By Kenneth Macdonald
Buffalo, NY – New bills introduced this week to ease energy consumption at county facilities are receiving widespread support.
Erie County Legislator Maria Whyte says the package of bills are bringing together policy makers, environmentalists and labor leaders.
"Why is that we are on the same page today? Why is it that we are all united? The reason is our world is changing, and it is not changing for the better," Whyte said. "Global climate change is real, and it is causing very significant problems."
Whyte is the lead sponsor of six bills designed to ease the energy consumption in county government. She says the bills call for greater energy efficiency in public buildings and minimum purchase mandates for renewable energy.
Whyte says the initial investment to "go green" will be expensive. But she says the consequences of increased energy consumption could cost more in the long term.