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Affordability, Climate Action, Democrats, Governor Kathy Hochul, Housing, Infrastructure, New York State politics, News & Photo Features

NYS Governor Hochul vs Nassau County Exec Blakeman. Who Has the Better Record to Win Election?

During their debate, Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman claimed that Governor Kathy Hochul is campaigning on calling him a Trump puppet rather than on her own record. Here is a comparison of their records. © Karen Rubin/news-photos-features.com

By Karen Rubin, News & Photo Features, editor@news-photos-features.com

We tend to take for granted when elected leaders are effective in doing the business for the people, when they bring the values and mission of “public service,” and tend to gripe over things like the price of eggs, or the frustration of not solving every pet problem, or the anger at a compromise or a less-than-perfect candidate.

Do not make that mistake in the New York State governor’s race. New Yorkers may well take for granted all that Kathy Hochul has done, what she stands for, and what she is trying to accomplish as Governor – on women’s reproductive rights, gun violence prevention, health care, child care and pre-K, climate change and clean, renewable energy, affordable housing, worker training and jobs creation, promoting economic development through such programs as the Downtown Revitalization Initiative and Forward NY, building infrastructure and mass transit and alternative transportation (biking and hiking trails, safe sidewalks), promoting health and wellness, our parks and recreation, standing up for due process and the rule of law and criminal justice (yes, cashless bail). Much of it comes under her “Affordability Agenda” – actual initiatives to bring the cost of living more in line with quality of life.

And do not over-estimate Bruce Blakeman, the Republican challenger, who has little good to show for his five years as Nassau County Executive – standing up a secretive private militia (when he boasts about Nassau being the safest county of its size he is citing the achievement of his predecessor, Democrat Laura Curran), banning wearing masks in public (but not ICE), banning transgender individuals from playing girls’ sports. He has demonstrated his opposition to everything, including New York State’s Climate Agenda, promising to allow fracking. He opposed Hochul’s gun reforms (after the Supreme Court overturned the state’s century-old gun control law) and said he wanted to ease access to gun permits, even allowing guns in synagogues. And he challenged her congestion pricing and affordable housing plans without offering any compromise.

There is nothing that Blakeman does that isn’t infused with partisanship and politics – he is the very opposite of a “public servant” – and like Trump, that goes to who he appoints to actually do the work of governing.

You might say that the reason Blakeman has little to show as Nassau County Executive is because he has been running for Governor since the day after last year’s reelection – not to mention never publishing his schedule that shows when he is out of town campaigning, or mining for dollars. But I have followed his activities since he first came to office in 2021 – in the midst of a new outbreak of coronavirus, he declared COVID-19 ended and the county back in business. Except for photo ops, his press conferences have mostly been about his opposition to whatever Governor Hochul and the Democratic-led State Legislature has done, while actively blocking County Democrats from having any input whatsoever.

Instead, you have this from Newsday on October 23, the day before Early Voting starts: “Nassau ‘ignored’ a dangerous intersection. Now it could be on the hook for tens of millions. Experts say the crash that seriously injured two teens highlights how a failure to improve roadways can leave taxpayers liable for damages and legal bills.” 

It is so Orwellian that Blakeman’s campaign is based solely on accusing Hochul of only attacking him for being a Trump puppet rather than run on her record. But he is the one without a record to run on – only tired slogans (“public safety”; “reduce taxes”). Well, he is specific on one point: he promises to cut Medicaid in half. But he has never stood up for New York over Trump’s tariffs, his anti-Canadian policies, his recission of millions of dollars of appropriated funds for everything from counter-terrorism programs to the Hudson Gateway Tunnel to off-shore wind projects already underway.

Kathy Hochul can point to scores of achievements that tick down her “Affordability” agenda. Importantly, she has shown she appreciates the difference between economic development that is sustainable and economic development that exploits – demonstrated in her nation-leading moratorium on data centers and call for a task force to determine how AI should be regulated.

Another consideration is who the Governor will appoint to head agencies and lead initiatives – because when you look at the list of what Governor Hochul has initiated, it is clear that she has a team that knows what they are doing.

We have seen the impact of that with Trump who only appoints loyalists but dismisses actual public-spirited experts.

But I am betting that New Yorkers have no clue what Hochul has accomplished so it is too easy for Blakeman to assert this lie that New Yorkers are “miserable and suffering” – which feeds into voters’ (especially young voters’) cynicism.

So here’s a sampling of press reports just over the last several weeks – a shorthand for what Governor Hochul has accomplished and focused on – jobs creation, economic development, downtown revitalization, environmental protection, climate action and clean renewable energy, universal child care, affordable housing and an affordability agenda, infrastructure, mass transit:

CUTTING RED TAPE: GOVERNOR HOCHUL UNVEILS SECOND WAVE OF REGULATORY REFORMS UNDER ‘EXPRESS NY’ INITIATIVE –  

75 Actions Across 17 Agencies Will Increase Access to Child Care and other Vital Services, Support Small Businesses, Cut Excessive Red Tape and Modernize State Operations; More Than 120 Regulatory Reforms Now Advanced Through EXPRESS NY; That Will Save New Yorkers 5 Million Hours of Time and Tens of Millions of Dollars; Reforms Reflect Most Ambitious Effort in New York History to Make State Operations More Effective

GOVERNOR HOCHUL ANNOUNCES $20 MILLION TO MAKE THE DREAM OF HOMEOWNERSHIP A REALITY – Awards for Governor’s Groundbreaking MOVE-IN NY Program Will Bring Modern, Affordable Factory-Built Homes to Long Island, North Country and Finger Lakes; Prefabricated Starter Homes Constructed in a Fraction of the Time at Nearly Half the Cost

GOVERNOR HOCHUL ANNOUNCES NEARLY $500 MILLION IN GRANTS TO WATER INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECTS STATEWIDE – Delivers First Installment of the Governor’s $3.75 Billion Clean Water Investment Plan; Projected To Save Local Ratepayers an Estimated $1 Billion and Create 22,400 Jobs Across the State

GOVERNOR HOCHUL AND MAYOR MAMDANI UNVEIL PHASE TWO OF 2-K EXPANSION, BRINGING TOTAL NUMBER OF SEATS TO 12,000 CITYWIDE – Beginning in Fall 2027, Program Will Serve All of Staten Island and Every School District in the Bronx; Expansion Made Possible by $1.2 Billion Investment from Governor Hochul, Putting New York on a Path to Universal Child Care

GOVERNOR HOCHUL ANNOUNCES AWARDS OF $32.5 MILLION TO EXPAND HEALTHCARE WORKFORCE TRAINING ACROSS NEW YORK STATE REGIONS – 34 Healthcare Facilities Selected for Competitive Grants to Address Community-Specific Workforce Shortages in Diverse Healthcare Disciplines; Five-Year Awards Will Help Facilities Train and Retain Qualified Healthcare Professionals in High-Need Communities

GOVERNOR HOCHUL ANNOUNCES NEARLY $50 MILLION TO PRESERVE NEW YORK FARMLAND – More than $48 Million Awarded to 43 Farms to Protect More than 16,000 Acres of Agricultural Land, $1 Million to Support Building Staff Capacity within New York’s Land Trusts; Record Level of Funding Dedicated to the Farmland Protection Implementation Grants (FPIG) Program in Round 20 with a Boost Through the Environmental Bond Act, Applications Still Being Accepted; State’s Farmland Protection Program Celebrating its 30th Year in Supporting New York’s Farmers; Full List of Projects Awarded in the Capital Region, Central New York, Finger Lakes, Southern Tier, Mid-Hudson, and Western New York Regions Here

GOVERNOR HOCHUL ANNOUNCES PHOENIX TAILINGS TO ESTABLISH $375 MILLION COMMERCIAL SCALE RARE EARTH SEPARATION FACILITY IN MONROE COUNTY – Cutting-Edge Company Will Occupy 500,000-Square-Foot Location in Eastman Business Park; Commits to Creating At Least 90 New Jobs; New York State’s $3 Million Investment Helps Rebuild America’s Rare Earth Industrial Base, Promotes Cleaner Production Methods and Boosts National Security

GOVERNOR HOCHUL ANNOUNCES LARGEST LONG ISLAND DEC LAND ACQUISITION IN HISTORY – Nearly 750 Acres Surrounding Former Shoreham Nuclear Power Plant Property In Suffolk County; Property Protects Globally Rare Pine Barrens Ecosystems, Safeguards Long Island’s Sole Source Aquifer, and Expands Public Recreational Access

