A nonprofit, independent media organization dedicated to telling stories of climate solutions and a just future.
Prostitution-ring participant Eliot Spitzer has resigned as New York’s governor, leaving behind a not-too-shabby environmental legacy. As New York’s attorney general, he sued the Bush administration over various eco-issues, including greenhouse-gas emissions, mercury pollution and water guzzling from power plants, pesticide use in public housing, and efficiency standards for appliances.
Photo: ny.gov
Grist thanks its sponsors. Become one.
To support our nonprofit environmental journalism, please consider disabling your ad-blocker to allow ads on Grist.
Spitzer took plenty of polluters to court, too. Among his many victories, he forced six New York power plants to radically cut emissions that cause acid rain and smog. He was also the first attorney general to sue operators of coal-fired power plants in other states, arguing that their pollution blows into New York and contaminates the air breathed by his constituents.
Under Spitzer’s short reign as governor, New York saw plans for a wholesale farmer’s market in the Bronx and began to require “global warming index” stickers on new vehicles. Spitzer gave the governor’s mansion an eco-facelift and unveiled an energy plan aiming to cut electricity use in his state 15 percent by 2015.
The governorship now falls to Lieutenant Governor David Paterson, also a Democrat. Paterson is not so much in the eco-spotlight, but did chair a renewable-energy task force that laid out plans for meeting a quarter of New York’s energy needs through clean sources by 2013, and developing and supporting a green-collar workforce. Whether he’ll follow in Spitzer’s footsteps — the eco-aimed ones, not the ones treading a path to a prostitute’s door — remains to be seen.
see also, in Gristmill: <a href="
Grist thanks its sponsors. Become one.
To support our nonprofit environmental journalism, please consider disabling your ad-blocker to allow ads on Grist.
A message from
Grist is the only award-winning newsroom focused on exploring equitable solutions to climate change. It’s vital reporting made entirely possible by loyal readers like you. At Grist, we don’t believe in paywalls. Instead, we rely on our readers to pitch in what they can so that we can continue bringing you our solution-based climate news.
Grist is the only award-winning newsroom focused on exploring equitable solutions to climate change. It’s vital reporting made entirely possible by loyal readers like you. At Grist, we don’t believe in paywalls. Instead, we rely on our readers to pitch in what they can so that we can continue bringing you our solution-based climate news.
Grist thanks its sponsors. Become one.
Grist thanks its sponsors. Become one.
To support our nonprofit environmental journalism, please consider disabling your ad-blocker to allow ads on Grist.
The only newsroom focused on exploring solutions at the intersection of climate and justice. Donate today to help keep Grist’s site and newsletters free.
© 1999-2024 Grist Magazine, Inc. All rights reserved. Grist is powered by WordPress VIP. Terms of Use | Privacy Policy