CALL YOUR STATE ASSEMBLY MEMBER
Calling your elected officials is a quick, effective way to make your position as a voter known. In great numbers and when timed well, phoning can be a truly powerful grassroots tool. Although phoning for the first time can bring out the nerves, it is actually very easy to master, kind of fun and really empowering.
- Identify your state assembly member at the New York Board of Elections web site. Just fill in your address, click ‘Find’ and then locate your assembly member on the right-hand side. You can then click on each of their names to be brought to their official web sites. Here you can find your assembly member’s phone number on their web site’s the ‘contact’ page. You can call either the Albany or District office.
- Review the facts. Before calling, prepare yourself by review the basic net-metering facts. Click on the net metering home page for a list of basic facts. RETURN TO NET-METERING PAGE.
To view a short, audio-narrated PowerPoint presentation summarizing the facts of New York net-metering law, click here.
- Say what you are calling about immediately. Tell the person who answers the phone that you are a constituent and that you are calling to urge the Assembly Member to support a specific piece of legislation - A11146.
- Be clear and specific. Very briefly express that you support more clean renewable energy for New York State and therefore urge the assembly member to vote for Bill A11146, which would expand net-metering for solar technologies (and farm-based anaerobic digestors, another clean energy technology). This improvement of existing law would make solar more affordable and would help spur the development of new jobs and a new clean energy industry in New York State.
- Ask your Assembly Member to be a champion. In addition to asking your assembly member to support bill A11146, It is equally important to encourage them to actively urge Assembly Member Kevin Cahill, Chair of the Assembly Energy Committee, to support the bill as well. Without the Committee’s support, A11146 cannot be voted on by the Assembly as a whole.
- Always, always be FRIENDLY ! This can’t be underestimated. While it is important to express your view as a voter with passion and authenticity, being rude, caustic or threatening will rarely get you anywhere. It’s always more effective to make your elected official feel good about the prospect of supporting what you are asking for.
