Hinchey receives award from Jennifer Metzger, an organizer of Rosendale's Earthfest

ROSENDALE – Rep. Maurice Hinchey received a Green Leadership Award from the Town of Rosendale’s Commission for Conservation and Environment during its 2008 Earthfest Saturday.

The Earthfest included materials to promote renewable energy and speakers such as Hinchey, a prime backer of  Ulster County’s Solar Energy Consortium, talking about the world’s energy problems and some of the solutions needed to help the planet to be more self sufficient with its energy needs.

“It’s how we need to transform our obligations away from oil to renewable energy and take away our dependence on fossil fuels,” said Hinchey. “The people in Rosendale are great leaders. They know what’s going on. They see it clearly.”

Hinchey received the award at the town’s community center, which uses geothermal energy, below ground, for some its energy needs.

“I’m honored for the leadership in Rosendale, for which they are providing and for the way they are looking forward to issues concerning the environment,” said Hinchey.