Submitted by George Lorefice (loreficegj@gmail.com)
Photo provided by Roseann Lorefice.
The murders by ICE agents in Minneapolis may not seem like a topic for this newsletter but I see them as a metaphor of what the federal administration is doing to our democracy and CCAA’s mission to rescue the environment from human caused greenhouse gas emissions.
Looking ahead to this year, CCAA will be focusing on Micron and how they are adhering to their promises; informational tabling events; letters to editors; comments and suggestions to our legislators on energy and climate issues in NYS; and of course, our newsletter. We will also be monitoring progress being made throughout the world in combating climate change and continuing to participate in Sustain CNY and their engagement with Micron.
In the past month, CCAA has been busy: we issued our Position Paper on the Micron project; scheduled tabling events; are in discussions to have congressman Mannion address our members; completed our 2026 budget; set out a slate of officers; and received our tax-exempt classification. Please note we are also investigating a glitch in our Action Network account that may have excluded many people who have signed up for the newsletter. Stay tuned!
There is encouraging climate news out there with the restoration of windmill projects, battery costs declining and much of the world turning to wind and solar energy with batteries to release them from the stranglehold of fossil fuels.
For more positive news tune into David Robinson’s podcast Volts. This podcast discusses what is happing now for the bright future of renewable energy. A bit nerdy at times but quite enlightening.
Trump has claimed that windmills kill a lot of birds. I’m sure some are killed by them but reports I have read say that buildings kill about a billion birds a year when birds run into them (cats also kill almost that many). I’m wondering how many are killed by the Trump Tower and all the other buildings he owns. A master’s thesis?
The snow is definitely here covering those solar panels, but the wind will blow it away and the sun will melt it exposing them to more free fuel to power our lives without greenhouse gas emissions.
NOTE: These musings are mine alone and do not necessarily represent those of CCAA members.
As noted by the President, CCAA articulated its position on Micron and was able to share this with the public as it has recently appeared in the Syracuse Post Standard and was sent to our membership on Action Network! We encourage you to continue to react and respond to what this project entails for all of us and of course, don’t hesitate to share your thoughts and concerns with us. This newsletter is waiting for you to send us your opinions on Micron and other environmental topics.
It’s definitely cold; stay warm!!
Announcements
IT’S FEBRUARY. How about a plastic free Valentine’s Day! Nothing says “I love you” better than not burdening your sweetheart with more planet-polluting plastic. Here’s a great GUIDE to celebrate the occasion with some great tips and ideas. Help protect the planet!
It may not be November but it’s time for voting with CCAA. As noted in our by-laws, terms are for two years. The following slate will be presented to the CCAA Board at its February meeting: President George Lorefice Vice President Peter Wirth Secretary Reena Tretler Treasurer Van Cleary-Hammarstedt
You can view the bios of each candidate on our website at this LINK.
You can cast your vote to approve of the slate by emailing Peter Wirth at pwirth2@verizon.net. Please put CCAA VOTE in the subject area. Votes must be submitted by February 18.
FEBRUARY MEMBER MEETING. CCAA members are invited to join with the Climate Reality Finger Lakes Chapter meeting on Thursday Feb. 19 from 7 – 8 p.m. on Zoom. Featured speaker will be Genevieve Guenther, Founding Director of End Climate Science and author of “The Language of Climate Politics. She will be talking about “Dealing with Fossil Fuel Propaganda”. Here is the REGISTRATION LINK.
Ready for some environmental reading? Our friends sponsoring the April 21st Century Energy Symposium have offered this to us:
For the past 10 years, CCAA has worked to inform and educate the public on many climate issues. We are so proud to announce that this year we were able to attain non-profit status! That means that YOUR donations to us are now tax deductible!! Will you help us do more?
Your contribution now will help us in many ways: paying fees to climate events, supporting our website costs, paying for office supplies, purchasing a tent for tabling events….and the list continues. It easy! Just click and donate RIGHT HERE!
