On April 28, 2025, a problem at a photovoltaic plant in Spain triggered a blackout over the Iberian Peninsula. I believe that this event should be considered in the New York Draft State Energy Plan. I am convinced that implementation of the New York Climate Leadership & Community Protection Act (Climate Act) net-zero mandates will … Continue reading "Implications of the 2025 Spanish Blackout on the Draft Energy Plan"| Pragmatic Environmentalist of New York
This post documents the oral comments I submitted at the Draft State Energy Plan Public Hearing on September 4, 2025 in Rochester, NY. The New York State Energy Research & Development Authority (NYSERDA) only allocated two minutes per person, so this article documents the statements that I made. I am convinced that implementation of the … Continue reading "Rochester Hearing Personal Comments on the Draft Energy Plan"| Pragmatic Environmentalist of New York
In early August I submitted a filing that I prepared with Richard Ellenbogen, Constatine Kontogiannis, and Francis Menton to New York Public Service Commission Case 22-M-0149 – Proceeding on Motion of the Commission Assessing implementation of and Compliance with the Requirements and Targets of the Climate Leadership and Community Protection. The filing argued that there … Continue reading "Climate Act Safety Valve Filing Exhibits"| Pragmatic Environmentalist of New York
I am very frustrated with the New York Climate Leadership & Community Protection Act (Climate Act) net zero transition because the reality is that there are so many issues coming up with the schedule and ambition of the Climate Act that it is obvious that we need to pause implementation and figure out how best … Continue reading "The challenges of achieving a 100% renewable electricity system in the United States"| Pragmatic Environmentalist of New York
This post is part of my continuing coverage of the draft New York State Energy Plan (Draft Plan). In late July the United States Department of Energy (DOE) published a draft report titled “A Critical Review of Impacts of Greenhouse Gas Emissions on the U.S. Climate”. This post describes differences between that report and the … Continue reading "Critical Review of Impacts of Greenhouse Gas Emissions on the U.S. Climate"| Pragmatic Environmentalist of New York
As part of my continuing coverage of the draft New York State Energy Plan. I recently explained how the analyses for the Draft Energy Plan are hiding the true costs to meet the Climate Act targets. Energy Bad Boys Mitch Rolling and Isaac Orr recently published an article that describes a similar evaluation that has … Continue reading "Bait and Switch Draft Energy Plan Costs"| Pragmatic Environmentalist of New York
I am very frustrated with the New York Climate Leadership & Community Protection Act (Climate Act) net zero transition because the reality is that there are so many issues coming up with the schedule and ambition of the Climate Act that it is obvious that we need to pause implementation and figure out how best … Continue reading "More Reasons to Pause"| Pragmatic Environmentalist of New York
The New York Power Authority (NYPA) recently published for public comment the draft first update to its inaugural Strategic Plan for “developing new renewable energy generation projects to supply N…| Pragmatic Environmentalist of New York
This post documents the oral comment I submitted at the Draft State Energy Plan Public Hearing on August 19, 2025. The New York State Energy Research & Development Authority (NYSERDA) only allocated two minutes per person, so this article documents the statements that I made. I am convinced that implementation of the New York Climate … Continue reading "Virtual Hearing Personal Comments on the Draft Energy Plan"| Pragmatic Environmentalist of New York
The New York Public Service Commission (PSC) unanimously approved a joint proposal on August 14, 2025, establishing a three-year electric and gas delivery rate plan for Niagara Mohawk Power Corporation (NMPC) d/b/a National Grid for service years 2025-2028. This article describes how Department of Public Service (DPS) blew off the concerns I raised about implementation … Continue reading "National Grid Rate Case Approval"| Pragmatic Environmentalist of New York
My last post described a letter sent by two members of the Climate Action Council, Donna DeCarolis and Dennis Elsenbeck, to Rory Christian, Chair & Chief Executive Officer of the New Yok …| Pragmatic Environmentalist of New York
This is part of my continuing coverage of the New York State Energy Plan. On July 23, 2025, the Draft Energy Plan was released for comment. This post explains how the analyses for the D…| Pragmatic Environmentalist of New York
Last March environmental activists sued the State of New York because the Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) was not promulgating the regulations for the New York Cap and Invest (…| Pragmatic Environmentalist of New York
This is part of my continuing coverage of the New York State Energy Plan. Previous articles described the Pathways Analysis that is being used to project energy scenarios for the draft energy…| Pragmatic Environmentalist of New York
Note: This post was updated on 7/22/25 to note that the “Limited Building Rate Scenario” projects a zero-emissions grid in 2045, five years later than the Climate Act target. This is part of…| Pragmatic Environmentalist of New York
I believe that Governor Hochul’s Administration has forced New York utilities to incorporate programs to try to meet the goals of the Climate Act despite never proving that it is feasible, never de…| Pragmatic Environmentalist of New York
I am very frustrated with the New York Climate Leadership & Community Protection Act (Climate Act) net zero transition because the reality is that there are so many issues coming up with the sc…| Pragmatic Environmentalist of New York
I am very frustrated with the New York Climate Leadership & Community Protection Act (Climate Act) net zero transition because the reality is that there are so many issues coming up with the sc…| Pragmatic Environmentalist of New York
This is part of my continuing coverage of the New York State Energy Plan. This is the first update to the Plan since the Climate Leadership & Community Protection Act (Climate Act) was im…| Pragmatic Environmentalist of New York
This is part of my continuing coverage of the New York State Energy Plan. My intent is to describe most of the sections of the June 25, 2025, meeting presentation. As part of my attempt…| Pragmatic Environmentalist of New York
In May I described my Personal Statement on Niagara Mohawk Rate Case Joint Proposal (JP). The article mentioned that the statement argued that the JP does not acknowledge New York Public Serv…| Pragmatic Environmentalist of New York
Proponents of the New York Climate Leadership & Community Protection Act (Climate Act) don’t acknowledge that there are affordability and reliability safety valves. Worse, the rate case p…| Pragmatic Environmentalist of New York
The first regulation associated with the New York Cap and Invest (NYCI) Program is currently out for comment. The regulation establishes mandatory greenhouse gas (GHG) emission reporting requ…| Pragmatic Environmentalist of New York
Several recent reports show that New York’s Climate Leadership & Community Protection Act (Climate Act) is not going as planned. It appears that Governor Hochul is becoming aware that rea…| Pragmatic Environmentalist of New York
This post summarizes comments that I submitted in response to comments submitted by Sierra Club and Earthjustice in the Proceeding on Motion of the Commission to Implement a Large-Scale Renewable P…| Pragmatic Environmentalist of New York
A different version of this article was published at Watts Up With That. As part of the Department of Public Service Proceeding 15-E-0302 a technical conference was held on December 11 and 12, 2023…| Pragmatic Environmentalist of New York