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"Our legislators are entertaining a dizzying array of uses for the proposed environmental bond act (\"Proposed bond act prompts questions,\" March 6). Enticing as it is to consider what that money could do, I hope that they are also paying attention to a more pressing matter that will immediately aid efforts to cut greenhouse gas emissions: Gov. Andrew Cuomo's proposal to create a special office for renewable energy and a speedier timetable for approving renewable energy projects. The current process to build a renewable energy project takes eight to 10 years. In the past eight years only five projects have been approved under this process and only one is under construction. The governor's proposed change would minimize bureaucratic hurdles and move projects forward faster. Far from \"eviscerating home rule,\" as Gary Abraham claims, (\"Greens applaud red-tape plans,\" Feb. 28), local communities would continue to drive policy by setting local zoning laws for renewable energy development. In addition, the projects would bring local communities discounted electricity and jobs. By all means, we must dream big about desperately needed projects to forestall and mitigate climate change. But there are also solutions as close as the governor's desk in this amendment to the 2020-21 state budget, which must be approved by April 1. Christine Dreyfus New Lebanon"
<https://www.timesunion.com/opinion/article/Letter-Climate-change-solutions-are-near-15138917.php>