KEEPING NEW YORKERS SAFE: GOVERNOR HOCHUL SIGNS COMMONSENSE GUN SAFETY LEGISLATION TO REDUCE FIREARM INJURIES AND DEATHS – S.7236/A.7983 Prevents the Purchase of Ammunition from Individuals Prohibited from Owning Firearms; A.1962-B/S.9629, Known as ‘Francesco’s Law,’ Expands Safe Storage Requirements To Prevent Minors From Accessing Unsecured Firearms; Legislation Signed into Law at the New Yorkers Against Gun Violence Annual Benefit Dinner on the on Fifth Anniversary of 17-Year-Old Francesco’s Death; Governor Hochul Honored with the Allard K. Lowenstein Award for Public Service

GOVERNOR HOCHUL ANNOUNCES GROUNDBREAKING OF NIAGARA POWER TRANSFORMER’S MORE THAN $71 MILLION EXPANSION TO SUPPORT GRID MODERNIZATION – Century-Old Erie County Manufacturer Expands To Increase Capacity by 50 Percent, Directly Supporting Nearly 220 Jobs; Project Supported by $4.5 Million in NYPA Funding and Up to Nearly $5 Million in Performance Based Tax Credits through ESD and DEC Programs

GOVERNOR HOCHUL ANNOUNCES $200 MILLION TO HELP COMMUNITIES MODERNIZE WATER INFRASTRUCTURE WITHOUT OVERBURDENING RATEPAYERS – Low-Cost Financing and Grants Will Support Critical Drinking Water, Stormwater and Wastewater Projects Across New York;  Funding Will Advance Projects That Protect Public Health, Strengthen Communities and Reduce Future Risks

GOVERNOR HOCHUL ANNOUNCES LAUNCH OF AI JOBS INSTITUTE TO PREPARE NEW YORKERS FOR JOBS OF THE FUTURE – New AI Workforce Hub, Led by Pursuit, in Long Island City Will Train 40,000 New Yorkers by 2032 and Build Pathways Into AI-Enabled Careers; $3.06 Million Empire State Development Investment Supports $10 Million New Queens Training Hub; Complements Governor’s FutureWorks Commission, Developing Recommendations To Address AI’s Impact on the Workforce

GOVERNOR HOCHUL ANNOUNCES 1.5 MILLION NEW YORKERS CAN RECEIVE HUNDREDS OF DOLLARS TO HELP COVER HOME HEATING COSTS –  New York’s Home Energy Assistance Program (HEAP) Opens on November 2; Many Eligible New Yorkers Will Receive HEAP Financial Assistance Automatically; All Other Eligible New Yorkers Can Apply at ny.gov/HEAP Starting November 2; Trump’s War in Iran Keeps Driving Up Fuel and Heating Costs, With Heating Oil Prices Up 67% and Kerosene Up 50% Compared to Last Year;  In Response to Rising Fuel Costs, Governor Hochul Increased Heat Assistance For New Yorkers Who Rely on Oil, Kerosene and Other Fuel Types Delivered to Their Home

SAFER STREETS: GOVERNOR HOCHUL ANNOUNCES NEARLY $36 MILLION TO KEEP REDUCING GUN VIOLENCE AND HIGHLIGHTS 19 PERCENT DECLINE IN SHOOTINGS –Fewest Shooting Victims Since State Began Tracking Data Two Decades Ago; Shootings Down 67 Percent Since Governor Took Office in 2021; Thirteen Police Departments Participating in the State’s Gun Involved Violence Elimination (GIVE) Initiative Reported No Firearm-Related Deaths Through August; Governor Has Invested Nearly $4 Billion in Public Safety Including More Than $1 Billion in Gun Violence Prevention Since Taking Office

SAFER STREETS: GOVERNOR HOCHUL CONVENES FIRST MEETING OF EXPANDED INTERSTATE TASK FORCE ON ILLEGAL GUNS IN RESPONSE TO FEDERAL FIREARM REGULATION ROLLBACKS – Nearly 100 Representatives from 11 States Meet To Crack Down on Interstate Gun Trafficking

GOVERNOR HOCHUL ANNOUNCES ENROLLMENT PUSH FOR STATE ENERGY AFFORDABILITY PROGRAM YIELDS MORE THAN 21,000 HOUSEHOLD APPLICATIONS IN JUST TWO WEEKS – Multi-Agency Effort To Enroll Households Proves to be a Major Success

GOVERNOR HOCHUL ANNOUNCES NEW YORK HAD THE FASTEST GROWING ECONOMY IN THE NATION DURING SECOND QUARTER 2026 – New U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis Data Shows New York’s GDP Grew 4%, Highest of Any State and Nearly Double the National Rate of 2.2%; Record Growth Reflects Governor’s Economic Agenda of Investing in Jobs, Industry and Workforce

GOVERNOR HOCHUL HIGHLIGHTS NEXT STEPS IN NATION-LEADING COMMISSION TO ADDRESS IMPACTS OF AI ON NEW YORK’S WORKFORCE – Governor Convenes Meeting of Her FutureWorks Commission Following Statewide Listening Sessions and Engagement with Impacted Workers; Commission Will Deliver Recommendations By End of December for New Policies to Protect New Yorkers and Help Workers Share in the Benefits of AI; Part of Comprehensive Approach Including Nation-Leading AI Safety Laws and Moratorium on Data Center Construction

GOVERNOR HOCHUL SIGNS LEGISLATION TO ADVANCE CLIMATE ACTION AND PROTECT ENVIRONMENT – A.2657A Offers Incentives to Commercial Lawn Care Companies To Purchase Electric Mowers; A.9590A Authorizes The Dormitory Authority of the State of New York To Finance the New York Climate Exchange’s Construction of A Sustainably-Built Campus on Governors Island That Will Promote Climate Education And Research; S.1986 Extends Time Period for School Districts To Pay Off Clean Energy Upgrades Using Money Saved on Their Utility Bills

GOVERNOR HOCHUL ANNOUNCES NEXT ROUND OF $500 MILLION GREEN CHIPS COMMUNITY INVESTMENT FUND NOW OPEN –Established in Partnership with Micron Technology, Fund Assists with Locally Driven Projects in Central New York; First Round Awarded More Than $43 Million for Regional Priorities

GOVERNOR HOCHUL AND REPRESENTATIVES OCASIO-CORTEZ AND RYAN HIGHLIGHT NEW YORK’S NATION-LEADING MORATORIUM ON HYPERSCALE DATA CENTER CONSTRUCTION –Governor and Representatives Ocasio-Cortez and Ryan Hold Roundtable in Dutchess County With Farmers and Community Stakeholders To Discuss Impacts of Potential Data Center Development. Governor Highlighted Key Policies from Data Center Moratorium and AI Safety Regulations

GOVERNOR HOCHUL ANNOUNCES MORE THAN $97 MILLION TO SUPPORT IMPROVEMENTS TO ALTERNATIVE TRANSPORTATION OPTIONS IN LOCAL COMMUNITIES – Funding Supports Construction of New Sidewalks, Crosswalks, Shared Use Paths, Other Enhancements To Facilitate Non-Motorized Modes of Travel; 35 Projects Across New York State Will Support Local Infrastructure and Strengthen Community Connections

GOVERNOR HOCHUL ANNOUNCES START OF LARGEST SUBWAY SIGNAL REPLACEMENT PROJECT IN MTA HISTORY – $1.9 Billion Investment Funded By Congestion Pricing Will Modernize A and C Service in Brooklyn and Queens; Modern Signals Will Replace 1930s-Era Equipment, Providing Faster, More Frequent and More Reliable Service

GOVERNOR HOCHUL ANNOUNCES JOINT EFFORT TO PROTECT TAXPAYER DOLLARS AND CRACK DOWN ON FRAUD WITHIN SOCIAL ADULT DAY CARE PROGRAM – State Partners with Federal Law Enforcement to Crack Down on Fraudulent Payments

GOVERNOR HOCHUL ANNOUNCES UP TO $9.5 MILLION IN STATE CAPITAL FUNDING FOR ROCKVILLE CENTRE PROJECTS – Funding Will Support Improvements to Hickey-Joyce Field Complex and Drinking Water Infrastructure

GOVERNOR HOCHUL ANNOUNCES 16 ARRESTS IN STATE CRACKDOWN ON AUTO INSURANCE FRAUD – New York State Police and Department of Financial Services Uncover Staged Crashes and Fraudulent Insurance Claims Throughout New York State; Builds on Governor Hochul’s Efforts to Lower Auto Insurance Costs by Tackling Fraud, Waste and Abuse That Drive Up Costs for New York Drivers

