ESFPA E-News

 Election Day Did Not Under-Perform

As we go to print, Tuesday’s elections have not completely settled out yet, but we can start to make some assumptions.

Nationally, the mid-term elections fell far short of a “Red Wave” as many pundits had predicted.  It appears that the Republicans will take control of the House of Representatives but with a very slim margin and the political problem confronting a party any time it gains power is that it will be expected to govern. The Senate remains split and leadership will likely be decided by a Georgia runoff slated for December 6th. New York’s Congressional races delivered as expected with key republican victories on Long Island and in the Hudson Valley.  Senator Chuck Schumer easily won his third 6-year term in the U.S. Senate.

In New York, it appears that Governor Kathy Hochul has won, but Republican Lee Zeldin has yet to concede. Republicans made gains in both the state Senate and Assembly in Tuesday's election but Democrats will continue to maintain strong majorities in both chambers. Less clear is whether Democrats in the Senate will retain a two-thirds "supermajority." Democrats say it's still possible, though the outcome remains uncertain because of at least two close races that have not been called. In the Assembly, according to both parties, indications are that Republicans will not make enough gains to erase the Democratic supermajority in that chamber. What is clear is the Democratic majorities in both the Senate and Assembly is even more New York City centric.

New Yorkers also approved Proposition 1 on the ballot by greater than a 3:1 margin. The $4.2 billion Clean Air, Clean Water and Green Jobs Environmental Bond will allow the State to borrow up to $4,200,000,000 to provide funding for capital projects for the following: restoration and flood risk reduction (at least $1,100,000,000), open space land conservation and recreation (up to $650,000,000), climate change mitigation (up to $1,500,000,000), and water quality improvement and resilient infrastructure (at least $650,000,000).

New York Voted for the Climate. California Did Not.

Written by Jackie Flynn Mogensen 

It was a mixed night for the fight against climate change on Tuesday. Voters in two of the country’s largest states, California and New York, considered climate-related ballot measures that would have freed up billions in funding to protect the environment and electrify the economy. New York resoundingly passed its measure. California did not.

First up, New York: Proposal 1, the “Clean Water, Clean Air, and Green Jobs Environmental Bond Act,” is a wide-ranging initiative that will supply more than $4 billion in funding for projects related to “the environment, natural resources, water infrastructure, and climate change mitigation,” paid for through New York’s sale of bonds. It’ll fund things like wetland protection, solar and wind installations, street trees, land conservation, fish hatcheries, carbon sequestration, and reducing stormwater runoff. And with $500 million in funding specifically earmarked for purchasing electric school buses, it’s a notable step toward electrification; New York is one of the first states in the country to require all of its school buses to be zero-emission vehicles.

The measure also requires that at least 35 percent of the money benefits “disadvantaged communities,” as defined by an independent advisory committee. New York isn’t alone on this front; in 2021, Joe Biden issued an executive order declaring that disadvantaged communities would receive at least 40 percent of climate-related benefits enacted by his administration, although it’s unclear how such communities would qualify. 

Not surprisingly, Democratic Gov. Kathy Hochul (who handily won reelection) and environmental groups supported Prop 1. The New York State Conservative Party opposed it, arguing that New York doesn’t need to borrow more money. With nearly 70 percent of votes counted as of Wednesday afternoon, Proposal 1 passed with 69 percent of New Yorkers favoring it. Bond sales could reportedly begin as early as next year.

“New York voters deserve a shout-out for their overwhelming support of a once-in-a-generation bond measure that will protect and restore the natural resources we all depend on,” said Jessica Ottney Mahar, the Nature Conservancy’s New York policy and strategy director, in a statement. “This is a major victory for people and for the environment.”

California’s climate vote was far more contentious. Proposition 30, the “Clean Cars and Clean Air Act,” aimed to tackle two of the biggest drivers of dirty air in the state: wildfires and car exhaust. (California has some of the worst air quality in the US: Of the 30 counties with the worst air quality nationwide in 2020, 29 were in the Golden State, a recent analysis found.) Proposition 30 would have increased taxes on residents making more than $2 million by 1.75 percent, with the revenue—about $3.5 billion to $5 billion annually—supporting the transition to zero-emission vehicles by providing subsidies for car buyers and building charging stations. It would have also funded wildfire risk reduction programs. The measure saw support from environmental advocates, firefighters, the California Democratic Party, and ride-share company Lyft, which backed it to the tune of $45 million.

But in a move that puzzled many of the state’s progressives, Gov. Gavin Newsom, a Democrat, joined the California Republican Party to oppose the measure because of Lyft’s involvement. He called it “a special interest carve-out” and a “cynical scheme devised by a single corporation to funnel state income tax revenue to their company.” The governor and his office argued that higher taxes aren’t necessary for funding electric vehicles. This year’s state budget, Newsom told voters, includes $10 million for electrification, including car subsidies and charging stations. Opponents also worried that the measure would set a bad precedent, allowing companies to make policy through the ballot, not the legislature. Others argued a tax hike would drive wealthy residents to flee California for tax havens like Florida and Texas. (Proponents of Prop 30 say that’s never happened.) With 42 percent of votes counted, and 59 percent of California against it as of this writing, AP projects Prop 30’s defeat.

Eventually, residents and businesses in the state will need to figure out how to pay for electric vehicles. In 2021, the California Air Resources Board mandated that 90 percent of Uber and Lyft’s drivers’ miles be made in electric vehicles by 2030. Then, the board ruled in August that the sale of all gas-powered cars in the state will need to be phased out by 2035, noting that California’s transportation sector is responsible for more than half of the state’s greenhouse gas emissions. Advocates said that Prop 30, which aimed to reduce the cost of switching to electric, would have helped drivers meet California’s goals, particularly low and middle-income residents.

With or without Prop 30, it’s been a critical year for climate action. Just three months ago, Congress passed the Inflation Reduction Act, the largest climate bill to date. As my colleague Arianna Coghill wrote at the time, the law includes nearly $370 billion in climate spending that will help fund efforts like renewable energy and electric cars. According to independent analyses by two non-partisan research firms, the IRA could reduce the country’s carbon emissions by about 30-40 percent from 2005 levels by 2030. President Joe Biden has pledged to reduce the country’s emissions by about 50 percent over the same time period.

But as a whole, the environment was surprisingly absent from conversation this election cycle. In an October survey conducted by the Pew Research Center, the economy, the future of democracy, and education were the three issues most commonly listed as “very important” to voters. While “energy policy” ranked fifth, climate change ranked all the way down at number 14 on Pew’s list, after “size and scope of the federal government.” Similarly, a recent AP VoteCast poll found that about half of voters see jobs and the economy as the most important issue facing the country today, while just 9 percent said climate change. Climate ballot measures were scant too, at least on the state level. “It’s unusual for there not to be more environmental ballot initiatives,” Nick Abraham, state communications director at the League of Conservation Voters, told Grist in October.

Ballot measures, of course, offer just one path for change. As my former colleague Rebecca Leber notes at Vox, states can play a major role in passing clean energy bills. With Democrats now appearing to take control of state legislatures and the governor’s office in Michigan, Maryland, Massachusetts, and possibly, Minnesota, four more states could gain “an upper hand to push through new climate goals,” she writes, even with a split or Republican-dominated Congress at the national level.

USDA Releases Nationwide Farmer, Rancher and Forest Manager Prospective Customer Survey

Are you a farmer, rancher or forest manager? Please share your vital feedback with USDA by taking a nationwide survey at farmers.gov/survey! The survey is completely anonymous, will take about 10 minutes to complete, is available in multiple languages, and will be open until March 31, 2023. The survey focuses on gathering feedback about the Farm Service Agency, Natural Resources Conservation Service and Risk Management Agency.

All farmers, ranchers and forest managers are encouraged to take the survey. USDA would especially like to hear from prospective customers: those who don’t know about USDA or have yet to work with USDA, and those who were unable to participate in the past. The survey will help USDA enhance support, improve programs and services, increase access, and advance equity for new and existing customers.

Governor Hochul Announces More Than $3.7 Million To Bring Climate Tech Manufacturing and Products To New York State Through M-Corps Program

Program Will Connect Startups to Local Supply Chain Partners to Scale Climate Technologies

Governor Kathy Hochul announced more than $3.7 million to bring innovative climate technology or climate tech manufacturing and products to New York State. The M-Corps program will connect startups scaling goods that lower greenhouse gases or reduce energy consumption with local supply chain partners, manufacturers, and suppliers while prioritizing connections in underserved communities. This announcement supports the State's nation-leading Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act goal of reducing carbon emissions 85 percent from 1990 levels by 2050.

"As a climate leader, New York is aggressively working with companies that can bring new technologies to the table as we work to lower greenhouse gas emissions and hit our ambitious climate goals." Governor Hochul said. "This initiative will draw companies to join our growing green economy and connect them with manufacturing facilities across the state, including those located in underserved areas, to support economic opportunity and local supply chains as we continue our work to address climate change head on."

