Zero Emissions Parade (ZEP) and Green Vendor Fair Saturday, September 15th, 11 AM to 3 PM in New Paltz
What: On Saturday, Sept. 15th, New Paltz Climate Action Coalition and New Paltz Climate Smart are celebrating National Drive Electric Week with a parade for pedestrians, bicyclists, electric vehicles (EVs), e-bikes, and perhaps an e-tractor or e-mower. A Green Vendor Fair at Village Hall follows. Attendees can test drive electric cars and speak with EV drivers, energy efficiency and renewables advocates and experts.
When: Zero Emissions Parade, 11 AM – 12 noon. Green Vendor Fair, 12 noon to 3 PM.
Where: Parade, New Paltz Middle School (2 S Manheim Blvd, New Paltz, NY) to New Paltz Village Hall (25 Plattekill Ave, New Paltz, NY). Fair, Village Hall.
Speakers: Ulster County Executive Michael Hein, Ulster County Legislator and Catskill Mountainkeeper Senior Research Director Kathy Nolan, Village of New Paltz Mayor Tim Rogers, New Paltz Town Supervisor Neil Bettez, and RosendaleTown Councilwoman and Citizens for Local Power Director Jen Metzger will address the Fair crowd starting 12:40 pm.
Visuals: Activist marching brass band Tin Horn Uprising; New Paltz Dance Team; children’s bicycle-decorating contest with prizes from Bicycle Depot make ZEP festive and family friendly.
Vendors: Romeo Chevrolet Buick GMC, Healey Chevrolet, and Rycor HVAC are providing generous support and will be in the parade and at the Fair. Green Mountain Energy, Natural Energy Solutions, New York State Solar Farm, and Solarize Esopus also contributed and will be among the vendors at the Green Vendor Fair.
Why: Climate change caused by greenhouse gas emissions is generating catastrophic damage. The parade and fair encourage walking, biking, public transit and energy efficiency, while showing diverse EVs. When charged by solar panels, EVs literally “drive on sunshine.” Electric cars are less expensive to fuel than gasoline vehicles and have become increasingly affordable. Energy efficiency, renewable energy, and electrification, combined, are key to reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
Co-sponsors: Catskill Mountainkeeper, www.catskillmountainkeeper.org, New Yorkers for Clean Power https://nyforcleanpower.org, and Protecting Our Waters https://www.facebook.com/ProtectingOurWaters/ are co-sponsors.
Organizers: New Paltz Climate Action Coalition www.newpaltzclimateaction.org, is a group of engaged individuals dedicated to addressing the causes and consequences of climate change. New Paltz Climate Smart Communities www.dec.ny.gov/energy is part of a network of New York communities working to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and improve climate resiliency. National Drive Electric Week https://driveelectricweek.org is sponsoring 248 celebrations from Sept. 8 to 16, 2018, featuring plug-in electric vehicles, including events in Kingston, Poughkeepsie, and Gardiner.