GOVERNOR HOCHUL ANNOUNCES ROUND NINE WINNERS OF LUMINATE NY STARTUP ACCELERATOR AND COMPETITION – Gekko Photonics Awarded $1 Million “Company of the Year” Investment; More Than $2 Million Awarded to Propel Next-Generation Optics, Photonics, and Laser Breakthroughs; Applications Now Open for Round 10 of World’s Premier Deep-Tech Accelerator through January 11, 2027

In contrast, here are the press announcements for Blakeman as Nassau County Executive going back to July:

Blakeman to Join Survivors and Nurses for Breast Cancer Awareness Month (10/2/26)

Blakeman To Provide Additional Update On Nor’Easter (9/27/2026)

Blakeman And Romaine To Provide Information On Nor’Easter Impacting Long Island This Weekend (9/25/2026)

Nassau County to Rededicate Fire Service September 11th Memorial (9/20/2026)

Blakeman To Host County 9/11 Ceremony and Musical Tribute (9/10/2026)

Nassau County To Honor 105-Year-Old World War II Veteran And American Hero Ahead Of 25th Anniversary Of 9/11 (9/8/2026)

Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman Unveils Plaque Memorializing “The Catch” Made By Babe Ruth On 100th Anniversary (7/22/26)

Blakeman to Make Major Announcement Regarding the Future of Nassau County’s 287(g) Agreement with ICE (8/26/2026)

Statement From Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman On President Trump’s Planned Visit To Nassau County (8/10/26) “I am grateful that President Trump is coming to Nassau County to tour our outstanding, state-of-the-art law enforcement facilities and pay tribute to the men and women of our Police Department, Sheriff’s Department, Probation Department, and our firefighters for their outstanding efforts to protect our county, state, and country.” (Notably, roadways were blocked off for miles of the venue and prevented access to a protest.)

Blakeman has quite literally never proposed anything to address a problem or improve quality of life for the county he oversees. Like Trump, he has no ideas, only knows how to attack, lie and deflect blame.

Early voting: Saturday, October 24-Sunday, November 1.

Election Day is Tuesday, November 3.

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© 2026 News & Photo Features Syndicate, a division of Workstyles,Inc. All rights reserved. For editorial feature and photo information, go to www.news-photos-features.com,email editor@news-photos-features.com.Blogging at www.dailykos.com/blogs/NewsPhotosFeatures

Climate Action, Climate Change, Governor Kathy Hochul, New York State politics

Gov Hochul: Why Seeking to Delay Climate Action in Favor of Affordability for New Yorkers

Long Islanders protest for offshore windpower in 2016. Governor Hochul successfully fought back against Trump’s attempt to cancel and dismantle offshore wind projects nearly complete but is now urging a delay in implementing the state’s Climate Agenda because of the strain on New Yorkers’ wallets © Karen Rubin/news-photos-features.com

“Some benefits of electric vehicles are hard to put a price on, like the peace of mind that comes from not being at the mercy of geopolitics,” reports the New York Times.

“‘There are tentative signs that “people want to be taken off the gas-price roller coaster’ said Jessica Caldwell, head of insights at Edmunds. “

The fact that Iran War is expected to generate the biggest shock to global energy and economy in history is why New York State, states, localities and the nation should not be retreating from clean renewable energy. Rather, it should be the added incentive to accelerate the transition and break the dependence on tyrantss, Big Oil billionaires and conglomerates.

Energy independence is why the dictator wannabe trump, with aspirations of Empire, is going in the opposite direction – reversing all that Biden and Hochul accomplished in transitioning to clean, renewabale energy. It should inform Americans all they need to know when he attacks windpower and declares no windmills will be built while he reigns, as he tries to actually deconstruct the projects already well underway.

New York State has been a stellar leader combating trump’s anti-climate actions since his first term when his first action was to withdraw the US from the Paris Climate Accord. New York is a founding member of the bipartisan U.S. Climate Alliance since 2017. The Alliance members represent 55% of the US population and 60% of GDP. The Alliance continues to lead in state-level climate action. Governor Kathy Hochul currently serving as a co-chair.

The state is committed to reducing net greenhouse gas emissions by 50-52% by 2030 and achieving net-zero by 2050. Recent actions include joining the Alliance’s Climate-Ready Workforce Initiative to train 1 million apprentices by 2035. 

But now Governor Hochul is saying it will be too expensive for New Yorkers to meet the 2030 commitment, which is enshrined in law. She is asking the Legislature to amend the law to delay the transition because of her affordability goal – the hallmark of her reelection campaign. But dependence on fossil fuel is more costly in the short term, medium term and especially the long term, so what we spend on meeting that goal is an investment in a future of less costly utilities and energy, less costly healthcare and climate disaster.

It is clear that Governor Hochul is trying to go all-in on affordability in order to win reelection this November, but in the process, she will alienate young, progressive voters and environmentalists.

And that might cause the biggest problem of all, just as when these voters “showed” Biden (he didn’t completely end fossil fuel or break with Israel over Gaza, and he was old) and didn’t come out to vote for Kamala Harris. The result was returning Trump to office, where he has aggressively overturned all that Biden-Harris accomplished in implementing historic Climate Action. Republican Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman is a mini-trump who would overturn New York’s Climate Agenda entirely (along with women’s reproductive freedom, gun control, voting rights, criminal justice reform).

This op-ed by Governor Hochul better explains her position but may not succeed in mollifying environmentalists. We hope the State Legislature, especially in light of the evidence of the Iran War’s impact on fossil-fuel dependency, will reject delaying implementation of the Climate Agenda. (She may have a point about adopting more reasonable standards that are more commonly held.) –Karen Rubin, editor@news-photos-features.com

Today, Empire Report published an op-ed by Governor Kathy Hochul regarding her commitments to clean energy and climate action while ensuring that New York becomes more affordable. Text of the op-ed can be viewed online and here:

Citing the need to give New Yorkers relief from high costs, Governor Hochul is explaining her desire to delay climate commitments: “We need more time, and so I am proposing we amend the law to require regulations to reduce statewide greenhouse gas emissions to be issued at the end of 2030. We are seeking to change what emission limits the regulations are tied to – including a new 2040 target as well as the existing 2050 statewide emission limits. Nothing else in the CLCPA is changing regarding the existing statewide emission limit targets and these new regulations would still require the state to make timely progress, ensuring long-term policy stability.” © Karen Rubin/news-photos-features.com

All New Yorkers should be immensely proud that their home state is a national leader for clean energy and climate action. As Governor, I take that role very seriously, knowing it is our mission to leave our world better than we inherited it.

My worldview was shaped growing up in Western New York during the era of the toxic Love Canal, swimming in a Great Lake contaminated by industrial pollution, and breathing the orange smoke emitted from nearby smokestacks. That’s why leading the fight against climate change and protecting our environment is deeply personal for me.

Since I have been Governor, more than $88.7 billion has been invested in clean energy through programs that have made us an example for the rest of the nation.

We have the first-ever utility-scale offshore wind farm in the United States, and two more under construction that we have protected from Trump administration efforts to stop these fully-permitted projects dead in their tracks. Just one of those projects will power half a million homes in Brooklyn later this year.

My efforts to reduce emissions meant taking on tough fights, including stopping the White House from killing congestion pricing – a program that’s already delivering results, even as it faces fierce opposition from the President.

We met our 2025 solar goals a year early, positioning New York as a national leader, approved 31 large-scale solar and wind projects, and just last year allocated the largest investment to address climate change in state history

While other states wavered, New York remains a backbone of the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative and its early efforts to keep the multi-state climate partnership strong.

And in just a few months, the Champlain Hudson Power Express (CHPE) that I championed will become operational, delivering clean hydroelectric power to New York City, and helping to compensate for the increase in emissions driven by the shutdown of the Indian Point nuclear plant.

All of these actions have brought us closer to the goals of the Climate Leadership & Community Protection Act passed by the State Legislature back in 2019. And I remain fully committed to the blueprint for a sustainable future laid out in that landmark legislation.

But so much has radically changed since the Climate Act was enacted, necessitating common-sense adjustments that keep us on our path to a greener future in a way that is affordable for New Yorkers.

Post-COVID inflation and supply chain disruptions have created a far more challenging economic landscape. That has been compounded by federally imposed illegal tariffs that have driven up project costs, and a dramatic shift in Washington. We have moved from a federal government eager to partner on the clean energy transition to a White House under Donald Trump, aided by a Republican-controlled Congress, that launched a full-on assault on renewables and the tax incentives that encouraged companies to build and residents to convert.

