On Monday, Nassau County Executive Edward Mangano delivered his first State of the County address. In it, he presented Nassau's situation as "deeply troubled," with a $48.5 million deficit. Despite the terrible financial troubles facing the county, Mangano did mention several environmental areas where progress is expected to occur. 

Magano's environmental vision focused on transit-oriented development and clean energy.For example, several Nassau County facilities will get solar power, through a federal loan, and the 9-1-1 building will receive a solar roof, due to a partnership with the New York Power Authority. Other planned programs include LED traffic lights, weatherization projects, working with federal legislators on programs to create green energy jobs and a local bill introduced last month that will create a sustainable loan program.

Mangano also asked Gov. David Paterson to continue support for the Environmental Protection Fund, an issue NYLCV has been championing with our partners. The EPF has provided $60 million in the county over last decade to close landfills, preserve open space and protect drinking water.

Mangano expressed his support for sustainable transit-oriented development such as is proposed around the Mineola train station and of the proposed cross sound tunnel because it is a private, instead of taxpayer, funded project.

Mangano also cautioned that the sewage treatment system will cost millions to repair and that the Cedar Creek Sewage Treatment Facility is mismanaged. He promised to seek private sector investments and state brownfields opportunity areas funding to remediate vacant brownfields throughout the county.

For a full transcript of the address, check out the Nassau County Web site.