Clean Earth has submitted an application to the NYS Dept. of Environmental Conservation (DEC) to conduct a two-week pilot thermal desorption treatment of 5,000 tons of PFAS-Contaminated soil at their Ft. Edwards facility. While described as a research project, none of the staff of Clean Earth have sufficient scientific credentials for such a study. Angela Pressley, Ph.D., of The Fort Stops PFAS, speaks to Mark Dunlea of Hudson Mohawk Magazine about the conerns of local residents about this project.

July 1 was the deadline for public comments on NYS’s reporting regulations for greenhouse gas emissions. Bob Cohen of Citizen Action talks about the regs but notes that far more important and not yet issued are the state’s regulations to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. With Mark Dunlea for Hudson Mohawk Magazine.

Climate activists several years ago successfully got a moratorium on the use of fossil fueled power plants for cryptomining while an environmental impact assessment was completed by the NYS DEC (Dept. of Environmental Conservation). While the moratorium has expired, the draft Environmental Impact Statement was recently released. Irene Weiser of Fossil Free Tompkins discusses the EIS with Mark Dunlea for Hudson Mohawk Magazine.

Four climate justice groups have sued NYS, claiming it is failing to take action to reduce greenhouse gas emissions as mandated in the CLCPA climate law. Much of the suit focused on the Governor's delay in implementing her cap and invest program to reduce emissions, “prolonging New Yorkers’ exposure to air pollution … especially in disadvantaged communities.” Caroline Chen of New York Lawyers for the Public Interest and Eric Walker of WE Act for Environmental Justice, discuss the case with Mark Dunlea for Hudson Mohawk Magazine.

The State Legislature this week passed their one house budget resolutions. As usual, the state Senate was stronger on climate than the Assembly or Governor. Pete Sikora of New York Communities for Change discusses the climate proposals with Mark Dunlea for Hudson Mohawk Magazine.

Several hundred New Yorkers traveled to the state Capitol on Wednesday March 19 as part of the Renewable Heat Now campaign. A main focus was the passage of the NY Heat Act, which passed the Senate last year but stalled in the State Assembly. NY Heat would require state agencies – especially the Public Service Commission – to align their policies and regulations with the state’s climate law (CLCPA) and to cap utility bills for low-income New Yorkers at 6% of their income. The Assembly has not supported the bill while the Governor has balked at the 6% cap though that is already a PSC goal. We hear from Jessica Azulay of AGREE; Emily Skydel of Food and Water Watch; Betta Broad of New Yorkers for Clean Power; and Michael Hernandez of Rewiring America.

A press conference was held at the State Capitol on Wednesday March 19 to promote the Packaging Reduction and Recycling Infrastructure Act. We hear from the lead sponsors, Senator Pete Harckham and Assemblymember Deborah Glick, Chairs of the Environmental Conservation Committees, Kathy Nolan of the Physicians for Social Responsibility NY; and Judith Enck of Beyond Plastic.

Several hundred New Yorkers rallied at the state Capitol on Wednesday, March 19 as part of the Renewable Heat Now campaign. The lobbyists gathered for a lunch time rally on the Million Dollar Staircase to encourage state lawmakers and the Governor to include the NY Heat in the State Budget which is due April 1. NY Heat would require state agencies – especially the Public Service Commission – to align their actions and policies with the state’s climate law (CLCPA) and to cap utility bills for low-income New Yorkers at 6% of their income. The Assembly has not supported the bill while the Governor has balked at the 6% cap though that is already a PSC goal. We hear from Liz Moran of Earth Justice followed by the two main legislative sponsors of the bill” Senator Liz Krueger and Assemblymember JoAnn Simon, who replaced Pat Fahy as the lead Assembly sponsor when Fahy moved over to the Senate. We also hear from Assemblymember Sarahana Shrestha, who is also with DSA. We finish up with a short statement from Assemblymemeber Tony Simone. By Mark Dunlea for Hudson Mohawk Magazine. (Part 2)

Residents across the state are struggling to keep up with rising energy bills – and these surging bills are hitting low and moderate-income New Yorkers particularly hard. The state’s Empower+ program, which is designed to help low-income homeowners and renters make energy-related improvements to their homes to help lower energy bills, is at risk of being severely underfunded this budget cycle. Michael Hernandez of Rewiring America talks about the program and the state budget with Mark Dunlea for Hudson Mohawk Magazine.

The state Department of Environment Conservation (DEC) approved permits Friday to expand two Hudson Valley compressor stations in Athens and Dover as part of the Iroquois gas pipeline. The entire project, which includes upgrading two Connecticut facilities, allows another 125 million cubic feet of fracked gas to flow along the 414-mile pipeline from Canada to New York City. Emily Skydel of Food and Water Watch and Greene County activist Mary Finneran talk with Mark Dunlea of Hudson Mohawk Magazine.