Going Green in ’17

http://www.nytimes.com/2017/01/04/opinion/going-green-in-17.html

Version 0 of 1.

To the Editor:

Re “On Climate Change, Look to the States” (editorial, Dec. 26):

As you pointed out, states have an important role to play in climate and environmental policy, as do cities, market forces and individual citizens. A case in point is the low cost of natural gas, which in less than a decade has closed dirtier coal-burning, electricity-generating plants and caused many New York City apartments to convert from polluting heavy heating oil.

For those who fear backsliding in federal environmental policy, make a personal resolution in 2017 that this is the year to make your home more efficient, install solar panels and a green roof, use a compost bin and ride a bike to work. The cumulative effect of those direct actions can be significant.

CARTER H. STRICKLAND Jr.

Brooklyn

The writer, an environmental consultant, was commissioner of the New York City Department of Environmental Protection from 2011 to 2014.