We cannot build a renewable future as long as corporations trap New York state at just 4% wind and solar energy. We need Public Power: a publicly owned, democratically run energy system designed to provide clean and affordable energy to all, instead of creating profits for shareholders.

• Get New York on track to meet its climate goal of 100% clean energy by 2040 by passing the Build Public Renewables Act. This enables New York State to create tens of thousands of local union jobs building the publicly owned, 100% renewable energy system we need, directly.
• Democratize our energy system and make energy a public good by transitioning corporate monopolies like Central Hudson to public ownership, through Public Power. This will also bring democratic oversight and community agreements to siting of energy projects, to avoid the kinds of situations that led to CHPE, and ensure such projects benefit people, not profits.
  • In the meantime, we must cancel utility debt to relieve New Yorkers from inflated charges that are being made by companies like Central Hudson. Private utilities in New York are guaranteed a return to equity, so they can more than afford to cancel the debt and make shareholders pay.

We must commit to end our forced reliance on fossil fuels, and build a publicly owned energy system that lowers our bills, increases reliability, and replaces toxic gas and oil with renewable wind, solar, and geothermal power at the speed science truly demands.

• Ban all new fossil fuel infrastructure by passing the Clean Futures Act. We should not have to stop fossil fuel plants like the Danskammer fracked gas plant one project at a time.
• Prevent an estimated 4 million metric tons of climate pollution by passing the All Electric Buildings Act, which would ban gas hookups in all new buildings starting 2024.
• Make public investment to retrofit existing buildings. The previously passed Green Jobs Green New York Act aimed to do a million retrofits in 5 years, but failed to do so and generated less than 25,000 retrofits.
• Use the public office to strengthen movements that fight fracked gas plants and pipelines in our state. Ulster County has one of the highest counts of climate activists per capita, and the State offices must represent that leadership.

• Fight against infrastructure proposals like CHPE that will degrade water quality in the Hudson Valley—we should not have to choose between new renewable infrastructure and safe, drinkable water.
• Stop the dumping of Ashokan Reservoir’s muddy water into the Esopus Creek, and develop real alternatives to manage turbidity in order to preserve the quality of water in its reservoirs, without polluting waters and communities downstream.
  • In the meantime, we need to demand that the seven affected towns and cities are given a seat at the table where decisions around this issue are made.
• According to the state Department of Environmental Conservation, the Hudson River could rise 2 to 4 feet by 2080. We must develop and implement proactive flood resilience plans today, not punt them to future generations.

• Reduce packaging by 50% over 10 years by passing Extended Producer Responsibility. This bill also provides funding to local governments for waste reduction programs, recycling, and waste disposal.