Op-ed by William Reinhardt of Slingerlands. Reinhardt serves on the Albany County Legislature, representing the 33rd District.
First published in the Times Union
August 22 2024
When Gov. Kathy Hochul took the stage at the Democratic National Convention this week, she spoke passionately about her working-class roots and standing up for working families. Yet back home in New York, a crucial piece of legislation that would do just that — the Climate Change Superfund Act — sits unsigned.
Hochul has spent all summer touting New York’s climate leadership. But words ring hollow without action, and true leadership means making tough choices, not just giving speeches.
As an Albany County legislator, retired energy R&D expert and longtime environmental advocate, I’ve witnessed firsthand the mounting costs of climate change in our communities. From crumbling infrastructure to deadly heat waves, New Yorkers are already paying the price for decades of inaction. It’s time to make the polluters pay instead.
The Climate Change Superfund Act, passed by the state Legislature in June, would require the fossil fuel industry to contribute $3 billion annually for 25 years to fund vital climate resilience projects across New York. This isn’t just about justice; it’s about protecting the working families that Hochul claims to champion.
In Albany County, we have some of the poorest ZIP codes in terms of housing quality. Many of our riverfront communities are at risk from rising sea levels and increased flooding. Our aging stormwater and sewage systems are already struggling with capacity issues, problems that will only worsen as extreme weather becomes more frequent. In addition, studies have identified critical infrastructure assets that are at risk from flooding across the state (and across America). These include housing, industrial contamination sites, public safety and health facilities, and energy infrastructure, including power plants and transmission facilities. Some of these facilities are owned and maintained by county and local governments.
The costs of climate change are not just staggering; they’re potentially catastrophic. Imagine a future where New York is spending $10 billion every year just to adapt to a changing climate. That’s the harsh reality we could face by mid-century, according to an assessment prepared for NYSERDA. To put that in perspective, it’s more than the entire budgets of many of our state agencies combined. We’re talking about billions that won’t be available for funding education, shoring up health care – or supporting working families.
The Climate Change Superfund Act isn’t just necessary; it’s a lifeline for New York’s working families. By signing it, we can make polluters pay for the damage they’ve caused and provide our communities with the resources we desperately need to adapt to a changing climate.
As a parent and grandparent, I’m acutely aware of what’s at stake. My grandchildren, growing up here in Bethlehem, deserve a future where they don’t bear the crushing costs of climate adaptation. They deserve a New York that leads the nation in climate resilience and environmental justice.
The future of New York’s working families — and the credibility of Hochul’s leadership — hangs in the balance. It’s time for the governor put action behind her words and sign the Climate Change Superfund Act. It will show that New York is truly serious about protecting its people and its future.