Governor Hochul Announces $12 Million to Advance Electric Vehicle Adoption and Integration With the Electric Grid

 

Initiative Seeks Novel Demonstrations of Medium- and Heavy-Duty Electric and Hydrogen Fuel Cell Technologies

Supports the State’s Transition to Zero-Emission Vehicles by 2035

Advances the Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act Requirements to Achieve a Zero-Emission Electricity Sector by 2040

Forwards the State’s Goal to Reduce Emissions 85 Percent by 2050

 Governor Kathy Hochul today announced a $12 million initiative to support the development and demonstration of innovative, replicable solutions that advance electric vehicle adoption and the integration of electric vehicles with the electric grid. The initiative also seeks to support novel demonstrations of medium- and heavy-duty electric and hydrogen fuel cell technologies. In addition to supporting the State’s transition to zero-emission vehicles by 2035, today's announcement advances the Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act requirements to achieve a zero-emission electricity sector by 2040 and reduce emissions 85 percent by 2050.

“As New York continues to advance toward a zero-emission future, it’s imperative that we continue to improve the affordability of clean transportation ownership as we scale up a resilient and reliable energy grid,” Governor Hochul said. “This $12 million initiative offers an innovative way to do both — exploring and supporting options for vehicle charging infrastructure that also provides energy back to the grid. We are committed to making it possible for both residents and companies to transition to owning and charging electric vehicles — building a greener future for all.”

Through this competitive program, administered by the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA), the State seeks to:

• Advance well-managed electric vehicle (EV) charging infrastructure and reduced grid integration costs;
• Improve the economics of EV ownership for residential consumers and commercial fleet managers;
• Spur research and innovation that supports widespread deployment of EVs as a beneficial asset to both EV owners and grid operators including combining EVs with bi-directional charging, energy storage, and on-site energy generation; and
• Demonstrate medium- and heavy-duty vehicle electrification, either through fuel-cell electric vehicles or standard battery operated EVs.

Awards of up to $3 million each will be granted for product development and demonstrations of technologies and business models that help reduce energy demand peaks and provide grid benefits through managed charging/discharging that will lower the overall cost of necessary electric grid infrastructure upgrades. By completing successful demonstrations of electric and fuel cell vehicles in hard-to-electrify use cases, such as heavy on-road vehicles and construction equipment, this initiative is expected to enhance utilization of existing grid infrastructure while contributing to environmental and energy equity and broader deployment of zero-emission vehicles throughout New York State.

Concept papers for consideration for full proposal submission under this new initiative will be accepted through 3:00 p.m. on September 12, 2023. For those selected to move forward, the deadline for full proposal submission is November 8, 2023. A second round of funding may be issued in early 2024 if all funds are not awarded in the first round. To learn more, please register for the informational webinar on August 15, 2023 at 11:00 a.m. For additional information and associated documents, visit NYSERDA’s website.

New York State aims to rapidly remove barriers to economy-wide electric vehicle deployment including advancing equitable access to clean transportation in historically marginalized communities which face disproportionate air pollution and health impacts from tailpipe emissions and pollution. In April, Governor Hochul announced that the New York State Public Service Commission initiated a proceeding to implement policies and develop programs related to medium- and heavy-duty electric vehicle charging infrastructure and planning including proactive investment in the utility infrastructure required to serve transportation electrification. The adoption of the Advanced Clean Trucks regulation in December 2021 also supports an increase in the number of medium- and heavy-duty ZEV models available as purchase options for vehicle purchasers and fleets.

New York State’s $1 billion investment in electrifying its transportation sector is vital to meeting the State’s sweeping climate and clean energy plan. New York is rapidly advancing measures that all new passenger cars and trucks sold be zero emissions by 2035, along with all school buses being zero emissions the same year. The state has a range of initiatives that grow access to electric vehicles and improve clean transit for all New Yorkers including EV Make Ready, EVolve NY, the Drive Clean Rebate and the New York Truck Voucher Incentive Program (NYTVIP).

