POUGHKEEPSIE – Democratic Dutchess County legislators are proposing a resolution directing the county, beginning next year, to purchase 100 percent of electricity from local renewable sources or by obtaining Green-e Energy certified renewable energy certificates. The lawmakers are also proposing to make a plan to supply 100 percent of its annual building and fleet electricity usage from locally generated renewable sources by 2030.
Legislator Francena Amparo of Wappinger said the county has “dragged its feet for a decade while other counties have accessed millions in state grants and initiated effective projects.”
The Democratic lawmaker said Dutchess must take action now.
“We have always pushed for fuel reduction over the years, but we haven’t really gotten much traction on it, and now due to global warming and the climate crisis we are facing right now, it only makes sense to bring this proposal forward to the legislature again,” Amparo said.
The resolution calls for a 30 percent reduction in greenhouse gas emissions associated with county operations by 2030 and an 80 percent reduction by 2050.
It also calls for the county to purchase 100 percent of its electricity from local renewable energy sources or by obtaining Green-e energy certified renewable energy certificates beginning in 2020 and by 2030 for the county to supply all of its annual building and fleet electricity usage from locally generated renewable energy sources.
Legislator Nick Page of Beacon and Fishkill said the bill is a starting point. “There are substantial state grants available for job training, greener public transit, and protection of wetlands and open space,” he said.
