ALBANY, NY (Erie News Now)-- Monday, SOME NEW YORK STATE LAWMAKERS AND ADVOCATES TRAVEL TO ALBANY, PUSHING TO TRANSITION THE STATE CAPITOL BUILDING TO RENEWABLE ENERGY.  

SOME LAWMAKERS AND ADVOCATES SAid THIS legislation IS SIGNIFICANT TO MEET THE STATES' CLIMATE GOALS AND IMPACT ON GLOBAL WARMING.  

“We can’t give up. We need to meet these goals internationally and it starts by doing it right here, right at home,” said Assembly Member Pat Fahy (D-Assembly District 109).

ADVOCATES AND LAWMAKERS ARE ASKING THE GOVERNOR TO FUND THIS LEGISLATION IN THE NEXT STATE BUDGET.  

TRANSITIONING THE State CAPITOL TO RENEWABLE ENERGY COULD COST up to or MORE THAN $50 MILLION. ASSEMBLY MEMBER FAHY SAid THIS LEGISLATION IS AN INVESTMENT.  

“So, they sound expensive in the beginning and 50 million dollars is a lot of money even by New York standards. But in the end, renewable energy will save us so much money on the back-end of day-to-day operating costs,” she said. 

SOME ADVOCATES SAY IF THE GOVERNOR INVESTS STATE DOLLARS INTO THIS LEGISLATION, IT COULD LEAD TO MORE RENEWABLE ENERGY INITIATIVES.  

“She can inspire people across the state to take that cue and follow in those footsteps to get us to renewables at this point,” said Rosemary Rivera, executive director of Citizen Action.

AND IF THIS LEGISLATION CROSSES THE FINISH LINE NEXT YEAR, NEW YORK COULD BECOME THE FOURTH STATE IN THE COUNTRY TO TRANSITION ITS CAPITOL TO RENEWABLE ENERGY.