The New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) will competitively select a program administrator to work with NYSERDA to guide start-ups through key decisions related to the manufacturing development process. The administrator will facilitate supply chain relationships and partnerships, provide operational and programming support to climate tech startups and connect them with local resources. The program administrator will be awarded up to $3.7 million in funding to assist in successfully bringing new products to market.

New York State Energy Research and Development Authority President and CEO Doreen M. Harris said, "Connecting global innovators with New York State resources provides entrepreneurs with game-changing support that can advance climate resiliency and clean energy. Helping companies overcome market barriers to manufacturing paves the way for success and can increase the number of sustainable products available to consumers thereby lowering harmful emissions."

New York State Public Service Commission Commissioner Rory M. Christian said, "Governor Hochul's commitment to protecting and enhancing our environment has been steadfast. As we look ahead to the rigorous goals set forth by the CLCPA, programs such as the M-Corps will play a key role in creating a clean-energy workforce in New York State."

Empire State Development President, CEO and Commissioner Hope Knight said, "NYSERDA's M-Corps program will help New York State reach its ambitious climate goals through innovation and equity. By bringing together climate tech startups, local partners, and prioritizing underserved communities, these efforts will both benefit the environment and build up our green economy.

New York State Department of Labor Commissioner Roberta Reardon said, "As Co-chair of the Climate Action Council, I'm proud to continue to work with Governor Hochul to implement ground-breaking initiatives that will draw companies to our nation-leading green economy. This funding will help spur economic growth throughout New York State and bring high-paying, green careers to New Yorkers while protecting our planet."

NYSERDA will accept applications from qualified organizations through January 4, 2023. Applicants must demonstrate expertise in climate tech hardware and startup commercialization and must have local knowledge of New York State and relationships with manufacturers and suppliers in New York. For more information, please register for the webinar being held on November 30, 2022, at 1:00 p.m. ET.

This program replaces the previous NYSERDA supported versions of the M-Corps program. Since 2017, the NYSERDA Technology to Market Program has invested $107 million and supported nearly 500 clients, resulting in more than 2,200 jobs, $1.6 billion in private and public investment, $600 million in startup company revenue, and 300 products commercialized. In addition, M-Corps technology programs have worked closely with more than 50 cohort companies that have, over those four years, raised more than $400 million in capital and earned more than $30 million revenue.

Funding for this initiative is through the State's 10-year, $5.3 billion Clean Energy Fund. More information about this funding is available on NYSERDA's website.

New York State's Nation-Leading Climate Plan
New York State's nation-leading climate agenda is the most aggressive climate and clean energy initiative in the nation, calling for an orderly and just transition to clean energy that creates jobs and continues fostering a green economy as New York State recovers from the COVID-19 pandemic. Enshrined into law through the Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act, New York is on a path to achieve its mandated goal of a zero-emission electricity sector by 2040, including 70 percent renewable energy generation by 2030, and to reach economy wide carbon neutrality. It builds on New York's unprecedented investments to ramp-up clean energy including over $35 billion in 120 large-scale renewable and transmission projects across the state, $6.8 billion to reduce buildings emissions, $1.8 billion to scale up solar, more than $1 billion for clean transportation initiatives and over $1.6 billion in NY Green Bank commitments. Combined, these investments are supporting nearly 158,000 jobs in New York's clean energy sector in 2020, a 2,100 percent growth in the distributed solar sector since 2011 and a commitment to develop 9,000 megawatts of offshore wind by 2035. Under the Climate Act, New York will build on this progress and reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 85 percent from 1990 levels by 2050, while ensuring that at least 35 percent with a goal of 40 percent of the benefits of clean energy investments are directed to disadvantaged communities and advance progress towards the state's 2025 energy efficiency target of reducing on-site energy consumption by 185 trillion BTUs of end-use energy savings. 

New York Logger Training Completes Fall 2022 Workshops

On November 4th, New York Logger Training conducted the last workshop of the season with a Game of Logging Storm Tree Damage. The Spring Schedule of Workshops is already in the process of being constructed and will include four free ESFPA member-only courses including Game of Logging 1 and Critical Injury and Response for Loggers. Once the courses are finalized, the schedule will be available at esfpa.org. 

We would love to hear your feedback on any NYLT classes you have taken this year. Please feel free to call us with any comments or questions at (518) 463-1297 or email gabriella@esfpa.org.