NY bill would make polluters pay for climate damage - Public News Service

NY bill would make polluters pay for climate damage / Public News Service

A New York bill would make polluters pay for climate change damage the state endured.

The Climate Change Superfund Act requires companies who've contributed to climate change to bear some costs of necessary infrastructure investments for New York to adapt to climate change.

Data show over the last 40 years, the state has endured at least 85"billion-dollar disasters." The most substantial was Hurricane Sandy, costing the state around $43 billion.

Asm. Anna Kelles, D-Ithaca, a co-sponsor of the bill described how enforcement of the bill would work.

"From technology, we now know that we can directly assess the greenhouse gas emissions that were attributable to each of the major polluters," Kelles pointed out. "We can measure that and we can assess a fee based on their relative contribution to the greenhouse gas emissions that we're seeing. "

The intent is to make it part of the 2025 budget. Companies likely to be held accountable by this bill are opposing it. New York is not alone in considering this kind of legislation. Vermont is taking up a similar bill after record flooding last July caused about $1 billion in damage taxpayers would be responsible for. The bill awaits action in a New York Assembly's environmental committee.

While the bill mostly targets oil companies, it may also be applied to other companies.

Bob Cohen, policy and research director for Citizen Action of New York, said implementing the measure goes beyond the environmental harms companies are responsible for.

"It's not just a matter that they contribute to climate change, they've engaged in a multi-decade-long campaign to lie about the consequences of climate change," Cohen alleged. "I think It's comparable to the tobacco companies leading up to the 1960s."

Research shows companies like Exxon knew as far back as the 1950s fossil fuels were causing climate change.

Lawmakers in Congress are urging the Government Accountability Office to investigate so-called " zombie mines," abandoned mine lands on hold indefinitely, rather than being safely closed and reclaimed.

According to the Center for Public Integrity, Ohio and other Appalachian states are littered with hundreds of zombie mines, allowing companies to avoid paying for environmental cleanup.

Erin Savage, senior program manager for Appalachian Voices, explained permit transfers allow companies to shed their responsibilities and the region has seen many go bankrupt in the last decade. Savage said advocates want federal rules limiting the amount of time mine permits can remain in "idle" status.

"This could provide an opportunity to make sure that these other coal companies taking on permits out of bankruptcy are actually capable of doing the reclamation before that transfer is approved," Savage noted.

She added the problem is expected to grow as dependence on coal declines. According to a report from the Appalachian Citizens Law Center, pollution and debris from inactive mines can seep into drinking water supplies and harm wildlife, as well as putting communities at increased risk for landslides.

Savage argued stricter policies are needed to hold mining companies accountable for proper reclamation methods called for under federal water protection legislation.

"Ensuring compliance with the Clean Water Act through reclamation; require disturbed areas to be planted with noninvasive species," Savage outlined. "We see a big invasive species problem, both in the east and the west."

Research shows reclaiming zombie mines could also bring economic opportunities to a region plagued by unemployment. A 2021 analysis by Appalachian Voices found reclamation of modern mines in Ohio and six other eastern states could create between 23,000 and 45,000 jobs.

Disclosure: Appalachian Voices contributes to our fund for reporting on Energy Policy, Environment, and Environmental Justice. If you would like to help support news in the public interest,
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Virginia has adopted a new rule advancing clean car use.

The Advanced Clean Cars II Rule requires carmakers to only sell zero-emission vehicles by 2035. Some lawmakers are not so eager to have this come to fruition. Last year, Republicans in the House passed a bill to repeal a law holding Virginia to California's vehicle emissions standards. It was later defeated in the Senate.

Cheri Conca, transportation and smart growth program manager for the Virginia chapter of the Sierra Club, said misinformation has made it challenging to get this rule adopted.

"First of all, people think, 'Oh, this is some other state's rules or they think we can make up our own rules for Virginia.' The truth is every state has an option to either pick the EPA standards or you pick the Advanced Clean Car standards," Conca explained. "You have to pick one or the other."

A Southern Environmental Law Center report found lower vehicle emissions could save the state billions in health care-related costs. So far, 13 other states and Washington D.C., have adopted the Advanced Clean Car II Rule.

Like so many states, transportation is the leading cause of greenhouse gas emissions in Virginia, with 53% of carbon dioxide pollution stemming from passenger vehicles and light-duty trucks. The rule takes effect March 13.

Now the question becomes whether Virginia has the infrastructure to accommodate electric vehicles. Dominion Energy has been developing the state's electric car grid for some time, but Conca noted people wonder whether the energy infrastructure can handle it.

"When we think about the grid, people worry about the grid," Conca observed. "The amount of time you're actually charging your car is minimal. So, even if we have every new car sale, you know the amount of new cars compared to car sales overall, it's not going to topple the grid."

The electricity needed to power an EV in Virginia emits less than 17% of the carbon dioxide emitted from a traditional gasoline car. A Virginia Conservation Network report finds the state won't be able to meet its climate goals without a 43% greenhouse gas emissions reduction in the transportation sector by 2030.

Disclosure: The Sierra Club contributes to our fund for reporting on Climate Change/Air Quality, Energy Policy, Environment, and Environmental Justice. If you would like to help support news in the public interest,
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