–2020: we participated in the National Solar Tour

–2021: We organized an event called “Make America Magnifique Again” to support France’s effort to replace the U.S. which had withdrawn from the Paris Climate Agreement

–2021: we lobbied in support of solar installations in the Town of Manlius and encouraged  student involvement

–2022: we received the GreeningUSA Award for contributions to climate activities

–2024: we organized a series of environmental movies to show to members and the public, once again promoting awareness and discussion of climate change

–2024: we inaugurated Member Meetings with presenters to speak on topics such as the use of plastic, clean transportation, sustainability, heat pumps, sustainable architecture, bioenergy AND we made then ZOOM-able to make them accessible to more members

—-we send our newsletter to over 1400 members

–we have written Letters to the Editor (The Post Standard, The Eagle Bulletin and The New York Times) in support of environmental policies

–we have co-sponsored tabling events at the New York State Fair, the Town of Manlius, the Town of Pompey, with UCANN, the Sierra Club and the Party for the Planet

AND WE HOPE TO DO MORE, ESPECIALLY WITH YOUR HELP AND SUPPORT!!

From the beginning, CCAA has focused on its mission to inform and educate the public about the need to protect our environment in the face of climate change. Our organization sponsors events that bring this goal to the public. But we need your help.

Volunteers offer time and energy but the reality of the costs of providing materials, sponsoring attendees at conferences, attending tabling events, maintaining our website, etc.  have mounted and so we’re reaching out to you. Can you help?

Purchasing a CCAA t shirt not only supports our efforts but promotes more awareness every time you wear it. It’s available online at THIS SITE.

The trees don’t need us, the rivers don’t need us, the bees, the forests, the oceans don’t need us. BUT we need every breath of oxygen, every drop of clen water, every stable ecosystem to survive.

A C T.    A C C O R D I N G L Y!

May 4, 2025

• Our Charities Application resubmitted after a few tweaks were made.
• Tabling events very successful; 25 new members signed up.
• Application for tabling at Plowshares 2025 requested.
• Discussion on tabling at the NYS Fair; no decision made.
• Zoom with Tompkins County Climate Protection Initiative went well, serving to introduce CCAA to them.
• May events reviewed and planned: Member meeting at Manlius Library to lobby for E school buses and a general get out the vote AND  Earth Fest materials discussed.
• Fundraising discussions focused on both corporate and member issues. Need to properly identify and accept business sponsorship and specify what funds would be used for. To be continued….
• Committee reports:
  • Education: looking into tabling events as discussed
  • Membership: 25 new members
  • Newsletter: transitioning to new intern
  • Legislative: call to action in April newsletter
  • Sustainability: Melleny helping with petition for DEIS
  • Interns: petitioning Town of Manlius for intern to help with promoting environmental education
• Member meetings: possibly Congressman John Mannion in September

ORGANIZATION:  Citizen’s Action of NY

EVENT:  Rally to defend NY’s climate law

WHEN:  June 3, 2-25

TIME:  12 noon – 3 p.m.

LOCATION:  5786 Widewaters Parkway, Syracuse, NY

Join others to rally and testify in defense of the NY Climate Law

 

ORGANIZATION: Renewable Heat Now

EVENT:  Advocate for the NY Heat Act

WHEN: June 5, 2025

TIME: 10 a.m.

LOCATION:  NYS Capitol, Albany

 

ORGANIZATION: Sierra Club

EVENT:  Zoom Call for Micron Update

WHEN:  June 5, 2025

TIME:  6 p.m.

LOCATION:  Virtual.

REGISTER HERE.

 

TAKE ACTION: If you believe in the importance of Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) to improve recycling and reduce packaging waste in New York, we need your voice! EPR is a powerful policy that holds producers accountable for the waste they create and helps build a more sustainable recycling system for all New Yorkers.

 

Take action today by contacting your State Senator and Assembly Member to urge them to support the Packaging Reduction and Recycling Infrastructure Act (S1464 / A1749).

 

Letters to the Editor:  We encourage our members to write letters to the editor regarding environmental issues locally and nationwide. It is only with a strong show of public support (and outrage) that change occurs. And if/when you write a letter, whether it’s published or not, consider sending a copy to us at news.ccaa@gmail.com

GOOD NEWS!  New York Governor Kathy Hochul has signed legislation creating a Climate Superfund that will collect $75 billion from oil companies over the next 25 years to address climate emergency costs. As The Good Men Project reported, the new law notes a connection between pollution and extreme weather events, using scientific studies to determine financial responsibility. It will help fund infrastructure like coastal wetland restoration, energy-efficient cooling systems, and improved stormwater drainage without burdening taxpayers. Follow the story HERE>

MORE GOOD NEWS! The Trump administration will restore access to vital resources for climate-smart agriculture, forest conservation, climate change adaptation, and rural clean energy projects. Recently the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) reversed course and committed to restore climate-focused webpages purged from its websites after Earthjustice and the Knight First Amendment Institute at Columbia University filed a lawsuit on behalf of the Northeast Organic Farming Association of New York (NOFA-NY), NRDC (Natural Resources Defense Council), and the Environmental Working Group (EWG). Read the full article Here.

