The New York state Legislature has earned a "B" grade for its progress on environmental and energy issues in the 2012 legislative session that ended last month, according to a media release from The New York League of Conservation Voters.
The New York City-based environmental group advocates for environmental issues through public education and endorsement of political candidates and legislation, according to its website.
The legislature earned praise and "A" grades from the green group for directing unclaimed deposits from recyclables to the state's Environmental Protection Fund, for strengthening protections against invasive species, and for authorizing tax credits for renewable energy projects, among other initiatives.
But a stalled bill that would regulate treatment of wastewater from gas drilling -- identified as a priority project by the NYLCV -- was among the "C" grades the Legislature received from the NYLCV.
"The Assembly and Senate made important progress in improving water quality and bolstering financial support for environmental programs," NYLCV President Marcia Bystryn said in a media release. "But, as the lack of progress on climate change and clean energy underscores, Albany needs to sharpen its focus on energy issues and begin to address New York's long-term sustainability challenges."
A "B" grade signifies that the legislature achieved most policy goals.
The legislature earned Bs for natural resource protection, public health protection and transportation, and "C" grades for clean-energy economy and climate change and air quality, resulting in an overall grade of "B."
A full copy of the NYLCV 2012 Environmental Progress Report is available at http://tinyurl.com/87yuls2.
Local News
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