Energy Issues

Energy costs more, you know it and I know it. Leadership means doing something about the growing cost of energy's impact of the County, towns and villages. It's the right thing to do for the planet we all share.

Broome County, including various towns and villages, is over budget because of high fuel and utility costs. What has the Fiala administration done to mitigate the problem? I offer creative leadership the county needs.

Governor Patterson has signed legislation enabling the state's largest ever solar power project. Senator Libous and Assemblywoman Lupardo both strongly supported The Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Green Building Rating System™ this encourages and accelerates global adoption of sustainable green building and development practices through the creation and implementation of universally understood and accepted tools and performance criteria. Democratic County Legislator, Garner proposed solar and wind projects to his own democratically controlled County legislature, only to have it go nowhere.

Other alternate energy advances that I believe are worth noting - Click on the links for details:

• Plug-In Hybrid Buses

• Wind Power

• Arnot Ogden Hospital - Installation of a Bio Mass Boiler

• SUNY Cobleskill Bio-Gasification Plant

• Energy From Waste

• Biodiesel in Cayuga County; The Auburn Biodiesel Corporation to turn local crops into biodiesel.

• Proposed Wind Farm in Enfield, NY (West of Ithaca)

• T. Boone Pickens, 'The PickinsPlan': $200m for wind farm to electricity and the US's own natural gas for vehicles

Leadership is not just saying no. Leadership is about listening, imagination, creativity and decision-making.

I support all types of non-traditional utility/energy sources and will push for partnerships whenever possible. The Broome County area is blessed with Binghamton University and Broome Community College and its talented professors and students. Let’s harness that energy source as well!

Why is it that we sit at the confluence of two rivers but no one asks whether small hydro systems are viable?

Why is it that the State has converted to solar power for construction signs but solar panels on Broome’s buildings are nowhere to be found?

Iberdrola bought Energy East Inc. and wants to invest up to $1 billion in wind power in New York but Broome stifles innovation?

Why is biodiesel in use around the country but no plant is nearby to supply diesel fuel to county buses and trucks?

Waste Issues

Toxic Waste impacts health, you know it and I know it. Leadership means doing something about the destructive impact of toxic waste in our community.

Toxic waste enters our waste stream every day. Everyone knows that they should Reduce, Reuse and Recycle. Knowing is not ‘doing’. What has the County done to get toxic waste out of the landfill and therefore out of the water supply?
Compact florescent lights save a lot of energy, but they should not be disposed of in regular trash due to the mercury they contain. All types of batteries should be recycled separately.

Old electronics such as discarded computers, DVD players, etc. contain toxic heavy metals.

The Fiala administration wants everyone to drive to the Broome County landfill to get rid of used batteries and other toxic materials. At nearly $4 per gallon of gasoline, how often does that happen? When elected, I will work with the city, towns and villages to establish local drop-off centers. In one town it may be the highway garage, in another town it may be the fire station. The citizens of each town know what is most convenient for their use. At the drop-off, batteries, CFL lights, electronics, etc. can be left and the county will arrange for routine pickup. Help me keep the toxic chemicals out of the landfill and out of our water supply.

When I am Broome County Executive, I will move aggressively to find ways to reduce our waste stream, reduce energy consumption and develop new forms of energy production.

We need someone to listen to these important issues. We need creativity and imagination to deal with these issues. We need leadership.

Thank you for visiting my website and for reading my view of this topic. I hope that you see the difference in my beliefs and approach from Ms. Fiala’s administration. Won’t you help me get the word out to others? Will you put a lawn sign in your yard or would you like some information cards about my campaign mailed to you? And most importantly, please send a donation so that I can continue our fight. Please see the HOW TO HELP page more information on how to support my campaign.Thank you.