Local climate change activists concerned over federal cuts
BINGHAMTON, N.Y. (WIVT/WBGH) – Environmental activists are concerned about how federal cuts could impact efforts to combat climate change, to build out the clean energy jobs economy and the future of a battery research and manufacturing hub in Greater Binghamton.
Assemblywoman Donna Lupardo and State Senator Lea Webb joined the national organization Climate Action Campaign for a news conference in Binghamton yesterday.
Lupardo and Webb say federal investments and tax incentives have helped create good paying jobs in manufacturing related to clean energy. They specifically cited the money that has helped to create the New Energy New York initiative that is working to build out a lithium-ion battery ecosystem in our area.
Adam Flint, Director of Clean Energy Programs at the Network for a Sustainable Tomorrow says the cuts are short-sighted.
'We need the demand to increase by building out the market, building out batteries and, as has been said, for this country to take back in many ways technologies that we initiated many decades ago and unfortunately ceded to China and other places,' said Flint.
Flint says his organization had been hoping to receive a $450,000 grant from the EPA to launch a program educating kids in K-12 schools about careers in the clean energy sector, but that funding has been put on hold.
Binghamton veteran receives new roof from The Impact Project
Tri-Cities Opera celebrates 75 years with Broadway tribute
Super Cooper continues to save the day at 6th annual Cooperpalooza
Lenten tradition returns to Saint Michael's Rec Center
New York sues U.S. Education Department over $600m in cuts as feds slash $400m more for Columbia University
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