Issues: Going Green

Queens Courier wrote about the unveiling of the 'Learning Garden' at P.S. 84:

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Senator Michael Gianaris, who attended P.S. 84 as a child, secured funding for the original garden, which was renovated to create the modernized “Learning Garden.”

“This garden is an excellent tool for students to learn in a more hands-on capacity and enhances their understanding of the environment,” said Gianaris, who attended the unveiling. “It is a great example of community members, advocacy groups and government pulling together to make productive use of this space. We are always in need of more avenues to teach children about the environment, how it works and how we can benefit from it.”

NY1 did a feature story on the opening of a new outdoor classroom for P.S.84 in Astoria. Senator Gianaris, who attended theschool when he was young, participated in the ribbon-cutting ceremony.

Watch the video here.

Queens Times Ledger wrote about the Luyster Creek Energy Project planned by USPowergen. Senator Gianaris cannot support power generation unless we are guaranteed an overall emissions reduction.

State Sen. Michael Gianaris (D-Astoria) withdrew his support for a new green power plant project after learning that despite an upgrade meant to reduce emissions, the company will be allowed to create pollutants at a higher rate than it had been allowed previously. 

“My issue has always been that I will not support new power generation unless we’re guaranteed an overall emissions reduction,” Gianaris said. 

City Hall News hosted an energy panel to discuss New York State's energy future. Senator Gianaris was invited to participate in the panel since his Senate district is home to more than 60% of New York City's power generating plants.

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Moving forward will require a range of new initiatives, panelists said – including conservation measures such as retrofitting buildings to be more efficient, and installing smart meters to let electric customers monitor and control their power use more closely.

“We have to balance all of these resources,” said Sergej Mahnovski, senior advisor and director of the Office of Energy Policy and Infrastructure at the city Department of Environmental Protection. “There is no magic bullet, so we have to be careful.”

Sunnyside Post wrote about Senator Gianaris' continued work to get more trees planted in Sunnyside and Woodside. It is expected that hundreds of trees will be planted in the area within the next two years, thanks to the help of local leaders.

Hundreds of trees will be planted in Sunnyside and Woodside within the next two years, according to the neighborhood’s political leaders.

State Sen. Mike Gianaris, who wrote a letter to Mayor Michael Bloomberg in April insisting that more trees be planted on the south side of Queens Blvd, said that the first wave of tree planting is likely to begin in October.