To the editor:

The future of sustainable energy and climate in Sullivan County, New York State, the U.S. and globally is renewable energy; wind and solar coupled with battery storage and smart grids.

The New York State Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act (CLCPA) of 2019 and now the Climate and Community Investment Act (CCIA) codify this transition in NYS in an equitable and progressive path such that rate costs during the transition period for oil and gas will not increase for the majority of consumers who are of low and moderate income and small businesses.

Mr. Resnick erroneously portrayed this aspect of the CCIA in his Counterpoint (Sullivan County Democrat, Friday May 21st) doing a disservice to consumers, the environment, the NYS carbon emissions goals and not to mention himself as a visionary businessman.

Notably absent from Mr. Resnick's discourse is the colossal contribution of the investment in wind and solar that the CCIA will generate and the consequential long-term reduction in energy prices.

Thirty percent of the revenue generated by CCIA will be invested in wind, solar and other renewable energy projects which will create and sustain over 150,000 good, green jobs in the first decade. The rate costs for wind energy are already on a par with oil and gas and this trend will only accelerate as the renewable energy infrastructure expands.

The financial impact of the CCIA was based on numerous well researched studies conducted over many years, including studies from the University of Massachusetts Political Economy Research Institute. Clean Energy Investments in NYS.

Smart business people in Sullivan County and NYS are already tapping into the generous credits offered by the state to build out solar and wind projects to supply the grid thus reducing our dependence of unsustainable oil and gas-fired power plants.

The CLCPA stipulates that 70 percent of the state's electricity must come from renewable sources by 2030, and 100 percent of the state's electricity supply must be emissions free by 2040. As we have seen in other states and countries, market certainty drives innovation and investment.

We have seen an exponential increase in utility-size solar and wind projects in the Hudson valley in the last few years. The transition to renewable energy is happening and it is obvious to most of us that players in the energy sector would be better advised to getting on board as soon as possible rather than protecting their unsustainable and polluting business model.

Editor's note:

Mr. Resnick's original “Stop the N.Y. Carbon Tax” Counterpoint that ran on May 21 contained a mathematical error. The letter claimed that If you use 800 kilowatt hours per month, the Carbon Tax would initially cost you $200 each month for the cost of electricity. This is incorrect. The intial cost is $2.00 each month. We apologize for any confusion.