New York State Senator Mark Grisanti (R,I- Buffalo) and New York State Assemblyman Sean Ryan (D,WF- Buffalo) announced today that legislation they sponsored in the Senate and Assembly has passed and been signed into law by Governor Cuomo. The legislation (S2075, A836) adds Scajaquada Creek to the state list that defines inland waterways.

Prior to this new law, the list did not include Scajaquada Creek, which meant it was not eligible for state and federal grants under the New York State Environmental Protection Fund's Local Waterfront Revitalization Program (EPF-LWRP). Adding Scajaquada Creek to this list will allow funding from the EPF-LWRP to be used to improve water quality and assist with clean-up efforts along the creek.

Senator Mark Grisanti (R, I-60) announced passage of Senate bill S. 1710 which would provide green development home tax exemptions. Grisanti’s bill would allow a tax exemption of 35 percent for real property for a period of no longer than 20 years if authorized by the local municipality.

According to Senator Grisanti, the legislation will help to incentivize builders to invest in green homes, which are typically more expensive to build.

More than 25 National Grid executives and employees assisted Tifft Nature Preserve ecological technicians and staff employees in the planting of more than 115 new trees at Tifft Nature Preserve in efforts to replace invasive trees with ecologically friendly species. The day of tree planting is just one example of the commitment National Grid has in Western New York to be an environmentally responsible and good corporate citizen.

National Grid’s tree planting volunteerism was in conjunction with Tifft Nature Preserve’s tree regeneration project which is being funded by a $300,000 grant from the Greenway Ecological Standing Committee (GESC).  The Committee is affiliated with the Niagara River Greenways Fund, established by the New York Power Authority as part of the re-licensing of the Niagara Power Project.