GUILFORD — New York 52nd Senate District candidate Anndrea Starzak found herself a bit off the beaten path yesterday as she traveled throughout her district laying out her visions for the future of commerce and plugging green energy.
At a press conference held Thursday at the home of Guilford resident Ken Fogerty, Starzak unveiled her Environmental Platform at Fogerty's solar powered home.
Fogerty, a retired educator, has embraced and harnessed the power of the sun at his Gospel Hill Road home in the town of Guilford. A proponent of sustainable energy, he maintains that with added subsidies for solar companies from the state, upstate homeowners and tenants alike can fiscally benefit by selling power back into the power grid while reducing carbon emissions and having an influence on the upstate job market.
Referring to the sluggish action of current bills to make it out of the State Senate in regards to clean energy subsidies, Fogerty said “I would want our new senator to take a close look at these bills. It is my understanding that they've been bottled up in the senate for the last four or five years in committee — These are great opportunities for not only homeowners, but also those who lease and rent,” he said.
“As senator, I will focus on environmental health and safety and I will promote heathy, sustainable options t build a strong, local economy... I will not allow big money to get in the way of our health and safety,” said Starzak.
Starzak acknowledged that clean, renewable energy is a viable option for New Yorkers. “People often say that we in upstate New York do not possess the potential for photovoltaic solar energy production, but experts report that we are at the same latitude as Germany, who is the largest producers of solar energy in europe,” said Starzak. “if they can do it, so can we.”
“The are more incentives and opportunities for renewable energy ans sustainability now than ever before. Our district has the potential to become a center for well paying, sustainable jobs in alternative energy manufacturing, distribution and installation,” said Starzak.
In general, the solar industry has needed government subsidies to compete with fossil fuel power plants and hydro-plants because the technology used in solar panels is not yet as efficient. However, as panels become cheaper and can convert more sunlight, the power they generate becomes cheaper.
