Getting on Track with Transportation will focus on what New York State needs to fully electrify its transportation system, including lessons learned from California. It is intended for those interested in the transition to electric cars, buses, and trucks; how to reinvest in transit and improve access for all; and how to best build out vehicle charging infrastructure. We will touch on the recently signed multi-state MOU and other initiatives to create jobs, climate justice, and cleaner air by electrifying transportation and enhancing mobility.

Welcome:
Anne Reynolds, Executive Director at Alliance For Clean Energy New York

Moderator:
Kaitlin Monaghan, Public Policy Manager at Rivian

Keynote presentation:
Patricia Monahan, Lead Commissioner on Transportation at California Energy Commission
Panelists:
Nick Sifuentes, Executive Director, Tri-State Transportation Campaign
Zeryai Hagos, Deputy Director, Office of Markets and Innovation, NYS Deptartment of Public Service
Kerene Tayloe Director of Federal Legislative Affairs: WE ACT for Environmental Justice
Time
Sep 25, 2020 12:00 PM in Eastern Time (US and Canada)

Solar developers and farmers join forces to implement ways to supply clean power to the NY electric grid.
Speakers will discuss the benefits solar brings to NY farmers and wildlife, particularly our pollinators!

– Jeremy Verratti: Verratti Farms, Hartland NY and USES Steering Committee

– Rob Davis, Director, Center for Pollinators in Energy

Learn how we can meet our energy needs across NYS with clean heating and cooling technology!
Speakers will discuss shared geothermal loop systems, thermal infrastructure ownership options and how we can finance getting to scale.

Sign up for Renewable Heat Now’s email list for notifications on how to take action for clean energy infrastructure!

Speakers include:
Cullen Kasunic from BlocPower
Zeyneb Magavi & Audrey Schulman from HEET (Home Energy Efficiency Team)
Stuart Yanow from Orca energy
Owen Brady from National Grid

Speakers will discuss the types of benefits available to New York communities that solar projects provide and how to submit a comment to the Public Service Commission on their proceeding about the Renewable Energy Facility Host Community Benefit Program! Click the link to submit a comment: https://usesny.org/psccommentcommunitybenefit/

Panelists include:
Kevin Campbell, Development Manager – EDF-Renewables
Kate Millar, Manager, Renewable Development -Invenergy
Rikki Cason, Manager – Cypress Creek
David Alicea, NY Organizing Representative -Sierra Club
Dan Spitzer – Attorney at Hodgson Ross
Haylee Ferrington, USES Steering Committee – Moderator

Positive Green Jobs examples in our surrounding communities. You’ll learn ways that you can achieve training and job success in this quickly growing field. This free virtual educational event is sponsored by Citizens for Local Power, New Yorkers for Clean Power, and Hudson River Sloop Clearwater.

Speakers:
Robert Wright, President/YouthBuild Executive Director at Nubian Directions
William Artist, Construction Manager at Nubian Directions
Christopher Boston, former Construction Manager at Nubian Directions
Cecil Corbin-Mark, Deputy Director and Director of Policy Initiatives at WE ACT
Bryanna DiFonzo, Director of New Economy at PUSH Buffalo
Rodney Rainey, Workforce Development Coordinator at PUSH Buffalo
Bill and Melinda McKnight, co-founders at Energy Conservation Specialists

Join United Solar Energy Supporters to hear from speakers on the available apprenticeships & job trainings in the solar industry and the community benefits that utility-scale solar bring.

Speakers:

Giuseppina Agovino – Friends of Flint Mine Solar
Harrison Watkins – NYS Laborers Organizing Fund
Mike Bader – IBEW Local 86
Haylee Ferington – Clean Energy Communities Genesee

Join Renewable Heat Now for a one hour online teach-in on the NYS Gas Proceeding.

The Public Service Commission, the agency that regulates the utilities, has started a new case on gas planning (20-G-0131) to ensure utilities are transparent, equitable and consider New York State’s new climate law, Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act, in their investments and service! The PSC is taking comments on this proceeding.

Here is what the proceeding is about, in the words of the Public Service Commission Order:

Gas utilities need to … adopt improved planning and operational practices that enable them to meet current customer needs and expectations in a transparent and equitable way while minimizing infrastructure investments and maintaining safe and reliable service. Additionally, planning must be conducted in a manner consistent with the recently enacted Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act (CLCPA). (emphasis added) Case #20-G-0131 Order initiating proceeding, p. 1-2.

Your voice is needed to help hold the utilities accountable!

Speakers:

Jessica Azulay – Alliance for a Green Economy

Radina Valova – Pace Energy and Climate Center

Kim Fraczek – Sane Energy Project

Lee Ziesche – Sane Energy Project

Take action today! Submit a comment to the Public Service Commission telling them to stop the gas infrastructure buildout and help with the conversion to renewable heat now: https://renewableheatnow.org/planning-comment/

Learn the latest on energy storage technology and how we can use it to build our renewable energy future!

Speakers:

Tom Kacandes – Business Development Manager – NY & NE at VEIC

Erin Hazen – Senior Director of Development at Glidepath Power

Jeff Irish – Vice President of SunCommon

Candace Rossi – Project Manager for NY-Sun at the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA)

Hear from Mark Ruffalo, Congresswoman Deb Haaland and indigenous activist Tokata Iron Eyes on the importance of a Green Jobs Stimulus and supporting native communities in response to COVID-19.

Federal spending should go towards the most vulnerable and frontline workers as well as prioritizing green jobs and making communities healthier by investing in renewable energy, energy efficient homes, and clean transportation.

And that’s what we call for in our Green Jobs Stimulus Petition. Send a message to congress that we need to invest in a green economy!
Sign here: nyforcleanpower.org/greenjobsstimuluspetition/

Join New Yorkers for Clean Power and United Solar Energy Supporters to learn about the new siting law for large-scale renewable energy projects in New York: Accelerated Renewable Energy Growth & Community Benefit Act
Speakers:
Mike Bader – Business Manager at the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers for local 86
Harrison Watkins – Research Director at the NYS Laborers Organizing Fund

Daniel Spitzer is an attorney and co-leader of Clean Energy Practice at Hodgson Russ LLP. Dan will summarize the Accelerated Renewable Energy Growth & Community Benefit Act that recently passed in NYS which dictates how large-scale renewable energy projects are sited, and he’ll describe how this new law is different from the Article 10 siting and permitting process.

Jennifer Manierre is a Senior Project Manager for Clean Energy Siting at NYSERDA and will be going over how local governments can engage in the new permitting process.