Even with such cloudy weather in recent weeks, I and so many others are basking in the glow of success since Gov. Cuomo decided to heed the science and the recommendations of his health and environment commissioners and ban fracking in New York. Now I won’t have to move away from the home I love in order to secure my health and safety. And that goes for all New Yorkers, including those who supported fracking, who will now not suffer the catastrophic impacts of heavily-polluting industrialization of our region.

This was achieved by an impressive grassroots community-organizing campaign involving a coalition of hundreds of groups with thousands of volunteer members and supporters. These were mostly people without past activism experience, but with ample skills in communication and the motivation to use a peaceful democratic process to alter a policy, the way democracy is supposed to work: people stronger than corporations.

When the celebrations ebb, it will be time to get back to work. It would be hypocritical for New Yorkers to continue to rely on fossil fuel energy imported from other states and nations. We must convert to renewables as soon as possible, on an individual and communal basis. We must adopt and implement Mark Jacobson’s Plan to Power 100 Percent of New York State and the Planet with renewable energy sources.

I am personally partway there. I heat mostly with wood stoves. I increased insulation. I lease solar panels that provide 100% of my electric usage. I keep my driving to a minimum. I divested most of my savings from fossil fuel companies. Eventually I will convert my backup heating sources from oil and LP gas to wood pellets if feasible. There’s more to do, and I’ll take it one step at a time.

Allan Rubin

Cochecton, NY