President Trump has denied the science, calling climate change a hoax. Just this week, he again vowed to block all new offshore wind projects and is actively attempting to dismantle those already under construction. At the same time, the federal government is also canceling grants and tax credits for solar and wind, electric vehicles, heat pumps, and other pollution-reduction initiatives while rolling back key scientific findings and regulations that would have helped the nation move toward reducing greenhouse gas emissions.

Without a federal partner, there is only so much states can do on their own. It is impossible to push new offshore wind projects and the clean energy they would produce when we have a President who prefers a “drill baby drill” mantra that focuses on oil and coal. And even within our own borders, we have been dealing with NIMBYism, moratoriums and outright bans that have made siting alternative energy facilities such as on-land wind, utility-scale solar and battery storage impossible in too many parts of our state.

Meanwhile, the war in Iran is driving up gas prices at the pump to the breaking point for too many New Yorkers. With energy demand growing and the state having retired far more fossil fuel plants than it’s been able to replace with renewable sources, our electric system operator is projecting potential energy shortages, particularly downstate, that could lead to brownouts and blackouts. 

Put simply, something has to give.

It’s why I am pushing a Ratepayer Protection Plan that will hold utilities accountable, reform the process by which regulators consider rate hike requests, and make it easier for working families to learn about and access the state’s Energy Affordability Programs.

And to make sure we keep the lights and heat on and costs down for New Yorkers, I have adopted an all-of-the-above approach to energy that includes more renewables, emission-free, reliable round-the-clock nuclear, and other needed power sources.

It’s also why, despite supporting the intentions of the Climate Act, I am pushing changes to the law as part of our budget discussions with the Legislature. This is solely out of necessity – to protect New Yorkers’ pocketbooks and economy.  Despite all the headwinds and obstacles that could not have been foreseen when the law was enacted in 2019, advocates still took the extreme step of suing the state to force it to issue regulations to meet the Climate Act’s 2030 emission reductions targets.

A judge agreed and ruled that the state must swiftly issue regulations to achieve what now would be costly and unattainable targets, unless the law is changed.

I have repeatedly said that utility rates in our state are too high. And while the Climate Act is not the driver of the high energy prices we are experiencing, the undeniable fact is we cannot meet the Climate Act’s 2030 targets without imposing new and additional crushing costs on New York businesses and residents.

Absent changes to the law, the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority found the impact of meeting the Climate Act’s 2030 targets would be staggering—more than $4,000 a year for upstate oil and natural gas households, and $2,300 more for New York City natural gas households. And gas prices at the pump would jump an additional $2.23 per gallon above where it would otherwise be.

As Governor, I can’t let that happen. While I am still committed to working toward our targets, with all the stress our residents are under, New Yorkers expect their elected officials to prioritize affordability.  They are suffering from high costs every single day and I for one will not ignore their cries for relief.

The fact is, we will be dealing with a White House outright hostile toward renewable energy for at least another three years, making it impossible for us to meet our targets without imposing higher costs on homeowners, renters, and businesses.

We need more time, and so I am proposing we amend the law to require regulations to reduce statewide greenhouse gas emissions to be issued at the end of 2030. We are seeking to change what emission limits the regulations are tied to – including a new 2040 target as well as the existing 2050 statewide emission limits. Nothing else in the CLCPA is changing regarding the existing statewide emission limit targets and these new regulations would still require the state to make timely progress, ensuring long-term policy stability.

Additionally, we need to change the accounting methodology we use to count emissions to align with the international standards used by the global community and nearly every other U.S. state. Otherwise, these impossible emission reduction targets…only used by NY and one other state…will ensure our failure despite all of our efforts and billions of dollars spent.

These proposed changes preserve the intent of the law while realistically recognizing the economic and political challenges we face. Even with these adjustments – which bring us in line with other climate leading states like California, Washington, and Colorado – New York will still boast one of the most ambitious laws in the country. And it’s important to note that our state is not alone in dealing with these issues. A number of other states with aggressive climate goals are also struggling to meet them given the current federal headwinds and have had to make amendments.

I cannot make these changes alone. We need our partners in the Legislature to enact these needed and practical revisions. I look forward to working with lawmakers to achieve an outcome that will make our state both more sustainable and more affordable. The people of New York are counting on us to get this right.

Climate Action, Climate Change, Governor Kathy Hochul, New York State politics, News & Photo Features

Governor Hochul Updates New Yorkers on How State is Prepared for Extreme Weather

It can happen here! Remembering the devastation on Long Island caused by Superstorm Sandy, New York State has mounted a Climate Action agenda to transition to a clean energy economy that creates family-sustaining jobs, promotes economic growth through green investments, while also taking action to mitigate against climate disasters and increase preparedness. Governor Kathy Hochul reviewed the state’s preparations in wake of renewed concern after the tragedies caused by Texas floods. © Karen Rubin/news-photos-features.com

Extreme Weather Continues To Grow in Frequency and Intensity — Dozens of Temperature and Snowfall Records Broken in Recent Years, Along With Numerous Significant Rainfalls and Wildfires

Governor Launched Innovative State Weather Risk Communication Center at UAlbany; Invested More Than $25 Million to Expand Regional Presence of State Emergency Management Staff and Response Assets

New Yorkers Encouraged To Prepare Themselves Through Citizen Preparedness Corps

New Yorkers Can Text Their County or Borough to 333111 To Receive Real Time Emergency and Weather Alert Texts Directly to Their Phones

In contrast to the malicious negligence of climate-denying Trump, HHS Secretary Kristi Noem, Republican governors including Texas Governor Greg Abbott, New York State Governor Kathy Hochul has worked for years stepping up the state’s mitigation and protection against the worsening severity and likelihood of climate disasters. After the tragic results of the Republican administration in Texas failure to spend money from its $30 billion “rainy day fund” on emergency warning system that could have prevented the loss of life of Camp Mystic and throughout the flash-flood prone region, and the extraordinary negligence of Kristi Noem who failed to send out rescue teams for 72 hours, Governor Hochul sought to alleviate New Yorkers’ concerns by focusing on how the state prepares for extreme weather and taking actions to mitigate for climate change as the state transitions to a clean-energy economy.- Karen Rubin/news-photos-features.com

Governor Kathy Hochul updated New Yorkers on the state’s preparedness and response capabilities as extreme weather continues to grow in frequency and intensity each year. In the face of this growing threat, as well as looming cuts in critical federal funding, Governor Hochul has made it a top priority to invest in the State’s capabilities to prepare for, and respond to, all types of extreme weather.

“New York State is no stranger to extreme weather, and New Yorkers must be prepared for the myriad of severe weather events that come our way,” Governor Hochul said. “Keeping our state safe and protected is my top priority, and my administration is committed to ensuring accessible emergency weather preparedness and an all-hands-on-deck approach to response and recovery operations as severe weather threats increase.”

New York has one of the nation’s most diverse threat landscapes, especially when it comes to the threat of extreme weather. Since taking office in 2021, weather-related natural disasters have resulted in eight Major Disaster Declarations, five Emergency Declarations and one Fire Management Assistance Grant Declaration from the federal government, as well as the declaration of at least 19 State Disaster Emergencies by Governor Hochul herself.

The diversity of natural threats has been wide ranging too. In 2024 and 2025 alone, New York has:

  • Broken 49 High Temperature Records
  • Broken 10 Low Temperature Records
  • Broken 19 Snowfall Records
  • Experienced 38 Tornadoes
  • Experienced 20 significant brush and wildfires, including the largest wildfire in NYS in 30+ years
  • Experienced at least 20 significant rainfall events; and
  • Experienced impacts from two tropical systems (Beryl and Debby)

New York State Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Services Commissioner Jackie Bray said, “Extreme weather events are now the norm, so being prepared is our best defense. We are fortunate to have a Governor that not only understands this, but actively does something about it.  The significant investments Governor Hochul has made in training, equipment, planning and staffing have prepared us to support our local partners and all New Yorkers when a severe weather emergency strikes.”

“New York is leading the nation in building a strong connection between weather experts, emergency managers and the public— which is critical as our state faces increasingly frequent and extreme weather,: New York State Weather Risk Communication Center Director Nick Bassill said. “From hurricanes to lake effect snow and everything in between, the State Weather Risk Communication Center at UAlbany is working daily to help state and local emergency managers better prepare for and respond to severe weather events. I’d like to thank Governor Hochul and Commissioner Bray for their continued support and remain committed to making our communities safer and more resilient.”

