BROOKLYN COLLEGE–On March 5, climate change action organizations TREEage, the BC Sustainability Club and New York Public Interest Research Group (NYPIRG) came together in Albany, New York to rally for bills to be passed in support of combatting climate change. This was their fourth annual “Youth Day of Action,” in which over 600 NY-based students, both in high school and college, attended the rally with the objective of having their futures prioritized by politicians.
The two organizations, along with its participants, aimed to get the following bills into the attention of New York State politicians: “Solar on Schools,” which would commit $500 million to install solar panels and geothermal energy in schools, and the FUND Campaign for New York State, which reflects the need for climate-resilient New York State.
In addition, the NY HEAT Act would deliver relief to New Yorkers struggling to pay their energy bills, as the bill aims to prevent low-to-moderate income customers from energy bills more than six percent of their income. Low-income residents currently spend an average of 15% of their income on these bills, as according to the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy (ACEEE).
