ITHACA, NY (WSKG) - Included in the recently adopted 2020 budget for Tompkins County is a four-year Capital Plan to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. The plan is worth $32-million.
The Capital Plan is part of the county’s long term effort to bring down it’s carbon emissions to almost zero by 2035.
County Commissioner of planning and sustainability Katie Borgella said "That includes about a hundred million dollar of infrastructure investment—including our airport expansion, our public safety building and a potential center of government office building downtown."
Borgella said the plan also calls for the county to convert its passenger vehicle fleet to electric-powered. It will also continue programs that help businesses, non-profits and residents make decisions that reduce carbon emissions.
She adds the county can’t reduce greenhouse gas emissions on it’s own.
"Federal level investments and regulations can make it so that we can achieve our greenhouse gas emissions much easier as a community" Borgella said. "I think it gets harder at the local level."
In contrast, Borgella said New York state government already has good programs in place that support a reduction in greenhouse gases.