Strengthening Preparedness and Response, While Building Resiliency

Under the leadership of Governor Hochul, New York has invested heavily in not only preparedness and response capabilities, but in building a more resilient state. Some of those efforts have included:

  • In December 2023, Governor Hochul announced the creation of New York’s State Weather Risk Communication Center (SWRCC) at the State University of New York at Albany. The Center is a first-of-its kind operational collaboration between university researchers and state emergency managers and serves as a clearinghouse for critical weather information. It also works to develop tools to help emergency managers make informed decisions to help protect communities and examines how communicating extreme weather risks to the public can be improved.
  • Governor Hochul secured $15 million in the FY25 Enacted Budget to enable the Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Services to supply county partners with critical emergency response assets such as generators, high-flow pumps and flood barrier technology.
  • Governor Hochul secured an additional $10.4 million in the FY25 Enacted Budget to further strengthen the regional presence of State Emergency Management Staff, which will add to the volume and availability of on-the-ground support, planning, trainings, exercises, as well as build out our analytic and geospatial capabilities.
  • Governor Hochul secured a total of $90 million in the past two years to launch the Resilient & Ready, an initiative administered by New York Homes and Community Renewal (HCR) consisting of two programs that support resiliency and home repair efforts for low-and-moderate income homeowners. The Resilient Retrofits program provides assistance to eligible homeowners for making proactive flood mitigation and resiliency improvements. The Rapid Response program helps assist eligible households that experience home damage to make necessary repairs in the aftermath of certain major storms.
  • In January 2024, the Governor announced a comprehensive resiliency plan to protect people, communities, infrastructure and homes. 
  • Following the devastating tornado in Rome, Governor Hochul provided $11 million in Emergency Assistance, including up to $5 million for homeowners and $4 million for demolition in Oneida County after the event did not qualify for federal assistance. Another in May 2025 provided $3.5 million to rehab two buildings destroyed by the tornadoes as well. 

State Preparedness, Response and Recovery Operations

The New York State Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Services’ Office of Emergency Management (OEM) is New York’s primary conduit for emergency preparedness and response operations for all emergencies, both natural and human made. During emergencies, OEM not only coordinates with local emergency responders to support local operations but helps coordinate the deployment of thousands of State personnel and pieces of equipment from numerous State agencies. 

OEM is also home to the State Watch Center which is staffed 24/7/365 to monitor hazardous activity throughout the State and ensure situational awareness for state leaders. Additionally, OEM maintain nine stockpiles located throughout the State which are able to provide emergency response assets and supplies as needed.

Along with Emergency Management, training first responders from all disciplines is a core mission for the Division.  Whether online, or in-person, over 54,000 firefighters, emergency managers, officers and other first responders received some form of training from the Division, including the 4,778 students who received training at the state’s Academy of Fire Science in Montour Falls. Separately, nearly 10,000 state and local first responders received training at the State Preparedness Training Center in Oriskany — one of the nation’s premier first responder training facilities.

The Division is also home to the Office of Disaster Recovery Programs which is responsible for the legwork necessary for obtaining federal disaster declarations and administering the federal recovery dollars that flow to communities as a result. Since 2021, the Division has issued payments totaling $12.36 billion in federal Public Assistance recovery funding and $410.6 million in Hazard Mitigation Assistance funding.

Individual Preparedness

In any emergency situation, individual preparedness is one of the most critical components of an effective response and the state offers New Yorkers a number of different ways to not only stay prepared, but stay informed as well. 

The New York State Citizen Preparedness Corps (CPC), administered by the Division and the New York National Guard, was established in 2014 to train New Yorkers how to prepare for emergencies and disasters, respond immediately and recover as quickly as possible to pre-disaster conditions. Nearly 433,000 New Yorkers have taken CPC training in community settings throughout the State.

CPC trainings are free and held in-person throughout the State. New Yorkers can find a local training and enroll online at the DHSES website. For those unable to attend in person, courses are also available online in English and with subtitles in 12 additional languages, including Arabic, Bengali, Chinese, English, French, Haitian Creole, Italian, Korean, Polish, Russian, Spanish, Urdu and Yiddish.

Additionally, Governor Hochul announced a new real-time emergency and weather alert system earlier this year as part of the State’s Hurricane Preparedness Week recognition efforts. Managed by the Division, this text option allows New Yorkers to text the name of their county or borough to 333111 to receive real time emergency and weather alerts and updates directly to their phones. New Yorkers should also remember to follow their local forecasts and visit the DHSES Facebook page, follow @NYSDHSES on X, or visit dhses.ny.gov for important safety information.

Heat waves and other extreme heat events are likely to happen again this summer and New York State agencies are working to implement initiatives recommended by the State’s Extreme Heat Action Plan to help New Yorkers prepare for heat’s negative health and environmental impacts. In June, New York State marked significant progress on the first year of implementation of the Extreme Heat Action Plan (EHAP) with the first readiness update now available. The EHAP, led by DEC and NYSERDA along with DHSES and DOH under the direction of Governor Hochul, includes nearly 50 actions by State agencies to address extreme heat impacts across four tracks (local planning and capacity building, community preparedness and workers’ safety, resilient buildings and access to cooling, and advancing ecosystem-based adaptations). The full update on implementation progress is available here.

The State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) closely monitors air quality conditions statewide and works with the State Department of Health to issue timely public health advisories that millions of New Yorkers depend on each year. Visit DEC’s website for updated forecasts and information about air quality index levels, and the Department of Health website for information on health risks and precautions related to air quality.  

New York State’s climate agenda calls for an affordable and just transition to a clean energy economy that creates family-sustaining jobs, promotes economic growth through green investments, and directs a minimum of 35 percent of the benefits to disadvantaged communities. New York is advancing a suite of efforts to achieve an emissions-free economy by 2050, including in the energy, buildings, transportation, and waste sectors.

Climate Action, Climate Change, New York State politics

NYS Governor Hochul Signs Landmark Climate Superfund Legislation Holding Fossil Fuel Companies Responsible for Pollution

Law Holds Fossil Fuel Companies Responsible for Impact of Pollution on

New York Communities

Bill Signed to Broaden State Ban on Hydraulic Fracturing

Actions are Latest Move to Strengthen State’s Climate Actions and Environmental Protection Laws to Prevent Harmful Impacts to New Yorkers

New York State Governor Kathy Hochul signed legislation creating a ‘Climate Superfund’ to support New York-based projects that bolster New York’s resiliency to dangerous climate impacts like flooding and extreme heat © Karen Rubin/news-photos-features.com 

Governor Kathy Hochul has  signed landmark legislation to bolster New York’s efforts to protect and restore the environment by requiring large fossil fuel companies to pay for critical projects that protect New Yorkers. Legislation S.2129-B/A.3351-B creates a ‘Climate Superfund’ to support New York-based projects that bolster New York’s resiliency to dangerous climate impacts like flooding and extreme heat.

“With nearly every record rainfall, heatwave, and coastal storm, New Yorkers are increasingly burdened with billions of dollars in health, safety, and environmental consequences due to polluters that have historically harmed our environment,” Governor Hochul said. “Establishing the Climate Superfund is the latest example of my administration taking action to hold polluters responsible for the damage done to our environment and requiring major investments in infrastructure and other projects critical to protecting our communities and economy.”

This landmark legislation shifts the cost of climate adaptation from everyday New Yorkers to the fossil fuel companies most responsible for the pollution. By creating a Climate Change Adaptation Cost Recovery Program, this law ensures that these companies contribute to the funding of critical infrastructure investments, such as coastal protection and flood mitigation systems, to enhance the climate resilience of communities across the state.

New York State Department of Environmental Conservation Interim Commissioner Sean Mahar said, “Holding polluters accountable for the damages they cause is essential to New York’s environmental protection efforts, and I commend Governor Hochul for signing this historic climate legislation into law. By ensuring those responsible for historic climate-altering emissions bear the costs of the significant health, environmental, and economic impacts already being passed on to New Yorkers, this law will complement the State’s efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, help communities adapt to the climate-driven impacts experienced today, and leverage the significant investments the Governor is making in climate resilience.”

“The Climate Change Superfund Act is now law, and New York has fired a shot that will be heard round the world: the companies most responsible for the climate crisis will be held accountable,” State Senator Liz Krueger said. “Too often over the last decade, courts have dismissed lawsuits against the oil and gas industry by saying that the issue of climate culpability should be decided by legislatures. Well, the Legislature of the State of New York – the 10th largest economy in the world – has accepted the invitation, and I hope we have made ourselves very clear: the planet’s largest climate polluters bear a unique responsibility for creating the climate crisis, and they must pay their fair share to help regular New Yorkers deal with the consequences. And there’s no question that those consequences are here, and they are serious. Repairing from and preparing for extreme weather caused by climate change will cost more than half a trillion dollars statewide by 2050. That’s over $65,000 per household, and that’s on top of the disruption, injury, and death that the climate crisis is causing in every corner of our state. The Climate Change Superfund Act is a critical piece of affordability legislation that will deliver billions of dollars every year to ease the burden on regular New Yorkers.”