UPDATE: what’s happening…
Micron has applied for and received all the permits that it needs to begin the project.
The Official Project has begun!
The CCAA Board has formulated a response to the Micron Project entitled: Climate Change Awareness and Action Inc.’s Position on the Benefits and Challenges Presented by Micron
We have sent a copy via Action Network to all our regular subscribers in addition to having it published in The Post Standard
CCAA partners with SustainCNY and other groups to monitor the Micron project as it proceeds. To date, Micron has officially started with a ceremonial groundbreaking with national, state and local officials. And an actual groundbreaking with large earth equipment is on site and is preparing it for building.
Micron and the PFAS Problem
Submitted by Don Hughes, Ph.D., Sierra Club Leader and Adjunct Professor of Chemistry, LeMoyne College (hughesdj@lemoyne.edu)
Micron has broken ground on what is billed as the largest semiconductor plant in North America. The facility, to be built in Clay NY, will cover 1000 acres and will consume as much electricity as the states of Vermont and New Hampshire combined, as much water as the city of Syracuse, and hundreds of tons of chemicals per week.
The chemical soup will include compounds known as PFAS which stands for per- and polyfluorinated alkyl substances. These so-called “Forever Chemicals” are highly toxic, accumulate in animals, and do not break down in the environment. When released into the air, they are powerful greenhouse gases. They are already found in >98% of Americans’ blood due to past and ongoing use in a wide variety of products.
The semiconductor industry insists that PFAS are needed for their manufacturing process. A newshort videoby Abby Leibert, a student atSUNY Environmental Science and Forestry, discusses the threat that Micron poses to Lake Ontario, to the water supply for Onondaga County and for millions of citizens in the US and Canada.
Researchers at the forestry school are looking to create better ways to detect PFAS in water. But that begs the question: how can one ultimately destroy these dangerous chemicals? Fortunately there are several companies which have developed effective technologies.Aquagga, for example, has a promising technology calledHydrothermal Alkaline Treatment. It is uncertain whether such methods will be used to destroy the PFAS chemicals released from the Micron operation in Clay. Documents submitted to date do not show any commitment to use such technologies, and the State Department of Environmental Conservation has not required it.
YES, WELCOME to our new corporate sponsors, Goodfellow Property Management andGoodfellow Construction Management! These two companies believe in the mission of CCAA and have offered to support us financially to help us achieve our goals. In exchange, we have pledged to introduce them to our members and support their sustainability efforts.
Tom Goodfellow Sr. has been a leader in the Greater Syracuse Area in promoting clean energy. One of his first projects was the Whitlock Building, a historic mixed-use property that he redeveloped into a carbon-neutral, all-electric building using high-efficiency heat pumps. It is considered the first of its kind in the area. He counts among his other successes installation of heat pumps at his 1200 square foot Victorian cottage on Wellesley Island, NY in his mission to find sustainable alternatives. And his current project is the total renovation of a house in historic Fayetteville, NY, where he intends to do the same.
Ryan Goodfellow, his son, now owns and manages the Whitlock property. His interests also extend to promoting sustainability efforts in professional buildings and homes.
Goodfellow Construction Management
474 South Salina Street, Syracuse, NY 13202
Goodfellow Property Management
480 South Salina Street, Syracuse, NY 13202
Image provided by https://match.angi.com
New Intern Joins CCAA
Meet Levi Crandall, a graduate of Whitman College in Walla Walla, Washington. He holds a B.A. in Rhetoric, Writing, and Public Discourse. His goal in volunteering with CCAA is to assist fihting climate change at a local level, however he can. When not working as a barista, Levi enjoys exploring creative pursuits such as playing guitar, taking ballet classes, and (more recently) printmaking!
We at CCAA are pleased to have him join our team!
