Case is weak for divesting fossil fuels from NY pension fund (Commentary)

June 5, 2018

Syracuse Post Standard

Ted Skerpon


It appears that environmental groups are putting pressure on Gov. Andrew Cuomo and some elected leaders in Albany to divest fossil fuels from the New York state pension portfolio.

As chairman of the Utility Labor Council of New York, I have serious concerns about this proposal.

First, divesting fossil fuels from the pension fund is problematic. Most of the fossil fuel securities are part of larger funds that contain numerous securities. You cannot simply decide to divest from fossil fuels without it having a significant impact on the fund overall. The IBEW Utility Labor Council represents several hundred pension beneficiaries. It would be extremely harmful to them should this type of proposal move forward.

Read All

Next Post.

In the News

Our Pensions

East Hampton Star

MANUEL M. VILAR


As the founding president of Police Benevolent Association of New York State which is the fifth biggest police union in New York State, I don’t typically get involved in political debates, but the proposed plan to divest hundreds of millions of dollars from all fossil-fuel producing companies in the...

Read More