State Senator Pete Harckham said,“As we anticipate the enormous costs associated with climate resiliency efforts to be shouldered by municipalities statewide, it made perfect sense, from the start, to require fossil fuel companies to help pay for the undeniable damage they have done to our environment. I applaud Governor Hochul for enacting the Climate Change Superfund Act and thank my colleague Sen. Krueger and the bill’s many sponsors and all the environmental advocates who fought to protect our residents while holding polluters accountable.”

“We refuse to let the entire burden of climate change fall on the backs of our taxpayers while Big Oil reaps record profits at the expense of our future,” Assemblymember Jeffrey Dinowitz said. “The Climate Change Superfund Act is a groundbreaking victory for accountability, fairness, and environmental justice. By ensuring the fossil fuel industry pays for some of the damages it has caused, we’re addressing the staggering costs of climate adaptation and setting a precedent for the nation to follow. This law is a testament to New York’s leadership in tackling the climate crisis head-on, and I am proud to have helped lead this battle every step of the way. I thank Governor Hochul for signing this landmark bill and State Senate Sponsor Liz Krueger for her leadership.”

Assemblymember Deborah Glick said, “As the year draws to a close, New York State takes a critical step forward with Governor Hochul’s signing a Climate Superfund bill into law. This law will require major fossil fuel companies to pay into a fund which will mitigate the climate damage their greenhouse gas emissions have engendered. All New Yorkers face climate challenges from extreme rain events or extreme heat and the remediation expenses that should be borne by the enormously profitable fossil fuel industry. These desperately needed funds will provide for projects all across New York as Governor Hochul implements a Climate Adaptation Program to invest in infrastructure and coastal resilience. Additionally, thanks to Governor Hochul New York has expanded protection from the harmful practice of hydro fracturing for oil and gas production with a ban on the use of carbon dioxide for this purpose.”

Environmental Advocates NY Executive Director Vanessa Fajans-Turner said,“Governor Hochul’s signing of the Climate Change Superfund Act and the CO2 Fracking Ban are pivotal steps in safeguarding New Yorkers’ wallets and water. These measures hold the fossil fuel industry accountable for the immense costs of climate change while closing dangerous loopholes that permitted harmful fracking practices. Together, they provide vital funding for infrastructure, protect public health, reduce financial burdens on families and disadvantaged communities, and strengthen the State’s economic resilience. These actions represent significant milestones in New York’s climate journey, setting a critical precedent for corporate accountability and forward-thinking leadership as we enter a new political era. We thank Senator Krueger, Senator Webb, Assemblymember Dinowitz, Assemblymember Kelles, and Governor Hochul for their leadership in advancing these critical measures for New Yorkers.”

Sierra Club Atlantic Chapter Conservation Director Roger Downs said,“New Yorkers are desperate for climate solutions because they have directly experienced how increasingly severe storms, floods, droughts, heatwaves, and public health emergencies are hurting our communities and undermining the affordability of everything. Fossil fuel companies for decades have plunged our planet into the climate crisis, without contributing any of their windfall profits to pay for the catastrophic damage they helped create. Thanks to Governor Hochul and the legislature this gross inequity is about to change. It is significant that as the Governor signs the Climate Superfund Act she also reaffirms New York’s ten-year-old fracking ban by closing loopholes that some unscrupulous companies have sought to exploit in the continued pursuit of gas extraction. These punitive measures against past polluters dovetail perfectly with the governor’s bold vision for a ‘Cap and Invest’ program that will help curb future greenhouse gas emissions and generate revenue to help New York transition to a more equitable clean energy economy. The Sierra Club is excited to see this momentum carry into 2025.”

“Thank you to Governor Hochul for signing the ban on drilling and fracking with carbon dioxide. New Yorkers can breathe a sigh of relief knowing that the loophole is closed and our state will remain frack free,” Frack Action Director Julia Walsh said. “Our thanks also to the legislature for passing the bill.”

New York Public Interest Research Group (NYPIRG) Executive Director Blair Horner said,“The governor’s approval of the Climate Change Superfund Act is a welcome holiday gift for New York taxpayers. Until her approval, New York taxpayers were 100% on the financial hook for climate costs. Now Big Oil will pay for much of the damages that they helped cause. As a result, New Yorkers will have their future tax burden reduced by $3 billion annually. This legislation is also designed to ensure that the oil industry will protect consumers from Climate Superfund costs being passed along. It’s a win for taxpayers and consumers. NYPIRG applauds the action by Governor Hochul, Senator Krueger, Assemblymember Dinowitz, and the other legislative supporters for making this innovative proposal become law.”

Another new significant climate law signed by Governor Hochul earlier this week expands upon New York State’s 2014 prohibition of high-volume hydraulic fracturing to extract natural gas. Legislation S.8357/A.8866 amends the State Environmental Conservation Law to prohibit the use of carbon dioxide in gas or oil extraction to prevent potential negative health or environmental effects from carbon dioxide fracking in the state.

State Senator Lea Webb said, “This is a significant win for our region and state, protecting our environment, our water, and the health of our communities from the harmful and uncertain impacts of CO2 fracking. I want to thank the advocates who have fought hard for this measure, Assemblymember Kelles, my Assembly and Senate partners, Senate Majority Leader Stewart Cousins and Governor Hochul for signing this into law, continuing our leadership in advancing New York’s sustainable and environmentally conscious policies.”

Assemblymember Anna Kelles said,“New York State wisely prohibited high-volume hydraulic fracturing in 2020, and I’m thankful to the Governor for signing this bill into law to expand the fracking ban and prevent the use of supercritical carbon dioxide for gas and oil extraction. The negative health and environmental consequences of fracking are only further exacerbated by the use of a highly corrosive supercritical CO2 substance for the purposes of extraction. Supercritical CO2 becomes highly corrosive in the presence of the smallest amount of water and is known to cause pipeline ruptures displacing ambient oxygen as well as destabilization of the very ground under our feet when used for oil and gas extraction due to soil and rock acidification and demineralization. This bill is closing a loophole in our state’s fracking ban to protect our people, our environment and our economy. I want to thank my bill cosponsor Senator Lea Webb and the tens of thousands of concerned citizens for helping to strengthen our states environmental protections against harmful fracking practices.”

New York State’s Climate Agenda

New York State’s climate agenda calls for an affordable and just transition to a clean energy economy that creates family-sustaining jobs, promotes economic growth through green investments, and directs a minimum of 35 percent of the benefits to disadvantaged communities. New York is advancing a suite of efforts to achieve an emissions-free economy by 2050, including in the energy, buildings, transportation, and waste sectors.

Climate Action, Infrastructure, News & Photo Features

NYS Makes $28.5 Million Additional Funding Available to Install EV Fast Chargers Along Major Travel Corridors

EV chargers at the I Love NY Visitor Center-Finger Lakes, Geneva, NY. New York State is making a big push to install EV fast chargers along main travel corridors © Karen Rubin/goingplacesfarandnear.com

Governor Kathy Hochul announced an additional $28.5 million is now available to install electric vehicle fast chargers along major travel corridors across New York State. Funded by the federal National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (NEVI) formula funding program, the State’s new competitive Downstate Direct Current Fast Charger (DCFC) program will improve consumer access to reliable electric vehicle (EV) charging. This second round of NEVI funding focuses on locations south of Interstate 84, including the lower Hudson Valley, New York City, and Long Island.

“This critical federal NEVI funding supports New York State’s ongoing leadership to invest in a network of electric vehicle fast chargers, particularly in areas downstate that face heavy traffic,” Governor Hochul said. “Making quick, reliable charging easily available will encourage more people to drive EVs that help to lower pollution from vehicles, provide cleaner air for New Yorkers, and improve health in our communities.”

The competitive Downstate NEVI DCFC Program, administered by the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) in partnership with the New York State Department of Transportation (NYSDOT), provides funding to qualified EV infrastructure developers to install and operate DCFC stations at one or more sites along Federal Highway Administration-designated Alternative Fuel Corridors (AFCs). Proposed sites must meet all federal requirements, including being located within one travel mile of an AFC exit, being publicly accessible 24 hours a day, seven days a week, and having the ability to charge at least four EVs simultaneously at speeds of at least 150 kilowatts per vehicle. Sites are also required to meet federal uptime requirements for the percentage of time the charging station is functional. Proposals that close gaps between existing and planned charging stations, offer amenities such as restrooms and food, or have stations that provide multiple types of charging connectors (CCS and J3400), will be prioritized.