NYSERDA’s Grid Modernization Program, is providing a total of $133 million through 2026 to further research, develop, and provide funding for innovative solutions that support the advancement of a smart, modernized electric grid, remove barriers, and enable the utility investments necessary for full deployment at scale of advanced technologies for the power grid. Since 2016, NYSERDA’s Grid Modernization Program has awarded approximately $65 million under 111 contracts to grid technology companies and research organizations for projects including low-cost, high-accuracy grid sensors, modeling and simulation tools, and advanced engineering solutions for more effective integration of renewable energy resources. Learn more on NYSERDA's website.

Funding for this initiative is through the State’s 10-year, $6 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 calls for an orderly and just transition that creates family-sustaining jobs, continues to foster a green economy across all sectors and ensures that at least 35 percent, with a goal of 40 percent, of the benefits of clean energy investments are directed to disadvantaged communities. Guided by some of the nation’s most aggressive climate and clean energy initiatives, New York is on a path to achieving a zero-emission electricity sector by 2040, including 70 percent renewable energy generation by 2030, and economy-wide carbon neutrality by mid-century. A cornerstone of this transition is New York's unprecedented clean energy investments, including more than $35 billion in 120 large-scale renewable and transmission projects across the state, $6.8 billion to reduce building emissions, $3.3 billion to scale up solar, more than $1 billion for clean transportation initiatives, and over $2 billion in NY Green Bank commitments. These and other investments are supporting more than 165,000 jobs in New York’s clean energy sector in 2021 and over 3,000 percent growth in the distributed solar sector since 2011. To reduce greenhouse gas emissions and improve air quality, New York also adopted zero-emission vehicle regulations, including requiring all new passenger cars and trucks sold in the State be zero emission by 2035. Partnerships are continuing to advance New York’s climate action with nearly 400 registered and 100 certified Climate Smart Communities, nearly 500 Clean Energy Communities, and the State’s largest community air monitoring initiative in 10 disadvantaged communities across the state to help target air pollution and combat climate change.

NYC COUNCIL PASSES PUBLIC ADVOCATE WILLIAMS’ BILL TO INCENTIVIZE GREEN BUILDING PROJECTS CITYWIDE

 

The New York City Council today passed New York City Public Advocate Jumaane D. Williams’ legislation designed to incentivize the building of green projects throughout New York City. The Green Building Project Bill– co-sponsored by Council Member Sandy Nurse– will continue the work of increasing efficiency, decreasing emissions, and building a greener New York City. 

“The climate crisis is here and it’s affecting communities across New York City in profound ways– especially in low-income communities and communities of more color,” said Public Advocate Williams. “Every New Yorker deserves access to a safe and healthy home. We must invest in clean energy and actions towards environmental justice. Not only will this allow us to reach our environmental protection goals but it will also provide much needed relief to homeowners while allowing us to reach economic growth with new jobs.” 

In 2019, the city enacted Local Law 97, which requires buildings over 25,000 square feet to meet new energy efficiency standards and greenhouse gas emissions limits by 2024. The law also created an advisory board and climate working group that supports the City on meeting these aggressive sustainability goals, with the goal of reducing the greenhouse gas emissions from buildings to 40% by 2030 and 80% by 2050. 

Intro 689-A from the Public Advocate broadens the parameters for certain green incentives established in that 2019 landmark law to include smaller buildings. By expanding the definition of a green building project to include those undertaken in one to three family homes and eliminating fees for those projects, the bill provides incentives for owners to improve green energy efficiency. The Public Advocate noted that in implementing this measure, just as with Local Law 97, it would be critical to verify that sustainability standards are truly being met to merit these incentives. Full text of the legislation can be found here. 

