Suffolk County, NY Carbon Cap Implementation Advisory Committee

Type: Resolution
Status: Adopted on 2/6/07
Source File: http://www.co.suffolk.ny.us/legis/Resos2006/i2267-06.htm
Text:
RESOLUTION NO. 41-2007, CREATING THE SUFFOLK COUNTY CARBON CAP IMPLEMENTATION ADVISORY COMMITTEE 
WHEREAS, global warming is a matter of increasing concern for the public health, environment and economy of Suffolk County; and
WHEREAS, global warming is caused by the emission of greenhouse gases, which include carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide, hydrofluorocarbons, perfluorocarbons, and sulfer hexafluoride; and
WHEREAS, the health of Suffolk residents is threatened by global warming and scientists have concluded that reducing the emission of greenhouse gases will reduce air pollution, a known contributor to respiratory ailments; and
WHEREAS, fossil fuel burning electric generating units are the largest individual source of carbon dioxide and these units account for approximately one-quarter of the annual emission of carbon dioxide; and
WHEREAS, the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions from electric generating plants in Suffolk County should be of primary concern to those who are charged with protecting the health and safety of Suffolk residents; now, therefore be it
1st RESOLVED, that the Suffolk County Carbon Cap Implementation Advisory Committee is hereby created to study the level of greenhouse gas emissions from electric generating plants in Suffolk County and to develop strategies to achieve a 25% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions from such electric generating plants by 2020; and be it further
2nd RESOLVED, that this Suffolk County Carbon Cap Implementation Advisory Committee shall consist of the following fifteen (15) members:
1.) the Chairman of the Suffolk County Legislature’s Economic Development, Higher Education and Energy Committee;
2.) the Commissioner of Environment and Energy, or his or her designee, who will serve as Co-Chair;
3.) the Presiding Officer, or his or her designee;
4.) the Minority Leader, or his or her designee;
5.) a representative from the Office of Legislative Budget Review;
6.) the Dean of SUNY Stony Brook School of Engineering, or his or her designee;
7.) the President of SUNY Farmingdale, or his or her designee;
8.) the Director of the Brookhaven National Laboratory, or his or her designee;
9.) the Executive Director of the Neighborhood Network, or his or her designee, who shall serve as Co-Chair;
10.) the Executive Director of Renewable Energy Long Island, or his or her designee;
11.) the Executive Director of Citizens Campaign for the Environment, or his or her designee;
12.) a representative of the Long Island Association Energy Committee;
13.) a representative from Sustainable Energy Long Island;
14.) a representative from LIPA; and
15.) a representative from KeySpan;
and be it further
3rd RESOLVED, that the Suffolk County Carbon Cap Implementation Advisory Committee shall determine the baseline level of greenhouse gas emissions from electric generation in Suffolk County in the year 1990; the current level of greenhouse gas emissions from electric generation; and the projected level of greenhouse gas emissions in Suffolk County in the year 2020 if no action is taken by the County; and be it further
4th RESOLVED, that the Suffolk County Carbon Cap Implementation Advisory Committee shall develop strategies for the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions from electric generation in Suffolk County and shall determine what technologies are most feasible for reducing the amount of greenhouse gas emissions from electric generation by 25%; the legal authority to mandate the use of any technology or strategy or to establish a “carbon cap”; what timeline should be set to ensure that the goal of a 25% reduction is met by 2020; and which implementation scheme, including, but not limited to, a cap and trade system, mandated technologies, mandated emission reductions per plant or mandated emission reductions per electric generation company, would be most effective; and be it further
5th RESOLVED, that the Suffolk County Carbon Cap Implementation Advisory Committee shall also study and determine which entities should bear the costs associated with any greenhouse gas emission reduction strategy; and be it further
6th RESOLVED, that the Suffolk County Carbon Cap Implementation Advisory Committee shall study the proposed KeySpan/National Grid merger, and determine how such a merger would effect any implementation program, and whether or not a phased in implementation of any recommended strategies can be made a condition of such merger; and be it further
