The Fossil Fuel Investments Driving Up ConEd Energy Bills

New York is building renewables — but it doesn’t have a plan to shut down the plants they’re supposed to replace.

Will Eric Adams Let Landlords Buy Their Way Out Of Energy Upgrades?

New York Focus, June 27, 2022 Recent transmission projects could enable building owners to get out of upgrading their buildings for a decade, if Adams doesn’t intervene. In 2019, New York City passed a landmark climate law, hailed as the most ambitious to be enacted by any U.S. city. Its centerpiece took aim at buildings, … Continue reading Will Eric Adams Let Landlords Buy Their Way Out Of Energy Upgrades?

NYC Could Ban Gas in New Buildings This Year

New York Focus, November 18, 2021 The fight heated up at a hearing Wednesday, with debate centered on when, not if, a gas ban should go into effect. It wouldn’t be the first, but it would be by far the biggest. Yesterday afternoon, the New York City Council’s Committee on Environmental Protection held a marathon … Continue reading NYC Could Ban Gas in New Buildings This Year

Illegal Evictions Are Rising Across The State, But Landlords Rarely Face Consequences

New York Focus, October 21, 2021 There’s a growing trend of landlords changing locks and shutting off utilities to get tenants out without going to court, tenant organizers say. Published in partnership with City & State. Tamel Anderson thought he had finally found himself an apartment in a nice part of town. This spring, he … Continue reading Illegal Evictions Are Rising Across The State, But Landlords Rarely Face Consequences

Paris shows how to make public housing greener and more habitable at the same time

Grist, September 29, 2021 American housing authorities may soon see an influx of federal funding. Paris offers lessons in how to spend it. When U.S. Representative Jamaal Bowman visited his childhood home in Harlem’s East River Houses last winter, he was struck by a piece of graffiti at the entrance. The tag read, simply, “Help.”  … Continue reading Paris shows how to make public housing greener and more habitable at the same time

Inside New York’s Messy Push to Clean Up Concrete

New York Focus, September 9, 2021 If concrete production were a country, it would be the world’s third largest carbon emitter. New York legislators want to clean it up. Published in partnership with Next City. For climate activists, New York’s 2021 legislative session was a bitter disappointment. Democrats failed to pass any major new climate laws, … Continue reading Inside New York’s Messy Push to Clean Up Concrete