"At a time when New Yorkers are experiencing the impacts of the climate crisis, we need to remove as many barriers as possible for the construction of sustainable green buildings that reduce energy and emissions," said Council Member Sandy Nurse, co-sponsor of the legislation. "As a long time champion for climate and environmental justice, I'm proud to be a co-sponsor on this bill with Public Advocate Jumaane Williams that incentivizes and streamlines the process for building a livable city."

Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez - They know that we can win.

It goes without saying that there's a great deal of dark money involved in the fight against climate change right now. That dark money is intended for us to not act in this situation.

We have lobbyists from companies like Exxon Mobil who are bragging about their role in shaping our federal legislation, curtailing our ambitions, and fighting against key provisions to draw down our carbon emissions.

So many of the people that are in charge of blocking action on climate will not see the world that they’re leaving to generations to come.

We have a moral responsibility to leave this world better than we found it. This is not about theory anymore, this is not about challenging the science anymore.

Wildfires will impact all of us.

Floods and waters will impact all of us.

But they will not impact all of us equally. The most vulnerable communities will be left behind — but we can stop it.

It doesn’t have to be this way. Not only can we stop it, and not only can we draw down our emissions, but we can create millions of jobs doing so — millions of good, union jobs.

We can transition to renewable energy.

We can build infrastructure that all people can enjoy that’s not just attuned to the wealthy.

We can restore our lands.

We can build this world, and this world is close. So close. And that is why we see dark money mobilizing the way it is right now. Because they know that we can win.

So we're going to keep fighting.

Thanks for being a part of this,

Alexandria

 

VCJC News & Notes 8/4/23

Van Cortlandt Jewish Center
News and Notes

Here's this week's edition of the VCJC News and Notes email. We hope you enjoy it and find it useful!

Reminders

Funeral Announcement

Ted Meyrowitz passed away last night/early this morning (Thursday). There will be a grave site service on Friday, 8/4, at 11 AM.  Cedar Park Cemetery, 735 Forest Avenue, Paramus, NJ, 07652. It will be at the Stern, Tenenbaum, Meyrowitz plot, Block 17, Lot 70, Row 3, Grave 3.

A minyan in needed for the funeral.  If you can attend, please do so.  If you can provide transportation for others, please let the office know no later than 10AM Friday.  If you need transportation, please let the office know no later than 10AM.

You can call 718-884-6105 or email info@vcjewishcenter.org.

Shabbos

Shabbos information is, as always, available on our website, both in the information sidebar and the events calendar.

Here are the times you need:  

Shabbos Candles Friday 8/4/23 @ 7:50 pm

Shabbos morning services at 8:40 am.  Please join the services if you can do so safely. 

Shabbos Ends Saturday 8/5/23 @ 8:53 pm

Center Light correction

The meet and greet with Rabbi Lowenthal is on Sunday September 10.

Van Cortlandt Jewish Center

3880 Sedgwick Ave

Bronx, NY 10463

MAYOR ADAMS CELEBRATES PASSAGE OF OUTDOOR DINING BILL

 

New York City Mayor Eric Adams today released the following statement after the New York City Council passed Intro. 31-C — sponsored by New York City Councilmember Marjorie Velázquez and introduced at the request of the mayor — that will create a permanent outdoor dining program in New York City.

 

“Outdoor dining is here to stay in New York City — and after decades of deliberation and a temporary program that showed us so much potential, I’m proud to lead the administration that will deliver a superior permanent outdoor dining product to New Yorkers and all those visiting the five boroughs.

 

“The temporary program saved 100,000 jobs, kept restaurants afloat during the peak of the pandemic, and brought new energy and excitement to our streets and sidewalks. But it wasn’t perfect — too many sheds were abandoned and left to rot and too few lived up to our vision of what our streets should look like. And a legal ruling just this week made it even more clear: This is our moment to transition to a permanent program that works for our restaurants, our workers, and our communities.