Photo provided by Levi Crandall
Board Members Attend NY Renews Meeting
Submitted by George Lorefice, CCAA President (loreficegj@gmail.com)
Accompanied by Peter Wirth, CCAA Vice President, I attended NY Renews ‘10th Anniversary Meeting on January 28 – 29, 2026 in Albany, NY. A coalition of nearly 400 climate, labor, youth, and community groups, it is the force behind the nation’s most progressive climate law, the NYS Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act (CLCPA)
In attendance were representatives from Buffalo to Long Island. The meeting focused on NYS environmental legislation in the pipeline; the results of legislation that has been enacted; and the concerns about Governor Hochul backtracking on the commitments she made to implement the law.
I was impressed by the depth of understanding that representatives had about the NYS environmental landscape in the legislature and encouraged to see a lot of engaged youth with that knowledge.
All in all, it was a worthwhile and educational opportunity for CCAA and a good place for recognition of our place in the environmental community concerned about GhGe.
Photo provided by Ethan Gormley.
Legislative Update
Submitted by Jan Kublick
As the new year begins, there is a lot of attention on Albany, Washington, and locally on Micron. There is little to add about Washington, with an administration doing everything it and the fossil fuel industry can think of to destroy renewable energy and deny the fact of human caused climate change. Of course, the disappearance of sea ice opening shipping in the ‘northwest passage’ is a result of… Climate Change.
In Albany, Governor Hochul’s run up to re-election is notable for her pulling back from CLCPA goals, claiming they are too ambitious. The State was ordered by a court to implement the Cap and Invest mandate in the CLCPA but appealing the decision means that the issue is pushed past the November election.
Broadly, the Governor has approved a large interstate gas pipeline, delayed a rule that would stop gas installation for new homes, but approved a law that takes away ratepayer subsidies to extend gas line hookups.
You will also hear discussions about amending the CLCPA’s targets for decarbonization, including whether to measure the amount of greenhouse gases by their impact over 20 years, a metric that emphasizes the outsized impact of methane, another name for ‘natural’ gas. The current 20-year accounting is by far the more scientifically accurate way to measure the global warming effects of various greenhouse gases. Calls to weaken the CLCPA will be opposed by many in the climate and renewable energy space including CCAA.
Governor Hochul’s enthusiasm for nuclear will likely be discussed in the next CCAA Newsletter.
Locally, Micron is the biggest news on the climate and renewable energy fronts. Micron’s enormous appetite for electricity and natural gas is the issue. In this newsletter you can LINK to CCAA’s position on Micron. While CCAA acknowledges the many benefits Micron will bring to the community, CCAA intends to work with local governments, state governments, community groups and most importantly Micron itself to lessen its carbon footprint and lessen the carbon footprint of the local communities which will benefit from Micron.
As always, please share your enthusiasm and support for cheaper, cleaner renewable energy wherever and whenever you can, and share your commitment to making the future better, healthier and more sustainable as a result.
Good News
News from the Assembly: Assemblyman Al Stirpe is currently working on two bills of interest to environmentalists. The first, Bucks for Boilers (A6489 ), aims to encourage people to transition to electric heat pumps. A second bill, Interconnection (A4127 ), aims to free up and/or quicken the queue for getting renewable energy projects up and running on the grid, a process that can take years for approval, even if a project is approved. The Assemblyman will keep us updated as these bills move through committee.
The UCAN Climate Summit held in November 2025. Speakers addressing the conference included State Senator Rachel May and Town of Cazenovia Supervisor, Kyle Reger. Attendees noted that their reports gave hope by pointing to the actions they and some of their colleagues are planning to do in the near future. Access their remarks HERE.
FUNDING RESTORED TO EMPOWER. New York State’s flagship energy efficiency and electrification program will be fully funded in 2026.Empower+ provides low- and moderate-income households up to $10,000 to upgrade their homes with energy efficient measures to reduce utility bills, lower GhGe and improve the quality of their homes. Information is available RIGHT HERE.
