Adam Haber releases envrionmental plan

Adam Haber, the Democratic candidate for  the state Senate  in the 7th District, released on Monday an environmental plan that he said aims to protect natural resources, combat climate change and create more affordable and green energy, while his opponent, Elaine Phillips, received the endorsement of an environmental advocacy organization.
“We have the ability to both protect our environment while also harnessing great economic opportunities to create good local green jobs on Long Island,” said Haber. “We can’t sit back and let other regions and states beat us to the punch, and must be leaders in green technology.
“By working together we can take on climate change while creating cleaner and more affordable energy for working families and spur economic growth.”
Haber’s plan calls for local and state officials, as well as environmental advocates, to join together and prevent the Environmental Protection Agency from dumping dredging material in Long Island Sound and fight for funding to clean the Sound, according to the Haber campaign.
The plan seeks to invest in shoreline infrastructure upgrades and repairs, specifically related to preventing waterway contamination.
Haber’s plan also outlines his desire to work with unions, higher education institutions and the business community for green job training and job transition programs to a create a more skilled workforce for green energy jobs.
In an effort to reduce costs and preserve green spaces, the plan would identify and use large, flat open spaces, such as the roof tops of school buildings, for solar power rather than cutting down trees to create a solar farm.
The final point of the plan calls for supporting NY Renews, an environmental advocacy coalition, in its efforts to combat climate change by achieving access to 100 percent clean energy by 2050 and its benchmark goal of 50 percent by 2030.
“Long Islanders know the real and life-altering impact climate change can have on a community and we must work to be prepared, especially when it comes to our infrastructure, for future storms and also be proactive in doing our part to fight climate change,” Haber said.
He is set to face off with Phillips, the Republican candidate, in November in the race to replace outgoing state Sen. Jack Martins.
Phillips, the Flower Hill Village mayor, was endorsed Monday by the New York League of Conservation Voters.
“The environment will have a strong ally in Elaine Phillips,” said the group’s president, Marcia Bystryn. “We are particularly encouraged by her passion for improving the quality of drinking water and our local waterways. We are proud to endorse Elaine Phillips and we encourage Nassau County residents who care about clean water and environmental progress to vote for Elaine Phillips for state Senate.”
Phillips said she appreciates the group’s endorsement and will work with it to improve the environment if elected.
“Long Islanders understand that clean air, open space and, especially, pure water, are an important part of the reason why we love living here, and I’m proud of my record that’s helped to safeguard our harbors and drinking water and improve the environment in my community,” she said. “A clean environment is a gift that we leave to future generations and I am grateful to the N.Y. League of Conservation Voters for recognizing my efforts and look forward to partnering with them to create an even cleaner and better future.”