 

“This bill preserves the best parts of the temporary program and eliminates the worst. We will create a vibrant, clean, and safe streetscape; give restaurants the clarity they need to continue serving their customers; and make New York City the best outdoor dining city in the world. I’m grateful to the restaurant owners, community leaders, and everyday New Yorkers who’ve fought for this program for years, and to Councilmember Marjorie Velázquez and the City Council for their partnership to ‘Get Stuff Done.’”

NYS OASAS ANNOUNCES OPENING OF NEW COMPREHENSIVE INTEGRATED OUTPATIENT TREATMENT PROGRAM IN BROOKLYN

 

Center for Community Alternatives Wellness Center is Part of New Initiative to Establish Programs that Provide Multiple Services for Addiction in One Location

The New York State Office of Addiction Services and Supports (OASAS) announced the opening of the Wellness Center, a new comprehensive integrated outpatient treatment program in Brooklyn. Operated by the Center for Community Alternatives, this facility will allow individuals to access a wide range of services without the need to travel to multiple providers. 

“The development of these programs is allowing us to provide comprehensive services including medication for addiction treatment, which is safe, effective, and proven to save lives,” OASAS Commissioner Dr. Chinazo Cunningham said. “The opening of the Wellness Center will help people in the Brooklyn area better access the individualized help that they need, closer to home, and support their long-term health.”

Services offered at the Wellness Center, located at 25 Chapel Street, Suite 701 in Brooklyn, include all types of medication for addiction treatment, mental health counseling, court advocacy, health education, and employment support, delivered by a team of medical experts and peers.

This program is part of a more than $17 million initiative by OASAS to establish up to 41 of these programs across New York State. These programs are designed to centralize medication treatment, including methadone, and other addiction and healthcare services to make it easier for New Yorkers seeking treatment for substance use disorders to access multiple services in one location.

 

Funding for this program was provided through the Federal Substance Abuse Prevention & Treatment Block Grant Supplemental award and is being administered by OASAS. 

“Center for Community Alternatives’ new Wellness Center is New York’s first integrated opioid treatment program facilitated by an organization that works to build power among those who have been impacted by mass incarceration, criminalization, and community disinvestment,” CCA Executive Director, David Condliffe said. “People who use drugs have faced stigma, discrimination, and degradation for decades, which has only pushed them further into the margins. CCA proudly offers medicine for opioid use disorder as a stabilizing piece of a holistic wellness plan, including mental health counseling, court advocacy, health education, and employment support. Over the years, we commit to growing this Wellness Center into a nationwide leader in harm-reduction and innovation to advance best practices that we learn by listening to our participants and collaborating with cutting-edge global health practitioners.”

The New York State Office of Addiction Services and Supports oversees one of the nation’s largest substance use disorder systems of care with approximately 1,700 prevention, treatment and recovery programs serving over 731,000 individuals per year. This includes the direct operation of 12 Addiction Treatment Centers where our doctors, nurses, and clinical staff provide inpatient and residential services to approximately 8,000 individuals per year.

New Yorkers struggling with an addiction, or whose loved ones are struggling, can find help and hope by calling the state’s toll-free, 24-hour, 7-day-a-week HOPEline at 1-877-8-HOPENY (1-877-846-7369) or by texting HOPENY (Short Code 467369). 

Available addiction treatment including crisis/detox, inpatient, residential, or outpatient care can be found using the NYS OASAS Treatment Availability Dashboard at FindAddictionTreatment.ny.gov or through the NYS OASAS website.  

If you, or a loved one, have experienced insurance obstacles related to treatment or need help filing an appeal for a denied claim, contact the CHAMP helpline by phone at 888-614-5400 or email at ombuds@oasas.ny.gov.

