SHARE released a letter to Governor Hochul today calling on her to transition the State Capitol complex (Capitol, Empire State Plaza, and other nearby state buildings) to renewable energy within three years. The letter, linked below, encourages the Governor to incorporate the Renewable Capitol Act into her next Executive Budget. One hundred and twenty organizations statewide, including roughly 25 Albany groups and elected officials, have signed the letter.
The Renewable Capitol Act will be a model of how our state can meet our climate goals, and end New York State’s continued contamination of the low income, predominantly black community of Sheridan Hollow just blocks from the Capitol. The Act will finally enable the Sheridan Avenue Steam Plant (SASP) in Albany to be shut down! It has been polluting the Sheridan Hollow and Arbor Hill neighborhoods in Albany and releasing climate destroying greenhouse gasses for over 100 years in order to heat and cool the Capitol and Empire State Plaza.
The accompanying press release includes more detail about why the Governor should support the Renewable Capital Act and brief statements from a few of the signers.