♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ >> WELCOME AMERICA, TO BALANCING ACT: THE SHOW THAT AIMS TO TAME THE POLITICAL CIRCUS OF TWO PARTY POLITICS.

I'M JOHN KATKO.

THE RECENT DEVASTATION FROM HURRICANES ACROSS THE UNITED STATES HAS REINFORCED THE BELIEF THAT OUR COUNTRY MUST BE AT THE FOREFRONT OF EFFORTS TO REDUCE THE IMPACT OF A CHANGING CLIMATE.

BUT WHAT NOBODY CAN AGREE ON?

HOW DO WE DO IT?

EVEN NEW YORK STATE, DESPITE HAVING ONCE SHUTTERED ITS PRIMARY NUCLEAR POWER PLANT, IS RETHINKING NUCLEAR POWER IN AN EFFORT TO MEET ITS AMBITIOUS CLIMATE GOALS.

SO THIS WEEK ON THE TIGHTROPE, WE'RE GOING NUCLEAR—SPECIFICALLY, NUCLEAR POWER.

IT ACCOUNTS FOR NEARLY 20% OF ALL ENERGY GENERATION IN THE U.S AND IS POSITIONED TO PLAY AN IMPORTANT ROLE IN FURTHER BUILDING THE CLEAN POWER SECTOR IN AMERICA.

SO LET'S TALK THE PROS AND CONS OF “NEXT-GEN” NUCLEAR POWER AND BALANCE THINGS OUT.

THIS GENERATION OF NUCLEAR POWER PRODUCES ZERO CARBON EMISSIONS—SOMETHING EVEN AL GORE CAN'T CLAIM!

THE INDUSTRY CREATES A SUBSTANTIAL JOB MARKET, WITH EACH PLANT EMPLOYING HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE.

IF NOT THOUSANDS.

PLUS, IT'S A LOW-COST AND RELIABLE POWER SOURCE.

THE ENERGY RELEASED FROM A NUCLEAR REACTION IS ESTIMATED TO BE TEN MILLION TIMES GREATER THAN THAT FROM FOSSIL FUELS AND A NUCLEAR POWER PLANT CAN GENERATE ENERGY NON-STOP.

FANS INCLUDE BILL GATES WHO IS A CO-FOUNDER AND MAJOR INVESTOR IN TERRA POWER, A NUCLEAR TECHNOLOGY COMPANY THAT THE U.S. DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY SAYS IS “THE FIRST ADVANCED NUCLEAR PROJECT IN THE WESTERN HEMISPHERE TO MOVE FROM DESIGN TO CONSTRUCTION.” LEAVE IT TO BILL GATES.

SO, WHY ISN'T EVERYONE PLUGGED IN TO THE IDEA OF NUCLEAR POWER?

WHILE IT OFFERS MANY BENEFITS, THERE ARE ALSO SIGNIFICANT DRAWBACKS.

FOR ONE, NUCLEAR POWER HAS A CONSIDERABLE ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT, THE PROCESS OF MINING AND REFINING URANIUM, WHICH IS USED TO GENERATE NUCLEAR ENERGY, IS KNOWN TO RELEASE ARSENIC AND RADON INTO THE SURROUNDING AREAS.

ADDITIONALLY, NUCLEAR POWER PLANTS CAN CREATE THERMAL POLLUTION, CAUSING RAPID TEMPERATURE CHANGES IN NATURAL BODIES OF WATER SUCH AS LAKES AND OCEANS, WHICH CAN ADVERSELY AFFECT LOCAL WILDLIFE.

RESPONSE TO THESE CONCERNS, SIGNIFICANT CHANGES HAVE BEEN MADE TO NEW NUCLEAR POWER PLANTS IN THE U.S., INCLUDING IMPROVED OPERATOR TRAINING, ENHANCED PREPAREDNESS AND UPGRADES TO PLANT DESIGN.

BUT ANOTHER CRITICISM OF NUCLEAR POWER IS THAT IT IS NOT A RENEWABLE ENERGY RESOURCE LIKE WHEN WIND AND SOLAR.

