In doing so, Patterson is staking out a position on pollution well to the right of his Republican predecessor:
Environmentalists are perplexed that Mr. Paterson, a Democrat, would weaken a landmark agreement among Northeastern states that was championed by a Republican predecessor, George E. Pataki.
They are also criticizing what they see as a secret process with an industry that has donated tens of thousands of dollars to Governor Paterson's campaign coffers.
Like George Bush frequently did with the E.P.A. in Washington, Paterson's plan would overrule the recommendations of the State D.E.C.:
Mr. Paterson appeared to overrule the State Department of Environmental Conservation in making the move, which would reopen state regulations to provide power plants leeway to release greater amounts of emissions at no additional cost.
And it gets worse: Paterson's slap in the face of D.E.C. (and environmentally-conscious New Yorkers) was evidently the result of being privately lobbied by polluters:
Industry executives asked that the free allowances, which currently allow for the release of 1.5 million tons of emissions, be increased to 6.5 million tons, which, according to the most recent auction price, could save them $16.9 million. [...]
Gavin Donohue, chief executive of the Independent Power Producers of New York, said he was having trouble last year persuading Department of Environmental Conservation officials to listen to the industry's concerns. So he went directly to the governor, he said, and got results.
"D.E.C. was not going to address it in a way that was adequate enough for industry," he said[.]"
This puts Paterson's top advisor on these matters, Judith Enck -- who is known to many as a crusader of great vision and integrity on behalf of the environment -- in an extremely awkward position:
Asked if she supported the change, Ms. Enck, who was a longtime environmental activist before joining the state government under Eliot Spitzer, responded, "My personal views don't really matter."
And naturally, those who have worked hard to secure these gains are livid:
"We're extremely troubled by this development," said Jackson Morris, an energy expert at Environmental Advocates of New York. "I have trouble even fathoming what played out." [...]
Several environmental groups, including the Natural Resources Defense Council and Environmental Advocates of New York, sent a letter on Wednesday to the governor's top deputy, Larry S. Schwartz, protesting the move.
It is a dark day in Albany when Democrats move to the right of Republicans, and do so both in response to industry lobbying and while running roughshod over agency staff. It's like the State's turned upside-down. |
