Kevin Holmquist(R) has not responded to survey requests.
| Climate Action Survey Questions | Mark Matt (D) |
| The science behind climate change goes back to 1862 when John Tyndall discovered that CO2 in the atmosphere radiates heat back to the earth and causes the earth to heat. In 1896 a Swedish scientist, Svante Arrhenius, was the first to claim that the burning of fossil fuel would lead to enhanced global warming. Do you accept the scientific consensus behind climate change? | Yes. The tradition of following the best science has always been a guiding concept for our country. Resistance to change has been a part of that and moving forward with science has prevailed. About 98% of scientists believe climate change is real and is truly at a crisis level. |
| Since the industrial Revolution, the CO2 concentration has increased from 280 parts per million to 415 PPM today. Do you accept the scientific consensus this increase in CO2 is primarily due to burning fossil fuels? | Yes. The science on this has been very strong for a long time. |
| Will you commit to expanding the County’s Climate Action Plan to include community-wide emissions and not just emissions from County operations? For emissions that are difficult to eliminate entirely, such as process emissions from waste water treatment plants, the County can implement other mitigation measures such as tree planting. | Yes. Mitigation measures and offsets could help significantly reduce CO2 emissions. Reducing and eliminating emissions where ever we can should be complemented with proactive measures such as green roofs, tree planting and other projects. |
| Ulster County Executive Pat Ryan recently signed an executive order committing to 100% renewable energy by 2030. The Dewitt Town Board unanimously approved a resolution pledging to work towards a goal of achieving 10% regionally sourced, clean energy consumption for municipal operations by 2020 and 100% regionally sourced energy across all sectors by 2035. Do you support the concept of committing to 100% renewable energy for all municipal operations for Onondaga County? | Yes. If county government won’t lead by example, how can we expect businesses and private individuals to participate? |
| Do you support installing electric vehicle charging stations at County-owned buildings and facilities, for use by County employees and by the general public ( for example Rosamond Gifford Zoo, NBT Bank Stadium, Regional Market, Western Shore Loop the Lake parking lot, Long Branch Park parking lot, Jamesville Beach parking lot, County libraries…). | Yes. This should be easy!!! Grants and funding from New York State and National Grid could help achieve this at almost no cost to the County and the tax payers. |
| Do you support passage of a local law to join the Energy Improvement Corporation (EIC), ( www.energizeny.org/commercial/eny-open-pace ) a statewide local development corporation that administers the “Open C-PACE” (Commercial Property Assessed Clean Energy) finance program to make it easier for commercial buildings to make their property more efficient? | Yes. This brings money to the table for businesses to reduce CO2 emissions. The County should help their business community in such a way, with very little cost. |
| Next year the Climate and Community Investment Act in NYS will probably be introduced that will establish a carbon fee/tax of $35 per ton of carbon-dioxide equivalent and would raise $7 billion per year for clean energy investments. Do you support the concept of a fee on carbon dioxide? | Yes. This Bill is currently in the State Senate Environmental Conservation committee.There is still a very long road and most likely many changes prior to adoption. The concept of heavy users paying their way on carbon usage has been around for a long time. In this Bill the devil will be in the details. How to create the equity for those of limited means or minimal users of carbon will most likely determine its final structure. |
| Do you support enacting a requirement that all new County buildings reach “net zero energy” status? | Yes. Onondaga County will be building a new Sherriff’s building in the next few years and it and any other construction should be net zero energy facilities. Moving to the future, instead of preserving the old way of doing things, must become the new norm. |
| Do you support earning certification for Onondaga County as a Climate Smart Community from the NYS DEC ( https://climatesmart.ny.gov/ )? | Yes. Onondaga County signed up for the Climate Smart Community certification in 2009. They used it to help fund a co-generation unit at the Metro- Sewer facility. They have not taken advantage of grants for alternative fuel vehicles or proceeded to earn the Climate Smart Certificate. It is a piece that Onondaga County should move forward on. Grants and funding for projects under this program would move our local communities forward to address climate change. |
| Other actions you support to mitigate the effects of climate change in CNY. | Onondaga County produced a sustainability plan many years ago and the County has never worked to implement it. The plan addressed the strain on water treatment facilities with new development, the consequences of suburban sprawl, and the promotion of reusing vacant properties before building new structures. I propose that we take this plan off the shelf and start by reviewing and implementing it. In recycling and reducing solid waste, Onondaga County is one of the leaders. One opportunity lies in creating a system whereby residential organic waste would be collected to compost. Residential organic waste collection would reduce material from our sanitary sewer systems, which helps with water quality. I also agree that education of the public and the enforcement of waste regulations on businesses needs to continue. The Industrial Development Agency for the county can offer tax incentives for using and revitalizing existing housing and commercial stock instead of building new structures on green spaces. PILOTS additionally can be offered to incorporate renewable energy systems for these projects. |