Virus crisis vs. climate crisis
In the midst of the corona virus crisis, I can’t help thinking about the other worldwide crisis: climate change. The virus crisis is frightening humanity enough to compel governments to fast action, but I wish that were also the case for addressing the climate crisis. As with the mitigating the spread of corona virus, we don’t have time to waste.
At least Gov. Andrew Cuomo has taken the initiative to speed up the state’s transition to clean energy sources. The Accelerated Renewable Energy Growth & Community Benefit Act would cut down the timeline for siting large scale renewable energy installations such as wind and solar farms. Right now, such projects languish for many years in a labyrinthine siting process, but we no longer have many years to get ourselves off fossil fuels.
With experience in the solar industry, I see the benefits that community solar projects deliver to their communities: increased tax revenue, reduced utility costs, creation of local jobs, and the satisfaction for subscribers of being on the right side of energy history. To make these and other benefits available to communities hosting large-scale renewables – and to fight the climate crisis on behalf of all New Yorkers – I call on Senator George A. Amedore, Jr. and Assembly Member Chris Tague to get on board with Gov. Cuomo’s proposal.
Whether attacking the corona virus crisis or the climate crisis, speed is of the essence.
Vicki Weaver
Saugerties
The meltdown?
One silver lining in the coronavirus cloud hanging over the planet is that the message people throughout the world are hearing from Donald Trump — loud and clear, though in his infinite denial “The Chosen One” himself may have only begun to hear it whispering in his ear — is no longer “Make America [and Myself Above All] Great Again,” but “I’m Melting.”
I pray, and expect, that on Tuesday, November 3, 2020, life will have gotten sufficiently back to normal that we can gather together once again and put the finishing touches to this meltdown, and that we’re all still healthy and hopeful enough to join in mopping up the swamp left in this real-life Wicked Witch of the West’s wake.
Stay safe and connected, everybody, and keep the faith.
Tom Cherwin
Saugerties
Join the family! 
