Entries by Lorenzo Mohammed

Federal Challenges and the Future of Offshore Wind Projects

On Monday, February 9, from 12 to 1 P.M., NYCP’s Renewable Energy Speaker Series provided an insider’s view of offshore wind in New York State. Our special guest was Alicia Gené Artessa, Esq., Director of the New York Offshore Wind Alliance (NYOWA). Alicia explained why the benefits of offshore wind are critically important to all New Yorkers, including energy security, clean air, economic savings, job growth, revitalized port infrastructure, and protection of marine habitats. Our guest’s legal expertise, policy experience, and advocacy leadership allowed her to provide insight into the recent federal legal challenges to Empire Wind and Sunrise Wind, and to explain what we can do to support the advancement of offshore wind.

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How Poughkeepsie got to “Yes” on grid-scale batteries | Vassar College Prof. Jeff Seidman

On Monday, January 12, from 12 to 1 P.M., NYCP hosted a practical guide to advocating for energy storage projects at town meetings. Our special guest was Vassar College professor Jeff Seidman, who drew on his successful effort to overturn Poughkeepsie’s energy storage moratorium. Dr. Seidman explained why the Hudson Valley is strategically crucial for energy storage, and why the area has become a flashpoint for energy debates, even within communities that are generally supportive of renewable energy. Most importantly, he presented compelling, persuasive arguments that we can use in almost any situation to support energy storage in our communities.

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Winning the Future Building a Stronger Climate Movement in NY & Beyond | With Betta, Jeff & Devlin!

Monday, December 8, from 12 to 1 P.M. Our special guests were Jeff Jones, a political strategist, environmental lobbyist, and media expert; Betta Broad, Campaign Director of NYCP and Director of Advocacy for the Association for Energy Affordability (AEA); and Devlin Rosen-Carole, a youth climate advocate. They shared insights from years of movement building and discussed how leadership, education, and advocacy continue to reshape New York’s clean energy future.

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Get Charged up with the NY State Energy Plan

In September, 2024, New York State kicked off the process to develop the State Energy Plan, which is supposed to be a comprehensive roadmap for a clean, resilient, and affordable energy system for all New Yorkers. The Energy Plan was last updated in 2020, when it was amended to incorporate the objectives of the 2019 Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act (Climate Act). Since the 2020 update, the Climate Action Council produced its Scoping Plan, examining many of the energy issues that contribute to climate change and offering a number of recommendations for the State to implement. The State Energy Planning Board will now convene to begin the process of producing a draft, then a final plan, for this planning cycle. Currently planned to be considered by the Board in December 2025, the final plan will provide a 15-year outlook and focus on strategies to meet future energy needs and advance economy-wide decarbonization. The Hochul Administration has also expressed a desire to balance decarbonization with reliability, affordability, environmental and public health impacts and economic growth.

The climate emergency is here; how will New York’s Energy Plan meet this moment? New York State is required to update the State Energy Plan every 5 years and 2025 is the year a new plan will be put in place. What is the importance of the Energy Plan? Will the Energy Plan be compliant with the Climate Law? How can advocates participate to ensure the Energy Plan will result in a swift and equitable transition to clean energy?

Speakers included:

Janet Joseph, Principal, JLJ Sustainability Solutions (Former VP of Strategy and Market Development, NYSERDA)

Dr. Robert Howarth, Member, New York’s Climate Action Council and the David R. Atkinson Professor of Ecology and Environmental Biology at Cornell University

Christopher Casey, Utility Regulatory Director, New York, Climate and Energy at the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC)

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NYS Energy Plan – What’s in it, What’s Not, How You Can Help Shape It!

New Yorkers for Clean Power and esteemed speakers to learn more about the draft State Energy Plan, what’s in it, what’s missing, and how to take action before the October 6th deadline. Our panelists will address key highlights and recommendations for the building, power and transportation sectors respectively.

Our speakers:
Josh Berman, Senior Attorney of Sierra Club Environmental Law Program
Marguerite Wells, Executive Director of Alliance for Clean Energy New York
Jaqi Cohen, Director of Climate and Equity Policy Tri-State Transportation Campaign

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Don’t Miss Out: Federal Clean Energy Incentives

The Inflation Reduction Act created many incentives for clean energy upgrades such as EVs and heat pumps. Many of these rebates and tax credits will now expire in the next few months because of the “Big Beautiful” Budget Bill.

Watch for an overview of what the changes are and how to leverage these benefits before they disappear.

Speakers:
Michael Hernandez – Rewiring America
Samrat Pathania & Steve Wehr – Clean Energy Coaches, NY for Clean Power

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Building New York’s Clean Energy Workforce

Building New York’s Clean Energy Workforce

On Monday, August 10, at 12:00 PM we discussed “Building New York’s Clean Energy Workforce: SUNY Morrisville & Ithaca Energy Warriors”. Our special guests were Dr. Ben Ballard, Professor of Renewable Energy at SUNY Morrisville, and Dr. Aloja Airewele, Cornell Cooperative Extension’s Energy Warriors Program Leader.

SUNY Morrisville has one of New York’s longest-running hands-on renewable energy education programs. Dr. Ballard’s presentation will highlight the degree programs, workforce training initiatives, and industry partnerships that prepare students for careers in solar, wind, clean heating and cooling, electrical systems, and energy project development.

The Energy Warriors Green Career Pathways program, directed by Dr. Airewele, provides training for people experiencing barriers to employment within the growing green jobs sector—including heat pump and solar installers, insulation technicians, and reuse specialists. This collaborative training program, grounded in the nationally recognized Roots of Success curriculum, brings together private employers, unions, public workforce development agencies, and educational organizations to provide paid training and a nurturing environment for their trainees.

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