Governor Hochul Announces $108 Million Available for Schools to Address Pandemic Learning Loss and Support Mental Health

 

Establishes the Recover from COVID School Program Grants

$100 Million to Create or Expand Programs to Help Students Address Trauma from COVID-19 Pandemic

$8.3 Million to Create and Support New School-Based Mental Health Clinics

Advances Governor’s State of the State Priority to Expand Mental Health Support

Governor Kathy Hochul today announced $108 million is available for school districts to support student well-being through expanding mental health supports. The new State matching fund, the $100 million Recover from COVID School Program, will provide funding to create or expand programs to help students address trauma caused by the pandemic, prioritizing school districts with the highest need. Additionally, a portion of the $100 million Recover from COVID School Program is available to address student learning loss exacerbated by the pandemic. Governor Hochul is also expanding school-based mental health clinics across the state through an $8.3 million investment within her historic $1 billion mental health plan. Today’s announcement of funding advances one of Governor Hochul’s State of the State priorities to expand mental health support for students and school staff.

"The effects of the pandemic on our students were devastating and irreversible – that's why we’re making historic investments to address learning loss and expand mental health support in our schools,” Governor Hochul said. “By pinpointing where students have fallen behind and getting them the mental health resources they need, this funding will help put New York students back on the path towards success.”

Individual school districts or BOCES, a consortium of school districts or BOCES, or any combination of these entities may apply for the Mental Health Recover from COVID School Program (RECOVS) Grant and the Learning Loss RECOVS Grant. A total of $100 million in funding is available to support these RECOVS grants.

The Mental Health RECOVS Grant objectives charge school districts and BOCES applicants to:

1. Expand student access to school-based mental health professionals, evidence-based and evidence-informed interventions, programming, services, supports and practices that promote mental health and wellness
2. Improve capacity for school staff and students to identify mental health concerns and increase help-seeking behaviors
3. Implement a variety of evidence-based and evidence-informed school-based mental health interventions and practices that are culturally, linguistically, and trauma responsive while promoting student diversity, equity, and inclusion
4. Ensure financial stability and continuation of student access to evidence-based and evidence-informed school-based mental health interventions, programs services, and supports beyond the second and final year of the RECOVS Mental Health Grant Program

The Learning Loss RECOVS Grant objectives charge school districts and BOCES applicants to:

1. Expand student access to academic recovery professionals, evidence-based and evidence-informed interventions, programming, services, supports and promising practices that counter learning loss
2. Improve capacity for school staff and students to identify learning loss, and increase student and staff resourcefulness and skills in seeking, receiving, and providing academic recovery supports
3. Implement a variety of evidence-based and evidence-informed school-based learning loss and academic recovery practices that are culturally, linguistically, and trauma responsive while promoting student diversity, equity, and inclusion
4. Ensure financial stability and continuation of evidence-based and evidence-informed school-based academic recovery opportunities for students continuing to experience learning loss beyond the second and final year of the RECOVS Learning Loss Grant Program

Funding will be awarded over two years ($50 million annually). Application submissions are due by August 18, 2023, at 5pm. More information and application details can be found here. Funding for RECOVS was included in New York State’s enacted budget for State Fiscal Year 2022-2023.

Additionally, $8.3 million is available for grants to create school-based mental health clinics. The New York State Office of Mental Health (OMH) today issued a Request for Applications to provide up to $25,000 in start-up costs for OMH-licensed providers to create new school-based mental health clinic satellites and to support recently established school-based mental health clinic satellites. An additional $20,000 ($45,000 total) will be available for clinics being established in high-needs districts where more than 50 percent of the students are economically disadvantaged. Application submissions are due by October 5, 2023 at 1pm. More information and application details can be found here.

Earlier this year, Governor Hochul directed OMH and the Office of Children and Family Services (OCFS) to conduct a state-wide Youth Mental Health Listening Tour to receive direct input from middle and high school students on how their schools can better promote student wellness.

OMH and OCFS compiled information they gathered during the Listening Tour and presented a report to the Governor on their findings. School-based mental health clinics were frequently mentioned during the listening sessions by students, parents, caregivers and mental health advocates as a way to help young people struggling with mental health issues. The Governor released the report during the first-ever New York State Summit on Youth Mental Health which was attended by more than 1,000 mental health professionals, advocates and other stakeholders.