AND NOT SO GOOD NEWS. The Trump administration has dismissed all the scientists and other authors working on the next authoritative look at how climate change is affecting the United States, according to an email sent to authors Monday and confirmed by CNN. CNN reports it IN THIS ARTICLE.

 

Check out Volts, an informative podcast, providing fascinating interviews with folks working on the frontlines of the transition from fossil fuels to the use of electricity. The April 9th episode gives an overview of ‘how clean electricity is doing globally and can be accessed HERE.

 

Ithaca Green New Deal. The Ithaca Common Council recently voted to reaffirm the city’s commitment to its “Green New Deal.” The ambitious climate policy calls for community-wide carbon neutrality by 2030, emissions reductions for city vehicles, and equitable support for communities across Ithaca. It made national news after it passed in 2019 for its localized approach to climate action. 

The vote comes after the Trump administration froze federal funding for numerous grants related to climate change. Around 85% of the Ithaca Green New Deal’s funding comes from federal grants. The resolution promises to continue implementing Green New Deal initiatives and retain staff involved in that work.

Impetus for the re-commitment came from Sunrise Ithaca, a youth-led climate justice organization.

 

EASTWOOD REFILLERY. Imagine a place where you could bring an empty detergent or hand soap container and walk out with it refilled. Troy and Michelle Stevens founded Eastwood Refillery to fill a gap in refillable, sustainable and nontoxic household products in the Syracuse community. They started with a booth at the CNY Regional Market and have continued this small local business at 113 South Midler Ave. in Syracuse. Check out their story and all their offerings at THIS LINK.

 

WMO forecasts the global average temperature will remain ‘at or near’ 2C between now and 2029. The 2015 Paris Climate Agreement set a warming limit to under 2 degrees C above pre-industrial times, although the WMO’s prediction will not immediately mean the goal has been broken, since that threshold is measured over at least two decades, the Financial Times reports. Still, WMO’s report represents “the first time that scientists’ computer models had flagged the more imminent possibility of a 2C year,” FT writes. Other major concerns are cited. The entire article can be accessed HERE. 

 

Green Podcast: Every other Thursday, there is a new episode of WAER’s environmental podcast “Deeper Shade of Green.” Recent episodes include “Landfills Pose Environmental, Health, and Economic Threats” in which Seneca Lake Guardian VP Yvonne Taylor and RMI environmental group Senior Associate Ellie Garland discuss the Seneca Meadows landfill, the larger issues surrounding landfills, and the number of things that could help. The episode can be streamed here. 

 

The second episode follows WAER special correspondent Kiran Hubbard (a CCAA Intern) as she interviews a few local farmers to discuss how climate change has affected their farmwork and the types of practices and technologies that are helping them move forward. The episode can be streamed here. 

 

Green Thermostat Settings to Help You Save. These are the recommended thermostat settings from Nexamp our Community Solar provider. Using a smart thermostat makes setting these temperatures easy. Reduce your utility bills AND your carbon footprint while still staying comfortable. Just check this OUT HERE.

 

Keeping Score? In 2023, the Netherlands generated 47.8% of its electricity from renewable sources, while the United States generated 21.4% from renewables.

DATE	TOPIC	LOCATION	TIME
June 1, 2025	CCAA Board Meeting	Virtual	7:00-8:30 p.m.
June TBD	Windfarms	FREE Center Cazenovia, NY	TBA
July 6, 2025	CCAA Board Meeting	Virtual	7:00-8:30 p.m.
August 3, 2025	CCAA Board Meeting	Virtual	7:00-8:30 p.m.
September 7, 2025	CCAA Board Meeting	Virtual	7:00-8:30 p.m.
September 9, 2025	Member Meeting	TBA	6:00-7:30 p.m.

NY Renews Youth Committee Opportunity
NY Renews is a coalition of over 300 organizations fighting for climate justice in New York State. Currently, we’re focusing on a budget campaign demanding NY State invest $15 Billion in the budget this year for climate justice.

Within NY Renews, the Youth Committee is a space mostly for high school and college age individuals. We’re moving towards bi-weekly trainings followed by community organizing to support our campaigns. Joining the youth committee is a great opportunity to level up your organizing, learn about campaigning, and get involved in the climate justice movement.

We meet every other week with additional time on projects for those interested. If you are interested, please fill out the sign-up form so we can get more info about your interests and experiences (it’s not competitive). We would love to hear from you!

 

Here’s the form to sign up!

We encourage you to follow our social media accounts to support CCAA and stay up to date on other environmental news.

Join Our Mailing List

CCAA OFFICERS

President:  George Lorefice (loreficegj@gmail.com)

Vice President: Peter Wirth (pwirth2@verizon.net)

Secretary: Reena Tretler (reena.tretler@gmail.com)

Treasurer: Van Cleary Hammarstedt (vanjonch@gmail.com)

 

COMMITTEE CHAIRS

Carbon Challenge: Yvonne Chu

Education: Ken Johnson and Jim Doherty

Legislative: Jan Kublick

Membership: Ken Johnson

Micron: Jan Kublick and Sonia Kragh

Newsletter: Roseann Lorefice

Sustainability: Sonia Kragh

 

Newsletter Committee 
Publishing and Design: Yvonne Chu and Annalena Davis
Editor: Roseann Lorefice

CCAA Intern: Kiran Hubbard

Technical Advisor: Gavin Landless

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