Designated AFCs eligible under the second round of the program include:

  • Interstate 87 south of I-84
    • Interstate 95
    • Interstate 278
    • Interstate 287
    • Interstate 495
    • Interstate 678
    • Interstate 684 south of I-84
    • New York 17 south of I-84
    • New York 25
    • New York 27

Proposals are due on March 18 by 3 p.m. ET. A complete list of all eligibility rules and evaluation criteria can be found at the solicitation summary on NYSERDA’s website.

NYSERDA will host a webinar on January 15 from 11 a.m. to 12 p.m. and another webinar on February 12 from 3 p.m. to 4 p.m. to provide more details on the solicitation, project requirements and the application process.

“Building on the NEVI funding made available earlier this year, NYSERDA is proud to support the expansion of fast chargers to more areas of the state. Matching federal funding with private industry expertise will build a robust, reliable, network of chargers helping to increase the number of options available for New Yorkers and visitors alike,” stated New York State Energy Research and Development Authority President and CEO Doreen M. Harris.

This announcement builds on the $21 million made available in September under the competitive Upstate NEVI Direct Current Fast Charger (DCFC) to expand the number of EV charging stations along and north of Interstate 84, including areas of the State north to the Canadian border and west to Buffalo. This funding opportunity closed on December 4, 2024 and proposals are now under evaluation.

The New York State Department of Transportation was allocated $175 million under the federal NEVI program and New York was one of the first states to open a DCFC site with NEVI funding in December 2023. This was followed by four additional locations opening in 2024. More DCFC NEVI-funded sites are expected to come online in New York by the end of next year. New York’s NEVI Plan describes how the State will invest its funding and was developed by NYSDOT in collaboration with NYSERDA; the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC); the New York Power Authority (NYPA); the New York State Department of Public Service (DPS); the New York State Thruway Authority (NYSTA); and the Long Island Power Authority (LIPA).

“Electric vehicle users on our downstate highway system need a dependable charging infrastructure that allows them to recharge their vehicles and reliably get them to where they need to go,” stated State Department of Transportation Commissioner Marie Therese Dominguez said. New York is an unquestioned national leader that is literally writing the national template for sustainability in the face of global climate change, and through the National Electric Vehicle Initiative, Governor Hochul is building a foundation for a sustainable highway network that will fuel the vehicles of tomorrow.”

Additionally, Governor Hochul in March announced more than 100 new EV fast chargers will be built in New York City. EV purchases in New York have risen 660% in the last five years, and there are currently more than 15,500 chargers (a combination of DCFC and Level 2 chargers) at more than 4,500 public locations across the State. Federal funding received in January 2024 has further facilitated this growth with New York State receiving a $15 million Charging and Fueling Infrastructure Program Grant for small- to medium-sized cities, state parks and other tourist destinations, such as hotels to build out the number of EV chargers. Separate federal awards under this program were made to the New York City Department of Transportation and Oneida County. Also, New York State was also awarded $13 million to repair or replace outdated, broken or non-operational EV charging ports through the Charger Reliability and Accessibility Accelerator Program.

“The installation of fast chargers at regular intervals in key locations along our more utilized roadways makes it easier for New Yorkers to drive an EV and reduces greenhouse gas emissions from transportation,” said New York Power Authority President and CEO Justin E. Driscoll.  “The New York Power Authority is pleased to see additional federal funding that will help accelerate the build-out of a reliable network of fast chargers that will improve travel throughout the lower Hudson Valley, New York City and Long Island—regions where many EV drivers live, work and play.”

New York State Thruway Authority Executive Director Frank G. Hoare said, “The Thruway Authority is committed to creating a robust network of electric vehicle charging stations along the 570-mile Thruway system, which spans from the lower Hudson Valley to Albany, west to the Pennsylvania state line. Currently there are 75 universal fast charging stations in operation on the Thruway and by the end of 2025, there will be more than 130 fast charging EV stations on the system. By offering electric vehicle charging stations an average of 30 miles between locations, customers will have a reliable, seamless system of electric vehicle charging stations that supports a modernized transportation system, serving millions of motorists every year.”

“The Bipartisan Infrastructure & Jobs Law I led to passage is supercharging new electric vehicle charging stations across New York, and this $28.5 million in federal funding from the National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure grant program will help install electric vehicle fast chargers across the lower Hudson Valley, New York City, and Long Island,” Senate Majority Leader Charles Schumer said. “More EV fast chargers will support the adoption of cleaner, electric vehicles, make charging your car in New York as easy and convenient as filling up a gas tank, and help create an emissions-free future. With this impactful federal support and partnership with the state, New York is getting a major jolt to build out their network of electric vehicle charging stations across the entire state.”

Senator Kirsten Gillibrand said, “With more electric vehicles on the road, it is essential that New York has the necessary charging infrastructure to meet the increased demand,” said Senator Gillibrand. “This Bipartisan Infrastructure Law funding will help install electric vehicle fast chargers throughout the state, helping ensure that all EV users can have the charging ports they need to get to their destinations. I was proud to have fought for the passage of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, and I will continue to make sure that New York’s infrastructure meets the needs of the 21st century.”

New York State is investing nearly $3 billion in electrifying its transportation sector, which is vital to meeting the State’s sweeping climate and clean energy plan, the Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act. Under Governor Hochul’s leadership, New York is rapidly advancing measures that all new passenger cars and trucks sold be zero emissions by 2035, along with all school buses being zero emissions the same year. In addition to the NEVI program, there are a range of other initiatives to grow access to EVs and improve clean transit for all New Yorkers including EV Make Ready , EVolve NY , Charge Ready 2.0, the Drive Clean Rebate, the New York Truck Voucher Incentive Program (NYTVIP), the New York School Bus Incentive Program, and the Direct Current Fast Charger Program.

New York State’s climate agenda calls for an affordable and just transition to a clean energy economy that creates family-sustaining jobs, promotes economic growth through green investments, and directs a minimum of 35 percent of the benefits to disadvantaged communities. New York is advancing a suite of efforts to achieve an emissions-free economy by 2050, including in the energy, buildings, transportation, and waste sectors.

Climate Action, Housing, News & Photo Features

NYS Governor Announces $30 Million to Incentivize Building Green (DeCarbonized) Houses

New York State Governor Kathy Hochul today announced the launch of a new $30 million initiative called Building Better Homes – Emissions Free and Healthier Communities to build market capacity and demand for healthier decarbonized homes and neighborhoods. The initiative will establish a network of builders and developers that are committed to building carbon neutral single-family homes and neighborhoods and provide training and technical support to builders and developers interested in both advancing the single-family carbon neutral housing market and marketing themselves as leaders in decarbonization and healthy home construction © Karen Rubin/news-photos-features.com

New York State Governor Kathy Hochul today announced the launch of a new $30 million initiative called Building Better Homes – Emissions Free and Healthier Communities to build market capacity and demand for healthier decarbonized homes and neighborhoods. The initiative will establish a network of builders and developers that are committed to building carbon neutral single-family homes and neighborhoods and provide training and technical support to builders and developers interested in both advancing the single-family carbon neutral housing market and marketing themselves as leaders in decarbonization and healthy home construction. Advancing carbon neutrality in the building sector supports the state’s nation-leading goal to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 85 percent by 2050 as mandated by the Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act (Climate Act).  

“Single-family homes are too often overlooked as sources of greenhouse gas emissions in New York and it’s crucial we work with both developers and homebuyers to reduce emissions,” Governor Hochul said. “Through the Building Better Homes initiative and its incentives, we are not only ensuring homebuyers have greener options to choose from, but also that we continue to work with the building and development industries to pave the way towards a more sustainable future.”

The initiative will be administered by the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA), and today’s announcement makes $5 million available under phase one of the program to support builders and developers seeking training, technical assistance, marketing support, and funding to build carbon-free model homes. This program will grow the carbon neutral single-family home market as well as support modernization and decarbonization of building designs and construction practices to incorporate carbon neutral technologies and cost-effectively deliver high quality, healthy, resilient, and sustainable homes. Applications to become a program partner, with up to $250,000 available per partner, will be accepted through December 31, 2023. For more information on this opportunity and how to become a partner, please visit NYSERDA’s website.

As part of the Building Better Homes initiative, NYSERDA is also partnering with New York State Builders Association and the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America (AAFA), to advance construction of carbon neutral homes and promote their non-energy benefits, particularly indoor air quality improvements associated with the absence of combustion appliances and the inclusion of balanced ventilation. These partnerships will provide information about the health benefits of carbon neutral construction that builders and developers can integrate into their own materials to educate homebuyers. Through the partnership with AAFA and their existing diversity, equity and inclusion programming, special attention will be paid to educating the builder network about the health benefits of carbon neutral construction in disadvantaged communities, which traditionally have higher rates of asthma and allergy, in part due to the siting of fossil fuel plants and transportation corridors in these neighborhoods as well as in-home combustion.

