Assemblyman-elect Ken Blankenbush says he will make a special trip to Albany to help bring attention to what he calls “the Department of Environmental Conservation’s deceptive and secretive effort to push through a wood-burning boiler ban.”

If implemented, Blankenbush said, the measure “could mean a drastic costly impact for North Country rural families and farmers. The Black River resident was elected in November to the 122nd District seat previously held by Deidre Scozzafava.

“On Wednesday, December 22nd the New York State Environmental Board will vote on the ban at a meeting where the public is allowed no input. The timing of the vote is in question by several upstate legislators who feel the meeting was planned closely to the public and religious holiday of Christmas in order to mask their efforts and detract attention to the matter,” Blankenbush said.

If passed, Blankenbush said, DEC policy on wood-burning furnaces will require full emissions compliance by August 2020; compliant boilers cost in excess of $10,000, he said.

“The DEC regulation is largely supported by downstate politicians and New York City environmentalists who have little experience with the day-to-day role that these boilers play in country and farming communities.”

At the last board meeting in late October the issue regarding wood boilers was tabled with the one chair citing the need for more time to receive public input, according to Blankenbush.

“If they wanted public input on the matter, it was news to me. The DEC knew this was a highly controversial topic and shelved the issue right before the elections. I’ll be honest I believe this matter alone would have revved up a lot of voters and would have created a backlash against the all Democrat-led government. Now these political appointees are trying to sweep in their agenda before the New Year regardless if it is good for New Yorkers or not.”

The Dec. 22 effort will see Blankenbush, Assembly Republican Leader Brian Kolb and several other members at the DEC building in Albany.