Reducing Greenhouse Gas for a Greener Future - Air Mail!
The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation sent this bulletin on 02/26/2021 09:00 AM ESTDEC Delivers - Information to keep you connected and informed from the NYS Department of Environmental Conservation |
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Public & Stakeholder Participation Information:
Additional information and access to past announcements are on our Public & Stakeholder Participation Information page. Air Mail! is the publication to announce public and stakeholder information about air quality topics. All NYS residents are environmental stakeholders – we welcome anyone to join the information sessions and other opportunities posted here. Growing Energy on a FarmWith winter’s grip still clutching at NYS, many of us are yearning for the warm winds of spring to blow our way. In rural NY, some of those winds will inevitably carry the smell of farm animals. What you’ve smelled on your trip throughout the countryside is manure spreading; a two-fold technique to dispose of animal fecal waste while boosting the productivity of the farmer’s land through fertilization. Sometimes, farmers also put manure to a different, less stinky use, which also benefits the farm. Both farm manure and municipal sewage waste can be used to fuel biogas digesters, which creates energy and compost while decreasing the release of harmful greenhouse gases and reducing waste. Biogas digesters work like large stomachs that break down waste by using anaerobic bacteria. Anaerobic digestion is the chemical process of breaking down materials without oxygen present. The neighbors of these digesters also appreciate the reduction of odors because the digestion process is often enclosed in a silo-type building outfitted with odor-reducing control equipment. One of the end products made by a digester is a mixture of biogases, which includes flammable methane. The biogas can be used as fuel for boilers to generate heat or to power engines making electricity. The process of burning the biogas breaks down the methane, which is a potent greenhouse gas, into water and less harmful carbon dioxide and other gases. The other product a digester makes is a nutrient-rich natural fertilizer that can be applied directly to fields. The fertilizer can be processed further by drying it to make a dry cake fertilizer, which can be used on the farm or sold for use elsewhere. By the end of the process, the fertilizer has been greatly reduced in quantity leaving the farmer with a concentrated product that is easier to store and reduces the frequency of spreading, all while giving the fields adequate nutrients. Wherever the waste comes from - farm animals or cities and towns - digesters are at work breaking down waste to create a useful energy source and rich fertilizer, while also reducing the release of potent greenhouse gases into our atmosphere. Photo Caption: Many types of biodegradable waste can be used to generate biogas in a digester. Some examples include animal dung, spoiled food, food scraps, crop stalks, foliage, and human waste. Green Buses: Journey to a Cleaner FutureIn December 2020, Governor Cuomo announced a series of initiatives to increase the number of electric transit buses on NYS roads to improve air quality and mitigate climate change. The initiative, administered by NYS Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA), includes $33 million from the Volkswagen settlement fund for eligible transit entities to help fund zero-emission transit bus fleets throughout NYS. The program will be implemented through two rounds. The previously announced first round is providing incentives to 18 eligible transit authorities, while the second round is limited to five transit authorities named in the Governor’s 2020 State of the State address. The NYSERDA program also makes available $2.5 million for school districts and bus contractors to acquire clean, lower emission school buses to improve local air quality and reduce bus exhaust near students to protect their young lungs. With this initiative, New York State continues to lead the nation in the efforts to improve air quality and promote environmental justice in disadvantaged communities. To further educate the public on air quality issues, DEC will again be participating in Air Quality Awareness Week from May 3-7. This year’s theme is “Healthy Air - Important for Everyone.” The celebration aims to educate people about the importance of air quality and how it affects human and environmental health through the use of the Air Quality Index (AQI). Photo Credit: Regional Transit Service. Celebrating Black History Month with a Look Back at the CCCAs part of Black History Month this February, DEC is highlighting a group of black men who served New York as members of the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC). To combat rampant unemployment among young black men, President Franklin Roosevelt created the CCC in 1933 to perform public works projects. The struggles of the 1930s reached beyond the economic depression. Major environmental issues plagued the nation as well. The impact of poor farming practices, deforestation, and destructive pests were just a few of the things destroying thousands of acres of usable land. Across the nation, the CCC immediately put its companies to work solving these two major crises at once. Photo Caption: Members of the Civilian Conservation Corps Unit 1251 C II in the 1930s. Photo Credit: NYS Parks Recreation & Historic Preservation and NYS Archives. Helpful Links:
Dates to Remember:
Stay Informed about Your Air QualityNYS' ozone season runs from April through September. DEC publishes ground-level ozone forecasts during ozone season and particulate matter pollution forecasts year-round using a scale called the Air Quality Index (AQI). DEC sends out an air quality alert when there is a high AQI value, which indicates polluted air. Individuals with pre-existing respiratory or cardiovascular conditions, and people who exercise outdoors should take caution during an air quality alert. Find out if an Air Quality Alert is in effect by calling the toll-free Ozone Hotline: 1-800-535-1345. The AQI can be accessed in three ways:
We would like to know what you think. Please send your Air Mail! questions or comments to us at DAR.web@dec.ny.gov. |