ESFPA E-News

Volume 4 - Issue 24

June 16, 2023

New York’s Emerging Budget Problem

A day of reckoning is emerging from New York’s three years of record spending. In the 2024 Enacted Budget Financial Plan released last Friday (the last day of the Legislative Session), the Division of Budget is projecting ballooning budget gaps over the next three years, through 2027. The past three years have seen record spending on the part of the Governor and State Legislature supported in large measure through unbridled federal COVID assistance, other federal assistance, and better than expected tax revenues also supported through federal income assistance.

Now that those record federal revenues are ending, tax revenues are crashing, and wealthy and not-so-wealthy New Yorkers are fleeing the State, we are seeing a 2024 budget gap where expenses will exceed revenues by $9.1 billion in fiscal 2025. The gaps grow to more than $13 billion in fiscal 2026 and 2027. The new gap calculation is the clearest evidence to date that Albany’s three-year spending binge, which has seen both school aid and Medicaid costs explode and has been partially fueled by personal income and business tax hikes, can’t be sustained. Politico has a great article summarizing the emerging problem here.

Industrial Efficiency Grants available through NYSERDA

New York has launched a $10 million Commercial and Industrial Accelerated Efficiency Program to provide incentives for large energy users to reduce emissions and electrify loads. Program awards will range from $500,000 to $5 million for projects that can be completed and operational by the end of 2025. Eligible measures include energy efficiency and process improvements, heat pumps, electrification of thermal loads, and energy management systems and controls.

The program will target companies “working to significantly cut energy and emissions on an accelerated timeline,” according to the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA). NYSERDA says the new program is designed to reduce emissions from operations in difficult-to-decarbonize and energy-intensive sectors, helping the state to meet its legislatively-set climate goals.

The new efficiency program is open to a range of applicants in manufacturing industries and in commercial campus settings, including the paper, petroleum, primary metals, minerals, chemicals, transportation and other sectors.

NYSERDA said it will award incentives on a competitive basis. Proposals must identify an energy-saving target; selection will be based on ranked scores prioritizing thermal energy savings, emissions savings, cost effectiveness, peak electric load reduction, and how quickly the measures can be installed. The total award request cannot exceed half of the project’s cost. Ineligible projects include new construction and those focused on power quality, lighting and “projects that derive benefits from the decommissioning of equipment due to a reduction of work/production,” NYSERDA said.

Proposals are due by August 31.

ESFPA Board Meets in Western NY

On Wednesday and Thursday this week the ESFPA Board of Directors met in Ellicottville NY. On Wednesday the Board toured the Fitzpatrick & Weller mill in downtown Ellicottville (our thanks to Greg Fitzpatrick and Joe Snyder for an informative tour) followed by a dinner with members at Holiday Valley. We had 25 members join the Board for dinner and heard from New York State Senator George Borello on how the 2023 Legislative Session ended last week. Following dinner, we had an update on “the State of the Hardwood Sector” from Baillie Lumber President and CEO Jeff Meyer. Lots of great networking which was a welcome change post-COVID.

The Board met Thursday morning at Holiday Valley and caught up on how ESFPA faired in the Legislative Session and started to set priorities and actions for the balance of 2023. The Board also set the framework for our 2023 Regional Meetings which will be held in September and October in Saranac Lake, Owego, Cortland, and Lake George. Stay tuned for more details. The Board also agreed that we will hold our Fall Forestry Roundtable in Early November at the Adirondack Community College in Queensbury.

The Board concluded their Western New York swing with a tour of the Gutchess Lumber, Freedom NY hardwood mill. The Tour was led by Board member and Gutchess Lumber Vice President of Natural Resources, John Zemanick and Freedom Plant Manager, Ryan Marrs. It was a wonderful tour and there have been some really fantastic automation updates at the mill in the past couple of years.

In all, it was a quick but informative visit to western NY and a lot of good business and networking with ESFPA members from the region.

Final Reminder: Sign Up for the Last NYLT Workshops of the Season

FREE for ESFPA members

There are still openings in the last two NYLT courses being offered this June 2023. These courses are ESFPA-only and completely FREE! Sign up today for either of the below workshops by contacting ESFPA at dorian@esfpa.org or (518) 463-1297. Registration must be made by calling or emailing Dorian by June 16^th for the June 24^th Class and June 23^rd for the June 30^th Class.

The upcoming classes are as follows:

Saturday, 6/24/2023- Critical Injury Response for Loggers

In the Town of Hadley, Saratoga County
8:00am – 5:00pm
Instructed by Rick Lutz
For ESFPA members ONLY
FREE

Topics address loggers on responding to emergency situations on the job site and with equipment. This includes:

Maximizing scene safety
Protecting loggers trapped under trees and debris
How to assist in rescue
How to manage an accident scene in remote locations or when trained emergency help is not readily available
Use of safety equipment and precautions

Friday, 6/30/2023- Storm Damage Training

In the Town of Hadley, Saratoga County
8:00am – 5:00pm
Instructed by Bill Lindloff
For ESFPA members ONLY
FREE

Game of Logging provides specialized training that addressed the unique hazards inherent in storm damaged settings. This training is meant to provide saw users the information and techniques demanded by this dangerous environment and the forces and pressures of wind felled trees.

Demonstration & Hands-On Techniques: Participants will be exposed to and have the opportunity to perform many of the following techniques during the day:

Limb-Loc
Top-Loc
Tongue & Groove
Axle Cut
Axle Loc
Notch Bucking & Directional Notch Bucking (Controlled Release Cut)
Roll Away Cut
Buck with Wedge
Flagging Hazards
Tab Cut
Oversized Log Buck
Dirty Log Bucking
Using ropes and mechanical advantage techniques

Demonstration Only by GOL Trainer: Participants will be exposed to these techniques, but will not necessarily perform them during training day:

Scissor-Cut - Show using wedge and if applicable rope and come-along option.
The release of extreme springpole tension.
"Pole in a Hole"

Five Point Plan for Storm Damaged Trees:

OVERHEAD HAZARDS!!
Hazards on the ground
Assess lean weight and pressure
Cutting technique or cut plan
Escape route