State Comptroller Thomas P. DiNapoli - Improved Planning Needed for NY to Achieve Its Energy Goals

 

Improved Planning Needed for NY to Achieve Its Energy Goals

The Public Service Commission (PSC) and the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority have taken considerable steps in planning for New York State’s transition to renewable energy but must take stronger action to meet the State’s clean energy goals, according to an audit released by State Comptroller DiNapoli.

The audit found inadequate planning, monitoring and assessment of risks and challenges in the PSC’s efforts to help the State meet the Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act’s (Climate Act) targets, which seek 70% renewably sourced electricity by 2030 and net-zero emissions by 2040.

“New York is moving in the right direction to transition to renewable energy, but we found better planning, monitoring of progress and timely assessment of risks by PSC is needed to achieve our ambitious clean energy goals,” DiNapoli said. “New York has been a leader in its efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and the threats caused by climate change, and identifying existing and emerging challenges will improve the likelihood that we succeed.”

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DiNapoli Releases Report on SFY 2024-25 Financial Plan

New York’s financial outlook is in a relatively stable position, but continues to have a structural budget deficit, with a cumulative three-year budget gap of $13.9 billion forecasted by the Division of the Budget, according to a report by State Comptroller DiNapoli on the State Fiscal Year 2024-25 Enacted Budget Financial Plan. DiNapoli says action is needed to align projected State spending with revenues and address factors that challenge the State’s finances, economic competitiveness, and ability to offer services effectively over the long term.

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1st Quarter State Tax Receipts Modestly Higher Than Division of Budget Projections

State tax receipts totaled $29.9 billion through the first quarter of State Fiscal Year 2024-25, $594 million higher than estimates released by the Division of the Budget in the Enacted Budget Financial Plan. In addition, collections were $2.2 billion higher than those through June 2023, according to the monthly State Cash Report released by State Comptroller DiNapoli.

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Municipal & School Audits

• Town of Stafford
• Town of Lancaster
• Franklin-Essex-Hamilton Board of Cooperative Educational Services
• Rensselaer City School District
• Town of Franklinville
• City of Yonkers
• Village of Elmira Heights

ALSO IN THE NEWS THIS WEEK

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• Comptroller DiNapoli releases report on 2024-25 Financial Plan

• State Comptroller DiNapoli Urges Stronger Action on NY's Clean Energy Goals
  
  

• Outdated data, inadequate planning harming New York's clean energy transition, NY Comptroller says

• DiNapoli: State Tax Receipts From 1st Quarter Higher Than Division of Budget Projections 

Post of the Week

Tom DiNapoli @NYSComptroller 

Registered Sex Offender Sentenced for Sextorting Numerous Minors

A Nevada man was sentenced to 65 years in prison, to be followed by lifetime supervised release, for sexually exploiting multiple minors and advertising and distributing child sexual abuse material (CSAM) that he coerced these minors into producing. 

According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, between 2018 and 2021, James Patrick Burns, 55, of Sparks, “sextorted” multiple minors online, via Omegle, Snapchat, Tiktok, and Mega, by threatening these minors into producing CSAM and then posting the CSAM on dark web forums. During this period, Burns was the most prolific creator of illegal content on these forums. He victimized over 100 children, many of whom have yet to be identified. Burns’s offenses came to the attention of law enforcement when the mother of one of his victims saw threats on the victim’s phone and reported what she saw to the police.

Burns was also ordered to pay $82,655.92 in restitution and $21,000 in assessments under the Amy, Vicky, and Andy Child Pornography Victim Assistance Act.

On March 5, a federal jury convicted Burns of eight counts of sexual exploitation of a minor, eight counts of coercion and enticement of a minor, and one count each of advertising, receiving, distributing, and possessing child pornography. At the time of these offenses, Burns was already a registered sex offender, and the jury also convicted Burns of committing certain specified felony offenses while required to register as a sex offender.

Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Nicole M. Argentieri, head of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division; U.S. Attorney Jason M. Frierson for the District of Nevada; Assistant Director Michael Nordwall of the FBI’s Criminal Investigative Division; Special Agent in Charge Spencer L. Evans of the FBI Las Vegas Field Office; and Special Agent in Charge Christopher Miller of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Las Vegas made the announcement.

The FBI-led Northern Nevada Child Exploitation and Human Trafficking Task Force, which is comprised of detectives and investigators from the Sparks Police Department, Washoe County Sheriff’s Office, Nevada Attorney General’s Office, and HSI, investigated the case. The Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Office, HSI Chicago Field Office, and local law enforcement around the country provided substantial assistance.