UPDATE ON NEW YORK STATE LEGISLATION. There are now two new bills proposed that support the buildout of solar energy in the state, the Accelerate Solar for Affordable Power Act (ASAP) and the Solar Up Now NY Act (SUNNY). Once again, CCAA will report on their progress in the next newsletter.
Not so good News
THE EPA BACKTRACKS. There has been a seismic shift by the Environmental Protection Agency in the way it regulates industry. For decades, the agency has calculated the health benefits of reducing air pollution, using the cost estimates of avoided asthma attacks and premature deaths to justify clean-air rules.
But, in a reversal, the agency plans to calculate only the cost to industry when setting pollution limits from two of the most widespread deadly air pollutants. Over the past four decades, different administrations have used different estimates of the monetary value of a human life in cost-benefit analyses. But until now, no administration has counted it as zero.
Last year, greenhouse gas emissions in the U.S.jumped 2.4 percent, according to new estimates by the Rhodium Group, a research firm. What caused the jump? More coal burning and colder weather.
Trump Pulls Out of Global Climate Treaty. The action could make it more difficult for a future administration to rejoin the Paris climate accord, the agreement among most nations to fight climate change.
E Links Articles of Interest
Every year, understanding of climate science grows stronger. With each new research project and published paper, scientists learn more about how the Earth system responds to continuing greenhouse gas emissions. But with many thousands of new studies on climate change being published every year, it can be hard to keep up with the latest developments. Check out this update by following this LINK.
WHAT HAPPENED (OR DIDN’T HAPPEN) AT DAVOS? World leaders met at their annual meeting to discuss the economic situation worldwide and environmental issues were pushed aside. You can read an enlightening but sober article AT THIS LINK.
Clean Energy is Green Energy. Household electric bills are up 13% on average since the new administration took office. The climate crisis and the affordability crisis go hand in hand – clean energy is the cheapest form of electricity almost everywhere. Read the article RIGHT HERE.
Economic Growth No Longer Linked to Carbon Emissions in Most Areas of the World, study finds. Here’s the WHOLE ARTICLE.
FYI re: Electric Cars. Worldwide, 18% of all car sales were electric cars. It is projected by the mid 2030’s that 50% of car sales will be electric. Note that China is the world’s leader in EV production and the world’s largest EV exporter. Recently, Canada signed a new trade agreement with China. Tariffs on electric cars were reduced from 100 to 6.1%. The impact on the American auto market could be significant as Canada is the leading export market for U.S.-made cars and light trucks. It’s no surprise that current policy under the Trump administration does not support the sales of electric cars. If this does not change, our auto industry will lose three more years of market share.
Letters to the Editor. Recently, CCAA Vice President Peter Wirth successfully submitted a letter to the Syracuse Post Standard addressing the issue of NIMBY in Cortland County. HERE’S HIS LETTER. We encourage our members to be as active in letting their voices be heard in environmental matters.
Environmental Calendar…
February 11, 2026. 12 p. m. on Zoom. “The Year Ahead: Mobilizing Environmental Voters in 2026.” An in-depth data briefing on the millions of low propensity environmental voters to be targeted in the coming year. You can RSVP HERE.
March 5, 2026. 7 p. m. Free showing of the film, “Regenerating Life,” sponsored by UCAN. Catherine Cummings Theater, Cazenovia, NY. This is a positive and inspiring film dealing with the difficult reality of what is happening to our environment.
April 17, 2026. Twenty-Second Annual Symposium in the 21st Century. 7:30 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. Gateway Building, SUNY ESF. Breakfast and lunch included. Topics to be addressed include Energy Battery Storage, Renewable Energy Sources and Labor and Environment.You can REGISTER HERE.
Help CCAA’s Mission : Purchase a t-shirt
This month we celebrate Valentine’s Day. What better way to remember your loved one or special friend by giving them a CCAA t shirt!! AND you’ll both be helping a great cause….protecting the environment!!
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.
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!
