ESFPA E-News

Earth Day & Arbor Day

Wednesday April 22nd is Earth Day and Friday April 24th is Arbor Day. What a great week to celebrate our forests and wood products and what they do for New York's largest natural landscape and the renewable, sustainable wood products they provide to our society!

On Wednesday ESFPA Executive Director John Bartow will be at Cornell College of Agriculture & Life Sciences for a day-long strategic planning session, and on Friday John has been invited to celebrate Arbor Day and annual tree planting in Albany with DEC Commissioner Amanda Lefton and Albany Mayor Dorcy Applyrs. 

APA Approves Clearcut for Solar Project

Last week the Adirondack Park Agency approved a clearcut of 16.5 acres for a community solar project in the Town of Ellenberg. Citing a net benefit of carbon offset by the solar project, as opposed to carbon sequestered from the 16.5 acres of forest, the Commissioners approved the project. 

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Governor Extends 100' Rule

Long after signing the modified Heat Act, which would have mandated all electric buildings and was modified requiring a chapter amendment limiting it to removing subsidies for natural gas hookups withing 100' of a natural gas main, Governor Hochul signed the Chapter amendment which delayed the 100' rule to April 2027.

Citing affordability and rising natural gas costs, the Governor signed the legislation which kicks the can but does not address the underlying problem of how will New Yorkers who still depend on natural gas for heating their homes and businesses survive and build new homes and businesses in 2027? 

This, along with EV mandates, have been pushed out until 2027 and 2029, but still loom for New Yorkers.

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Farm Bill

 This week the full House is scheduled to consider the House Agriculture Committee-passed Farm Bill reauthorization legislation. As we have mentioned, there are a number of positive policy provisions for the forestry and forest products value chain in the measure, including:

• Jobs in the Woods Act language
• Biomass carbon neutrality directive
• Language renewing the Community Wood and Wood Innovation Grant Programs

We expect the measure will pass and attention will turn to moving a Farm Bill reauthorization measure through the Senate.

Pothole Politics to New Level

Not to be outdone by Mayor Mamdani or any other local elected official this time of year, Governor Hochul has brought springtime paving and pothole repair to a new media cycle level.

Sure, this winter may have been a bit colder than some more recent (despite global warming, eh!), but seriously!

One State, Many Realities: Why New York Needs a Regional Impact Test

By Assemblyman Michael S. Cashman

New York has always been a state of contrasts. From the density of NYC to the rural communities, our strength lies in that diversity. Yet too often, our policies are written as if those differences do not exist.

A straightforward question: Does a policy that works in one area of the state always work elsewhere? Because the truth is, it often does not.

Click the link below to read the full article:

Funding Opportunity Through the U.S. Endowment for Forestry and Communities

The Opportunity: Accelerating Wood Fiber Utilization through Business and Project Development Assistance

$5 million is available through the U.S. Endowment for Forestry and Communities to connect underutilized wood fiber with new buyers, strengthen regional supply chains and keep working forests economically viable. This effort will invest up to $1 million per year over five years in organizations that can develop durable market solutions, helping keep working forests productive and rural economies strong, especially in regions facing reduced processing capacity and shifting market conditions.  

Additional Funding for Northern Border Region Projects

An additional $500,000 is available for projects in Maine, New Hampshire, New York and Vermont through a partnership with the Northern Border Regional Commission’s Forest Economy Initiative.

For a complete overview about the opportunity, eligibility, project expectation details, and application instructions, please view the full Request for Proposals.

Proposals are due by May 22, 2026, at 5 p.m. EST. Three to five organizations are expected to be selected by June 2026.

Click the link below for more details: