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Upstate United Executive Director Justin Wilcox released a statement that said IRS data validates the state’s affordability crisis. Wilcox said the IRS data, presented by Albany Times Union, is alarming but timely as lawmakers continue negotiating this year’s fiscal plan. He said the data showed that nearly $10 billion in taxable income was lost due […]

By Justin Wilcox March 30, 2026 – Read on the Buffalo News. There’s no doubt that climbing energy prices are contributing to the ongoing cost-of-living crisis. Gov. Kathy Hochul warns that New York’s climate mandates are likely to increase utility bills by thousands of dollars in the coming years. Unfortunately, rather than rolling back unrealistic […]

The governor’s pitch to weaken New York’s climate law has support from powerful business interests and labor unions. By: Marie J. French | 03/20/2026 – Read on PoliticoPro here. ALBANY, New York — Gov. Kathy Hochul’s push to weaken New York’s climate law is sparking outrage from environmental groups and support — with some skepticism — from business […]

BY Jack Arpey New York State – Read Online. Mar. 19, 2026 Planet Albany continued to wait Thursday for a formal proposal from Gov. Kathy Hochul detailing what she would like changed in New York’s landmark 2019 climate law as part of this year’s state budget. According to state lawmakers, the wait continues. It’s a budget crusade […]

March 19, 2026 Read at the RochesterBeacon.com here. New Yorkers are paying more for energy than ever—and the gap is only widening. Even before this winter’s cold snap, electricity bills in New York were already 44 percent higher than the national average, placing a growing strain on households and businesses alike. These rising costs are […]

Gov. Kathy Hochul said her bid to change the emissions reduction deadlines are meant to prevent future rate increases, but it’s “stupid” to say it would impact current rates. By Rebecca C. Lewis | March 18, 2026 02:44 PM ET Gov. Kathy Hochul wants to help New Yorkers with high utility rates by delaying the state’s climate law […]

Justin Wilcox // March 6, 2026 – Read here. For small businesses across New York, health insurance is no longer just a benefit issue — it is a cost-control crisis. Premiums continue to rise faster than wages and revenue, based on skyrocketing healthcare costs, forcing difficult tradeoffs for employers who lack the scale or leverage […]

March 5, 2026: Bob Lonsberry talks to Justin Wilcox of Upstate United about the NYSERDA memo. Listen here.

Justin Wilcox, Special to the USA TODAY Network Feb. 23, 2026, Read online here. New York’s bid to lead in artificial intelligence and semiconductor manufacturing is colliding with a self-inflicted obstacle: restriction of the electricity supply required for economic expansion. Investments in these sectors present meaningful economic opportunity, but that promise — and the jobs […]

by Briana Supardi Fri, January 30, 2026 Watch on CBS Albany here. LAKE GEORGE, N.Y. (WRGB) — If your energy bill prompted a double take, you’re not alone — many across the Capital Region have shared that they are seeing double- to triple-digit increases in their bills this month. So what’s driving these dramatic spikes? Are the […]