“NYSERDA is launching the Building Better Homes initiative, in recognition of the impact of harmful building emissions on New York State residents and the world in general,” President and CEO of NYSERDA Doreen Harris said. “Through public-private partnerships, we are taking action to transform the market for carbon neutral homes by highlighting the health benefits of this type of construction and catalyzing market demand as we advance the state’s climate and clean energy goals.”

With over 12,000 new homes being built per year, addressing the single-family home new construction market is critical to achieving the State’s climate and energy goals. As the State implements the Climate Act, any home built with fossil fuel equipment and appliances will need to be retrofitted in the future, adding costs and hassle to homeowners. Building entire neighborhoods without the need to expand natural gas infrastructure, while still providing the quality and features that homeowners want such as fireplaces, swimming pool heaters, and outdoor entertainment areas, will significantly reduce the costs of new developments.

“Build Better Homes is an important initiative in our efforts to put New York on the path toward reaching our goal of net-zero greenhouse gas emissions,” State Senator Brian Kavanagh said. “In addition to strong mandates for zero-emissions, we will need to increase the capacity of the building sector to build all-electric homes and other critical sustainable infrastructure, as this program will do. While there is an urgent need to invest in sustainability on a much larger scale, Build Better Homes is a good step in the right direction. I thank Governor Kathy Hochul, NYSERDA Chair Richard Kauffman, and everyone at NYSERDA for their ongoing commitment to making New York a leader in creating a sustainableworld.”

“Today’s announcement of the Building Better Homes initiative demonstrates our state’s continued commitment to achieving our statewide emissions and energy goals,” Assemblymember Michael Cusick said. “In order to meet these goals we must address all sources of emissions including single family homes. While larger commercial or residential buildings are often highlighted as major targets for emissions reduction, it is crucial that we not overlook any source of infrastructure emissions and this initiative is a strong step towards significantly reducing single family home emissions.”

“NYSBA is proud to support this Building Better Homes initiative that will enable builders and developers to meet increased performance requirements and build healthier homes for their customers,” Assemblymember Michael Cusick said. “NYSBA strongly believes that state financial investment plays an important role in providing builders and homeowners a cost-effective way to invest in energy efficiency.”

“The Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America (AAFA) is grateful for the work New York is doing to make homes healthier and safer for people affected by asthma and allergies, by improving indoor environments and removing emissions-emitting appliances within the home,” CEO and President of the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America Kenneth Mendez said. “Making healthier homes available will improve the lives of families in New York State and I hope will improve health outcomes for communities that are disproportionately impacted by asthma and allergies.”

“New York State and NYSERDA continue to be leaders in the effort to decarbonize the built environment, and we at Phius are proud to be working alongside them in an effort to bring healthier, more efficient homes to the residents of New York and beyond. We hope to see other states and municipalities continue to follow suit in the near future,” Executive Director and Co-Founder of Passive House Institute of the United States (PHIUS) Katrin Klingenberg said, 

Building Better Homes is part of a multi-year investment to decarbonize single family home new construction, and subsequent phases of the program will provide funding for entire carbon neutral neighborhoods to be built, with a goal to increase home buyer demand for healthier carbon neutral homes by educating home buyers on the health and performance benefits. NYSERDA will launch the second phase of this program in mid-2022 with $10 million in funding as a design competition, similar to its successful Buildings of Excellence Competition, which awards exemplary carbon-neutral multifamily building designs. A third component of the program will launch in 2022 to build consumer demand by educating homebuyers on healthy and emissions free home construction.

Today’s announcement also advances recommendations included in New York State’s draft Carbon Neutral Buildings Roadmap, which identified building market capacity through training and technical support as a critical barrier to achieve scale for decarbonization in the new construction market. 

Buildings are some of the largest sources of greenhouse gas emissions in New York State, and integrating energy efficiency and electrification measures in existing buildings will reduce carbon pollution and help achieve more sustainable, healthy, and comfortable buildings. Through NYSERDA and utility programs, over $6.8 billion is being invested to decarbonize buildings across the State. In addition to the carbon benefits, these projects will also help the State achieve its ambitious energy efficiency target to reduce on-site energy consumption by 185 TBtu by 2025, the equivalent of powering 1.8 million homes.

This program is funded through NYSERDA’s $6 billion Clean Energy Fund. 

New York State’s Nation-Leading Climate Act

New York State’s nation-leading climate agenda is the most aggressive climate and clean energy initiative in the nation, calling for an orderly and just transition to clean energy that creates jobs and continues fostering a green economy as New York State recovers from the COVID-19 pandemic. Enshrined into law through the Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act, New York is on a path to achieve its mandated goal of a zero-emission electricity sector by 2040, including 70 percent renewable energy generation by 2030, and to reach economy wide carbon neutrality. It builds on New York’s unprecedented investments to ramp-up clean energy including over $33 billion in 102 large-scale renewable and transmission projects across the state, $6.8 billion to reduce buildings emissions, $1.8 billion to scale up solar, more than $1 billion for clean transportation initiatives, and over $1.6 billion in NY Green Bank commitments. Combined, these investments are supporting nearly 158,000 jobs in New York’s clean energy sector in 2020, a 2,100 percent growth in the distributed solar sector since 2011 and a commitment to develop 9,000 megawatts of offshore wind by 2035. Under the Climate Act, New York will build on this progress and reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 85 percent from 1990 levels by 2050, while ensuring that at least 35 percent, with a goal of 40 percent, of the benefits of clean energy investments are directed to disadvantaged communities, and advance progress towards the state’s 2025 energy efficiency target of reducing on-site energy consumption by 185 trillion BTUs of end-use energy savings.

Climate Action, Climate Change, Energy, Environment, Environmental Protection, New York State politics

Sierra Club Applauds Cuomo Commitment to Advancing Clean, Renewable Energy in State of State

Governor Andrew Cuomo reiterated his support for offshore windpower project off Long Island in his 2019 State of the State address © Karen Rubin/news-photos-features.com

Environmentalists are hailing energy and environmental legacy initiatives in New York State  proposed by Governor Andrew Cuomo in his his annual State of the State and budget address.

“Governor Cuomo made historic commitments today supporting the advancement of clean energy throughout the state,” stated Lisa Dix, Senior New York Campaign Manager for the Sierra Club. “With a mandate to source 70 percent of the state’s energy through renewables by 2030, doubling New York’s distributed solar target and quadrupling the current offshore wind targets, the Governor has proven that he is a national leader determined to make New York a 21st century, renewable energy, economic powerhouse. Through massive investments in offshore wind ports and clean energy job training centers, New York will be the regional hub for the offshore wind industry. Working with the administration, climate-affected communities and labor, we will create long-term, family-wage jobs, while supporting a robust supply chain and multiplying economic development opportunities for New Yorkers.”

The initiatives include commitments to:

New York’s “Green New Deal”: The Governor restated his December goal of making New York 100 percent carbon neutral by 2040. The Administration will map how New York will achieve carbon neutrality, while providing a just and fair transition for communities and workers. This initiative includes a $10 billion “Green Future Fund” that supports climate priorities and emissions reduction goals and $70 million to provide initial funding for communities affected by the clean energy transition.

Increased Clean Energy Standard Target: New York is now the second state after Hawaii with the most ambitious clean energy targets in the nation, with a new goal of sourcing 70 percent of New York’s electricity from renewable energy by 2030, including the most ambitious off-shore windpower program in the country. This doubles the current targets for energy storage, distributed solar, large scale solar and wind and quadruples the offshore wind targets.

Increased Green Infrastructure and Jobs: With the Governor committing to building nearly four times more offshore wind by 2035 than he initially stated, this is the most ambitious offshore wind generation commitment in the country. New York will nearly triple the offshore wind commitment any state has made before. Additionally, about $200 million of the budget will be invested in building offshore wind ports and clean energy job training centers.

Clean Transportation and Congestion Pricing: The Governor urged the legislature to pass congestion pricing legislation to make the Metro Transit Authority (MTA) more reliable for years to come. Through congestion pricing, the state would make $15 billion to invest back into the MTA. The Governor also committed to over $3 billion in funding for clean energy and clean transportation infrastructure for electric vehicles and charging infrastructure. The Governor, however, fell short in setting an enforceable commitment to reducing emissions from New York’s transportation sector, the economic sector responsible for the most climate/carbon pollution in New York State.