AND URANIUM IS A FINITE RESOURCE THAT CANNOT BE REPLENISHED WITHIN A HUMAN LIFETIME.

SO, WHERE DO WE GO FROM HERE?

HOW ABOUT THE CENTER RING TO DISCUSS IT?

♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ JOINING ME IN THE CENTER RING IS A POWERFUL GENTLEMAN IN HIS OWN RIGHT.

UTAH CONGRESSMAN JOHN CURTIS SERVES ON THE ENERGY AND COMMERCE COMMITTEE INCLUDING AS VICE-CHAIR OF THE ENERGY, CLIMATE AND GRID SECURITY SUBCOMMITTEE, AMONG OTHERS.

HE'S THE PERFECT PERSON TO SPEAK TO ABOUT NUCLEAR ENERGY AND MORE.

WELCOME CONGRESSMAN• HOW ARE YOU TODAY?

>> I'M GOOD.

I'M WRESTLING BETWEEN SAYING FORMER CONGRESSMAN AND JOHN AND ALL OF THOSE GOOD THINGS.

BUT I ALSO PUT NEW THAT POWERFUL GENTLEMAN CATEGORY AS WELL.

IT'S GREAT TO TALK TO YOU.

>> I WON'T PUT YOU IN A DIFFICULT POSITION BY ASKING YOU IF AND YOUR COLLEAGUES MISS ME IN CONGRESS.

BUT WE ARE HERE TO TALK ABOUT NUCLEAR ENERGY AND IN PARTICULAR NEXT GENERATION NUCLEAR ENERGY.

MAYBE WE CAN START BRIEFLY WHAT ARE YOU DOING IN CONGRESS?

YOUR EFFORTS TO WORK AS A REPUBLICAN MEMBER OF CONGRESS TOWARDS A MORE CARBON-FREE ENVIRONMENT AND WHAT APPLICATION DOES NEXT-GEN NUCLEAR POWER HAVE IN THAT EFFORT?

>> THANKS, JOHN.

A LOT OF PEOPLE KNOW ME BY THE CONSERVATIVE CLIMATE CAUCUS I SOUNDED SEVERAL YEARS AGO.

AT THE TIME EVERYBODY SAID YOU CAN'T FIND MORE THAN A HALF DOZEN REPUBLICANS THAT WILL TALK ABOUT CLIMATE.

IT WILL NEVER WORK.

TODAY I'M REALLY PROUD TO SAY THERE ARE 85 HOUSE REPUBLICANS THAT ARE PART OF THIS CONSERVATIVE CLIMATE CAUCUS.

AND AS THE NAME DENOTES, WE ARE CONSERVATIVES BUT WE ALSO WANT TO TALK ABOUT CLIMATE.

AND WE THINK, BY LEANING INTO IT, INSTEAD OF TELLING EVERYBODY WHAT WE DON'T LIKE, WHICH WE HAVE BEEN REALLY GOOD AT.

WE WANT TO TELL PEOPLE WHAT WE WOULD DO AND WHAT WE WOULD ADVOCATE FOR.

AND NUCLEAR IS WAY UP ON THE TOP OF THAT LIST, AND YOU MAY REMEMBER THERE WAS A TIME WHEN OUR DEMOCRATIC COLLEAGUES WERE A LITTLE UNCOMFORTABLE WITH IT.

BUT TODAY IT'S HARD TO FIND ANYBODY RIGHT OR LEFT WHO DOESN'T AGREE THAT NUCLEAR IS A VERY, VERY IMPORTANT PART OF OUR FUTURE.

>> AND WHY IS THAT, CONGRESSMAN?

>> WELL, SO I WOULD LIKE TO TALK ABOUT THREE PIECES.

ONE IS AFFORDABILITY, ANOTHER IS RELIABILITY AND ANOTHER IS THE CLEANLINESS.

NUCLEAR HITS IT OUT OF THE PARK ON RELIABILITY.

