POUGHKEEPSIE – The Environment Committee of the Dutchess County Legislature voted on Thursday to support a proposal to identify fossil-fuel goals.
The legislation, first introduced by lawmaker Joel Tyner, called for a fossil fuel-free future for the county, but following a brief Republican caucus, lawmakers on both sides of the political aisle agreed to support the amendment upon which they voted.
Tyner was appreciative that Republicans and Democrats stood behind the study bill, which he said is a step in the right direction.
“According to the 2013 Cornell-Stanford report, by 2030 statewide, there will be 4 ½ million new construction jobs and $36 billion a year in savings statewide I extrapolated, I did the math,” he said. “We are talking about a half a billion dollars in New York State; $540 million a year in savings on electric bills, energy savings and public health costs.”.
The full county legislature is expected to vote on the measure at its session next week.
