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Energy and Climate

Tompkins County Planning Dept comments to NYSDEC regarding dSGEIS for development of Marcellus Shale

Comment Letter to NYSDEC

Potential land area impacted by well drilling pads in Tompkins  County under densities of development that would be allowed under the dSGEIS.

Map showing 3 acre well pads at 40 acre intervals (pdf)

Map showing 5 acre well pads at 1 mile intervals (pdf)

Commissioner of Planning and Public Works, Ed Marx, makes presentation on Drilling for Natural Gas in the Marcellus Shale at New York State Association of Counties Conference - February 9, 2010 in Albany, NY.

Presentation on Drilling for Natural Gas in the Marcellus Shale at New York State Association of Counties Conference (pdf)

Energy and Greenhouse Gas Emissions Element

Final Element

On December 16, 2008, the Tompkins County Legislature approved an amendment to the County’s Comprehensive Plan to address the issue of energy and greenhouse gas emissions.  The amendment sets in motion a multi-faceted plan for the Tompkins County community to reduce energy demand, improve energy efficiency, make the transition to renewable sources of energy and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Its goal is to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in the county by at least 2 percent of the 2008 level for each of the next 40 years, achieving at least an 80 percent reduction in greenhouse gas emissions by the year 2050.

We welcome your comments. Please send to: planning@tompkins-co.org.

Energy and Greenhouse Gas Emissions Element Receives Award
The New York Upstate Chapter of the American Planning Association awarded its 2009 Planning Excellence Award for Innovation in Sustainability to the Tompkins County Comprehensive Plan 2008 Amendment – Energy and Greenhouse Gas Emissions Element. The awards commitee noted that the element clearly articulates the goals of reducing energy demand, increasing efficiency, transitioning to renewables, and reducing greenhouse gas emissions.  Seventeen action items are identified to help the community achieve the stated goal of an 80% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions by 2050.

Local Action Plan to Reduce Greenhouse Gas Emission
In April 2001, Tompkins County joined the Cities for Climate Protection (CCP) Campaign, a project of the International Council on Local Environmental Initiatives. This action recognizes the need to address the global warming problem swiftly and effectively, and the County’s unique position to play a role. The CCP Campaign is a voluntary program for municipal governments to identify sources of greenhouse gas emissions within their jurisdictions and to implement actions to combat global warming at the local level.

The links below provide information on the steps that have been taken to further the County’s efforts in reducing its contribution to global warming:

PDFClimate Change and the Cities for Climate Protection Campaign Power Point Presentation

PDFLocal Action Plan to Reduce Greenhouse Gas Emissions for County Government Operations:  A plan to, by 2008, reduce the emissions of greenhouse gases generated by county operations by 20 percent compared to the base year of 1998.

PDFTompkins County Emissions Inventory:  An inventory of greenhouse gas emission for the Tompkins County Community and County Government.

 
 

 

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Tompkins County
Planning Department

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121 E. Court Street
Ithaca, New York 14850

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Phone: (607) 274-5560  
Fax: (607) 274-5578

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