7th RESOLVED, that the Suffolk County Carbon Cap Implementation Advisory Committee shall hold its first meeting no later than thirty (30) days after the oaths of office of all members have been filed, which meeting shall be convened by the Chairperson of the Suffolk County Carbon Cap Implementation Advisory Committee, for the purpose of organization and the appointment of a vice chairperson and a secretary; and be it further
8th RESOLVED, that the members of said Suffolk County Carbon Cap Implementation Advisory Committee shall serve without compensation and shall serve at the pleasure of their respective appointing authorities; and be it further
9th RESOLVED, that the Suffolk County Carbon Cap Implementation Advisory Committee shall keep a record of all its proceedings and determine the rules of its own proceedings with special meetings to be called by the Chairperson upon his or her own initiative or upon receipt of a written request there for signed by at least three (3) members of the Suffolk County Carbon Cap Implementation Advisory Committee. Written notice of the time and place of such special meetings shall be given by the secretary to each member at least four (4) days before the date fixed by the notice for such special meeting; and be it further
10th RESOLVED, that eight (8) members of the Suffolk County Carbon Cap Implementation Advisory Committee shall constitute a quorum to transact the business of the Suffolk County Carbon Cap Implementation Advisory Committee at both regular and special meetings; and be it further
11th RESOLVED, that the Suffolk County Carbon Cap Implementation Advisory Committee may submit requests to the County Executive and/or the County Legislature for approval for the provision of secretarial services, travel expenses, or retention of consultants to assist the Suffolk County Carbon Cap Implementation Advisory Committee with such endeavors, said total expenditures not to exceed Five Thousand ($5,000.00) per fiscal year, which services shall be subject to Legislative approval; and be it further
12th RESOLVED, that clerical services involving the month-to-month operation of this Suffolk County Carbon Cap Implementation Advisory Committee, as well as supplies and postage as necessary, will be provided by the staff of the County Legislature; and be it further
13th RESOLVED, that the Suffolk County Carbon Cap Implementation Advisory Committee may conduct such informal hearings and meetings at any place or places within the County of Suffolk for the purpose of obtaining necessary information or other data to assist it in the proper performance of its duties and functions as it deems necessary; and be it further
14th RESOLVED, that the Suffolk County Carbon Cap Implementation Advisory Committee may delegate to any member of the Suffolk County Carbon Cap Implementation Advisory Committee the power and authority to conduct such hearings and meetings; and be it further
15th RESOLVED, that the Suffolk County Carbon Cap Implementation Advisory Committee shall cooperate with the Legislative Committees of the County Legislature and make available to each Committee's use, upon request, any records and other data it may accumulate or obtain; and be it further
16th RESOLVED, that the Suffolk County Carbon Cap Implementation Advisory Committee shall submit a written report of its findings and determinations together with its recommendations for action to each member of the County Legislature, the Commissioner of Health Services, and the County Executive no later than June 1, 2007 for consideration, review, and appropriate action, if necessary, by the entire County Legislature; and be it further
17th RESOLVED, that the Suffolk County Carbon Cap Implementation Advisory Committee shall expire, and the terms of office of its members terminate, as of June 1, 2007 at which time the Suffolk County Carbon Cap Implementation Advisory Committee shall deposit all the records of its proceedings with the Clerk of the Legislature; and be it further
18th RESOLVED, that this Legislature, being the State Environmental Quality Review Act (SEQRA) lead agency, hereby finds and determines that this resolution constitutes a Type II action pursuant to Section 617.5(c)(20) and (27) of Title 6 of the NEW YORK CODE OF RULES AND REGULATIONS (6 NYCRR) and within the meaning of Section 8-0109(2) of the NEW YORK ENVIRONMENTAL CONSERVATION LAW as a promulgation of regulations, rules, policies, procedures, and legislative decisions in connection with continuing agency administration, management and information collection, and the Suffolk County Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ) is hereby directed to circulate any appropriate SEQRA notices of determination of non-applicability or non-significance in accordance with this resolution.
Category:Climate Policy
Category:County Governments
Category:New York
Category:Resolutions