BINGHAMTON – The Binghamton Regional Sustainability Coalition welcomes interested parties to their action meeting on Thursday August 28, to discuss gas drilling and local food systems. The meeting will be 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. at the Tabernacle United Methodist Church at 83 Main Street, Binghamton.

“There is already a great deal of energy and momentum building around issues of sustainability, and this coalition is a way to build collaborations and combine resources around initiatives that will achieve enduring social, environmental, and economic well-being for our region,” said Chris Burger, former County Legislator and BRSC Steering Committee member. “Our current priorities are advocacy work around the gas drilling issue and building local food systems, while locating a space for a Sustainability Center. Future projects could include green jobs, green building and renovation, smart growth campaigns, zero waste, and more, but it all depends on the level of involvement and cooperation of interested residents, agencies and organizations.”

BRSC developed from Broome County’s Plan for Sustainable Economic Develop.m.ent with subsequent public input from the Binghamton Neighborhood Assemblies process. It has been formally meeting since earlier this year. Over 100 stakeholders have aided the formation of the Coalition which has representation from public, private and non-profit entities. It strives to make economic develop.m.ent planning a broad-based, democratic process, with civic engagement as its centerpiece.

Recently, the BRSC Gas-Drilling Task Force has been working closely with elected officials at the local, county, and state level to raise awareness of the social, economic, and environmental concerns of this industrial activity. BRSC has issued a policy paper on the gas drilling issue, is currently networking with numerous other citizen coalitions to consider a statewide alliance, and is hoping to organize a public forum this fall to bring reliable, critical information from experts and activists from across NY and other states to a large venue in Binghamton.