Join your neighbors and community organizations, including Citizens for Local Power, Nobody Leaves Mid-Hudson, Sane Energy Project, RUPCO, and Alliance for a Green Economy, at the online hearing on October 28, and tell the Public Service Commission why you object to the rate hikes.
There are no words to describe the heartache that people in communities across the country have been dealing with. Citizens for Local Power hopes that you and your family are safe and well. We are devastated by and furious about George Floyd's death, and the many others that have come before it. We remember him, Breonna Taylor, Ahmaud Arbery, and every other person on the long list of Black Americans who have been victims of violence and injustice. Since Jan. 1, 2015, 1,265 black people have been shot and killed by police, according to The Washington Post's database tracking police shootings; that doesn't include those who died in police custody or were killed using other methods. Putting an end to this horror requires many steps, but policymakers know what they have to do. We will honor the life and presence of George Floyd by making change. Police accountability comes first, in the form of rescinding New York state Civil Rights Law Section 50-a, which allows for police misconduct and abuse records to be kept secret from the public. The record of police injustice should not be hidden, and civilians should have a strong platform for speaking out. We will support Mr. Floyd’s legacy by providing more funds for community health and safety--instead of policing--and an end to the militarization of police. The past days and weeks have, once again, shone a spotlight on the tremendous injustices in our society. We stand in solidarity with our community who are voicing their anguish, anger, and deep frustration with systems that oppress Black Lives. We can’t fight climate change if we don’t also fight for the empowerment of our Black Community. We must lift up these voices. We won't stop until we have true police accountability.
It’s been an exciting year for Citizens for Local Power! Here are some highlights from recent actions and initiatives. We have even more powerful action planned for next year!
Citizens for Local Power is excited to announce developments in it’s Kitchen Cabinet and staff.
Judith Karpova, Consultant at Energy Conservation Specialists and certified in more energy efficiency credentials than one can count, has joined the Kitchen Cabinet. Evelyn Wright has stepped back to dedicate herself to an important commitment - to serve as Deputy to Pat Ryan’s Ulster County Executive. CLP is sad to lose her from the board but thrilled to have her powerful voice in environmental issues influence Ulster County policy.
CLP has also hired two coordinators to help enable the mission of empowering Kingston, connecting the community to have a voice in the power transition.
Jessica Clegg with a background in writing and communications, and Susie Jimenez, who has a background in arts, graphic design, and community surveying. Both are local activists and have deep connections to the Kingston community.
Kingston has pledged to commit to a 100% renewable economy by 2030. With the support of the NoVo Foundation and the City of Kingston, Citizens for Local Power has taken on the promise and challenge of involving our communities in planning and carrying out Kingston's energy transition.
These meetings so far have opened the door to new ideas, connections, and possibilities for involving all people in Kingston in this vital transformation. We are working with the city government to ensure all voices are heard and considered as we collectively move toward a clean, green, livable future. Stay tuned!
Two weeks ago, a number of environmental organizations gathered in the Capitol building to protest the potential expansion of the Newburgh-based Danskammer plant. A little background: Danskammer has been operating as a peaker plant, which means it’s run five or so days a year in events of extreme energy need. On Thursday, 12/12, the Danskammer plant filed a permit request to open full-time, running on fracked gas from Pennsylvania. CLP strongly opposes any expansion of a fossil fuel-based infrastructure and advocates for the facility to explore green energy options--one being transitioning to an energy storage facility. Governor Cuomo has yet to decisively remark on the plant’s proposal, so more action will be needed in the new year. CLP will keep you posted about what you can do to prevent additional fracked gas in our state.
Mid-Hudson Regional Renewables Forum
This conference, which Citizens for Local Power was proud to endorse, brought together representatives from different sectors--state agencies, utilities, and municipalities and organizations--to share the progress we’re making toward a renewable economy. Kitchen Cabinet member Pat Courtney Strong moderated the Utilities panel. Other highlights included Rev. James Childs and Kai Nybro from SunCommon Community Solar discussing the innovative solar panel array project on Pointe of Praise Church grounds, which benefited long-term church members.
Citizens for Local Power (CLP) helps communities in the Mid-Hudson Region transition to a locally-based, clean energy economy. Combining research, education, advocacy, and project coordination, CLP supports community and municipal engagement in energy decision-making, transforming energy policy and practice to strengthen local economies, mitigate climate change and increase resilience.
In September, the Joint Utilities proposed to exclude Community Choice Aggregation (CCA) from consolidated billing for being "too complicated," ignoring many successful implementation examples in California and elsewhere. Citizens for Local Power (among other nonprofit groups) has expressed the strong view that including CCAs in consolidating billing just CANNOT wait any longer. Please see Board Director Susan Gillespie’s letter below.
Update: According to PSC’s latest release, they are updating their policy on CCA’s place in consolidating billing. This is moving forward thanks in part to robust grassroots and solar industry input.
