News Archive | Page 5 of 26

Jul 17 2024

Upstate United Responds to Damning Report on CLCPA Progress

A statement from Justin Wilcox, Executive Director of Upstate United. “Following the release of the New York State Comptroller’s most recent audit, we reiterate our calls to pause the implementation of the Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act (CLCPA) until critical issues are addressed. Moreover, the report shared today highlights what we have been saying publicly for years […]

Jul 8 2024

POLITICO: Calling state’s renewable goal a ‘moral imperative,’ environmental groups oppose likely delay

Read the full article by Marie French here. The pushback comes as the Hochul administration acknowledges the state’s renewable target is out of reach. NEW YORK — Gov. Kathy Hochul’s administration has acknowledged for the first time that the state’s renewable target is out of reach. New York has enough existing and under-development renewables to […]

Jul 3 2024

Albany Times Union Report: New York will likely miss a major green energy deadline

Two major state energy agencies cast doubt on getting 70 percent renewable energy by 2030 Read the full article by Rick Karlin here. ALBANY — Citing high inflation and what is expected to be an unprecedented increase in demand for power, two major energy agencies on Tuesday said it was unlikely that the state will […]

Jul 2 2024

State Leaders Come Clean on Reality of New York’s Renewable Goals

A statement from Justin Wilcox, Executive Director of Upstate United. “Yesterday’s draft report issued by the New York State Department of Public Service (DPS) and NYSERDA referred to the state’s goal to achieve 70% renewables by 2030 as ‘extraordinarily ambitious’ and concluded that a delay in achieving the 70% goal may be unavoidable. “Given the amount of government resources […]

Jun 20 2024

POLITICO: ‘Too far too fast’: Lawmakers leave Albany without major environmental progress

Environmentalists blamed Assembly Democrats for failing to tackle major bills to slash greenhouse gas emissions. Read the article by Marie French here. ALBANY, New York — Lawmakers returned to their districts this month with few significant environmental wins to campaign on — the latest sign that reducing emissions and achieving climate law mandates remain elusive. […]

Jun 18 2024

Recent Court Ruling Shines Light on Regulatory Inaction on CLCPA

A statement from Justin Wilcox, Executive Director of Upstate United “Since the passage of the Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act (CLCPA) in 2019, the Public Service Commission (PSC) has been assigned the nearly impossible and unenviable task of developing a program to require that the statewide electrical demand system be ‘zero emissions’ by 2040. […]

Jun 14 2024

POLITICO: Environmental advocates worry Hochul may pause another major policy

Hochul has touted a cap-and-trade program, dubbed “cap and invest,” to limit emissions and achieve the state’s climate goals. Read the article by Marie French here. ALBANY, New York — Environmental advocates are worried about the future of one of Gov. Kathy Hochul’s signature policies, following her suspension of congestion pricing. Hochul has touted a […]

Jun 6 2024

Upstate United: NYISO’s Latest Report Should Be a Wake-Up Call

The following statement can be attributed to Justin Wilcox, Executive Director of Upstate United. “The New York Independent System Operator’s 2024 Power Trends report should serve as a wake-up call to every policymaker in Albany. “If we want to keep the lights on, attract more economic development projects, and protect our people, Albany must reconsider its […]

Jun 5 2024

Upstate United: Extended Producer Reliability Cannot Be Rushed Across Finish Line

The following statement can be attributed to Justin Wilcox, Executive Director of Upstate United “At a time when residents are facing high prices as a result of inflation and leaving New York State at record levels, lawmakers should be looking to make the state more affordable for consumers. Instead, the current Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) proposal […]

May 31 2024

Syracuse Post Standard: Electric vehicle target is NY’s latest climate-induced fantasy

Guest Opinion by Justin Wilcox – May 31, 2024 Justin Wilcox is executive director of Upstate United, a nonpartisan, business and taxpayer advocacy coalition focused on growing the Upstate economy. The organization is based in Rochester. Much like the state’s widely documented failure to establish offshore wind projects, New York’s 2035 ban on vehicles with […]