The Fiscal Year 2024 Budget provides a historic $34.5 billion to New York’s schools, the highest level of State aid in history, to help give every student the tools to succeed through a high-quality education. The 2024 Budget also provides $30 million to expand mental health services for school-aged children throughout the state, including $20 million for school-based mental health services and $10 million to implement wraparound services training. The Budget also closes gaps in insurance coverage that have posed a barrier to New Yorkers needing mental health care and substance use disorder services. Among several critical changes outlined in the Budget, commercial insurance plans will be required to cover services provided in school-based mental health clinics.

NYS Office of the Comptroller DiNapoli Releases Report on Casinos' Impact on Upstate Local Tax Revenues

 

From 2017 to 2022 New York’s four licensed casinos brought $176 million in gaming tax revenue to host and regional local governments, but only the three smaller towns that host casinos realized significant fiscal benefits relative to their overall revenue, a report from State Comptroller Thomas P. DiNapoli highlights.

“Casinos are not a magic fix that will solve local fiscal challenges,” DiNapoli said. “While casinos have generated local gaming tax revenue, the impacts vary for the communities that receive such revenues. It’s my hope that this report gives state and local officials a clearer perspective that can help potential host communities avoid the pitfalls that arise with misguided expectations about the public benefits of casinos. They are not a sure bet.”

DiNapoli’s 2020 report on gaming revenues showed that all four current casinos — del Lago Resort and Casino, Rivers Casino and Resort, Resorts World Catskills, and Tioga Downs Casino — had fallen well short of the projected gross revenues on which local taxes are levied. Three years later, these revenues and tax contributions continue to lag expectations reaching only 50-60% of initial expectations, with the sole exception of Tioga Downs in the Southern Tier. 

Despite the shortfall in expected collections, local governments did benefit, with the three small host towns receiving the most compared to the size of their total revenues. In the host towns— Nichols, Tyre and Thompson—gaming tax revenue made up 30-60% of total revenue, allowing them to dramatically cut property taxes. In contrast, in the larger host city of Schenectady, as well as the four host counties, gaming tax was a much smaller percentage of local revenue, just 1-3% of their total revenue. For regional non-host counties, casino taxes generally amounted to less than 0.5% of their total revenue.

Although the pandemic contributed to the shortfall, with casinos shut down for six months in 2020 followed by capacity restrictions that were not fully lifted until June 2021, all four casinos saw gross gaming revenues exceed pre-pandemic levels in 2022. That did not translate into greater local gaming taxes, however, because state amendments to New York’s gaming law allowed casinos to keep a greater percentage of their gross revenue by asking for cuts in their tax rates for Slot & Electronic Table Games (ETG) to 30%, which three did. A bill to reduce Tioga Downs’ Slot & ETG tax rate to 30% is currently pending Executive approval. The tax cuts reduced collections by a combined $41.9 million in 2022, including $8.4 million that would have gone to local governments.

DiNapoli’s report underscored the importance of realistic fiscal planning by localities regarding expectations for gaming revenues. DiNapoli’s audits of two host towns found issues including budgeting challenges associated with gaming revenue and the need for proper, multi-year financial planning.

For the municipalities which will host the soon-to-be awarded Downstate casinos, an appropriate plan for the new revenue will be key.

The report did not examine the non-financial impacts of hosting a casino on issues like gambling addiction or quality of life issues. Comptroller DiNapoli will be releasing a report that looks at those issues later this year.

Report

Revenue Impact of Commercial Casinos on Upstate Local Governments

Related Reports and Audits

Oversight of Casino Revenues and Regulatory Oversight Reimbursement Collections (January 2020)

Oversight of Casino Revenues and Regulatory Oversight Reimbursement Collections – Follow-up (May 2021)

A Question of Balance: Gambling Revenues and Problem Gambling in New York State (November 2020)