To the Editor:

I am one of 58 professors and scientists from the four local universities who co-signed a letter to county legislators endorsing a proposed Climate Action Plan for St. Lawrence County.

They will vote July 11. In addition to the important information contained in that letter concerning the costs of climate change here in St. Lawrence, there are additional important points.

1. St. Lawrence County can benefit financially through implementation of smart energy policy including sustainable development and a climate action plan.

2. The climate debate is often characterized as “Democrat versus Republican.” However, large cost-saving climate and sustainability initiatives that have been implemented by Republican politicians in Onondaga County and the city of Rome, N.Y.

Onondaga County is recognized by the EPA as a top 10 “Green Community.” Director Joanne Mahoney’s (a Republican) program includes a Greenhouse Emissions Policy and a “Climate Smart” Community Policy.

Most importantly, it has saved Onondaga County a lot of money. Mahoney notes that one project saves, “$50,000 per year in avoided electricity bills and will pay for itself in less than two years.”

Another project to “optimize the production of hot water … will save the County an additional $44,000 per year.”

Consider Rome Mayor James Brown, an 8-year Republican incumbent who enjoys bi-partisan support. Rome’s strategy uses fiscal restraint and a “green city” plan that includes economic development, brownfield cleanup, over $100,000 in savings in a yard waste recycling program, and $500,000 in savings in energy efficiency programs over 4 years.

St. Lawrence County can do similarly. A thoughtful approach to climate, fiscal restraint, energy efficiency, and sustainability can create synergies that will benefit our County for years to come and provide needed economic development.

Further, many of us are willing to help connect the county with other appropriate programs, and to assist in any aspect of the implementation of a climate and energy policy for St. Lawrence County.

A good climate policy is also a very good fiscal policy. It is being pursued by both Republican and Democratic civic leaders.

It aligns itself with the scientific consensus globally, and is also the right thing to do from a local fiscal perspective here in St. Lawrence County.

Stephen Bird, Potsdam