ENERGY: Assembly Democrats and environmental advocates want Gov. Kathy Hochul to consider alternatives to rewrite the state’s landmark climate law to tackle the costs of climate action. Hochul has backed down on her push to change the way New York calculates its emissions progress, which would enable New York to keep burning more fossil fuels for longer. Under the state’s current accounting, for example, New York has achieved about 37 percent of the progress needed to meet the 2030 goal, according to an analysis of state data by POLITICO. If the state were to switch over to the accounting method being pushed by Hochul’s administration, the picture is much rosier: the state has already gotten three-quarters of the way to the 2030 goal. Officials from Hochul’s administration have said affordability concerns are driving this proposed change. But lawmakers say she should be considering other options instead of moving the goalposts enshrined in the Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act signed in 2019. “If Governor Hochull is concerned about the burden of the CLCPA on working New Yorkers, the Legislature has a number of multiple common sense bills that will cap utility costs, make polluters pay and stop the expensive public subsidies for the gas system,” said Assemblymember Emily Gallagher (D-Brooklyn), who sponsors a measure to ban fossil fuels in new buildings. As Hochul presses for lawmakers to endorse a cap-and-trade mechanism to limit emissions and raise revenue for climate action and a rebate to cushion likely hikes in energy costs for consumers, one alternative or add on pushed by several Democratic lawmakers is a Superfund-style measure targeting oil and gas companies. The Climate Superfund measure would charge large fossil fuel companies for global historic emissions, raising about $75 billion over 25 years. “This legislation is fair. It's not a tax,” said Assemblymember Jeff Dinowitz (D- Bronx), who sponsors the bill. “Taxpayers should not have to pay for all the costs that [fossil fuel companies] caused in the first place.” Hochul has so far not backed the proposal and it does not appear to have gotten traction in budget negotiations, which remain focused on bail. — Marie J. French EDUCATION: Micron is creating a workforce pipeline with its new “Northeast University Semiconductor Network” that was announced on Monday. The company plans to partner with 21 public and private higher education institutions to conduct research and educate the next generation interested in entering the workforce. The list of partners includes several New York universities such as: SUNY and CUNY; Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, New York University, Columbia University and Cornell University. “Together we are laying the foundation for educational and economic opportunity for SUNY students across the state. Building on Micron’s strong partnership with Onondaga Community College, the entire SUNY System is committed to ensuring our programs, curriculum and hands-on training prepare New Yorkers for prime technician and engineering roles inside Micron’s leading-edge memory manufacturing facility and throughout the semiconductor industry,” SUNY Chancellor John King said in a statement. – Katelyn Cordero HOUSING: Adams has appointed Doug Apple, president and CEO of 1811Consulting and a former first deputy commissioner in the city’s housing department, to be a new public member on the Rent Guidelines Board. Apple works on supportive and transitional housing projects at his firm and was previously head of the non-profit Samaritan Daytop Village. Adams also appointed Genesis Aquino, executive director of the advocacy group Tenants & Neighbors, to serve as a tenant member to the rent board. Adams, in a statement, said Apple and Aquino “bring an invaluable combination of policy expertise and on-the-ground experience to serve as stewards of our rent-stabilized housing.” The nine-member body has five “public members,” who are theoretically impartial to both landlords and tenants, as well as two members representing owners and two representing renters. The body votes every June on whether, and by how much, to raise rents on the city’s nearly 1 million rent-regulated apartments. — Janaki Chadha
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