IT HITS IT OUT OF THE PARK ON CLEANLINESS.

IT'S STRUGGLING RIGHT NOW ON COST, AFFORDABILITY; MOSTLY BECAUSE WE TOOK A WHOLE GENERATION OFF OF INNOVATING AND BUILDING.

AND SO NOW WE ARE BUILDING THESE ONE OFF PLANTS.

OF COURSE THEY'RE VERY, VERY EXPENSIVE AND I THINK MOST PEOPLE FEEL LIKE ONCE WE GET UP TO SCALE WITH NUCLEAR, YOU WILL HIT THE TRIFECTA OF AFFORDABLE, RELIABLE AND CLEAN.

THERE ARE VERY FEW ENERGY SOURCES THAT DO THAT.

>> YEAH, SO JUST WHEN YOU SAY CLEAN, YOU MEAN CARBON-FREE EMISSIONS.

IN FACT NUCLEAR IS 100% CASH CSH FREE EMISSIONS.

NO CARBON GOING INTO THE AIR, CORRECT?

>> IT'S A SHORTCUT FOR ME TO SAY CLEAN BECAUSE YOU DON'T HAVE TO GO INTO THE WEEDS, DIFFERENT TYPES OF GREENHOUSE GAS EMISSIONS AND THINGS LIKE THAT.

BUT I THINK IT IS ACKNOWLEDGED BY REALLY EVERYBODY.

LIKE YOU SAY, ZERO GREENHOUSE GAS EMISSIONS, IT'S HARD TO GET CLEANER THAN THAT.

THERE IS AN ISSUE WITH WASTE.

AND I THINK THAT'S A REALISTIC CONCERN.

AND I ACTUALLY BELIEVE THAT WE WILL INNOVATE OUR WAY AROUND THAT AS WELL.

I THINK THINGS LIKE RECYCLING AND OTHER TECHNOLOGY WILL HELP SOLVE THAT.

BUT IT'S HARD TO BEAT THE CLEANLINESS OF NUCLEAR.

>> SO WHEN WE TALK ABOUT NUCLEAR POWER AND THE CURRENT APPLICATIONS OF IT, I'VE READ RECENTLY, AMAZON IS GETTING INTO THE GAME FOR GENERATIVE ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE, AND BILL GATES, OBVIOUSLY HAS GOT A COMPANY THAT IS INVOLVED IN IT.

AND MICROSOFT LOOKS LIKE THEY'RE LEANING INTO IT.

AND I THINK THEY'RE DOING IT BECAUSE THEY UNDERSTAND THAT NOT ONLY ARE WE TRYING TO GO TO A MORE CARBON FRIENDLY ENVIRONMENT FOR OBVIOUS REASONS, LOOK AT CLIMATE CHANGES AND WHAT HAVE YOU.

BUT ALSO BECAUSE THE DEMANDS GOING FORWARD WITH ALL THESE NEW SOURCES OF TECHNOLOGY, LIKE ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE, ARE TREMENDOUS.

SO HOW DOES THE NEXT GENERATION NUCLEAR-- FIRST OF ALL, WHAT IS NEXT GENERATION NUCLEAR AND HOW DOES THAT HELP IN THAT REGARD?

>> I LOVE THE QUESTION BECAUSE I'M SMILING BECAUSE I THINK IT DEPENDS ON WHO YOU ASK WHAT NEXT GENERATION IS.

FOR ME, THERE IS SEVERAL INNOVATIVE TECHNOLOGIES THAT ARE BEING IMPLEMENTED AND EXPERIMENTED WITH.

SOME, FOR INSTANCE, MOLTEN SALT.

YOU MENTION SMALL NUCLEAR REACTORS.

EVEN SMALLER THAN THE SMRs, REACTORS THAT GO ON THE BACK OF A SEMI-TRUCK AND BE DELIVERED.

AND YOU KNOW, JUST TOTALLY ECLIPSING OUR PARENTS.

THE BEST WAY I LIKE TO SAY IT, IT IS NOT OUR PARENTS NUCLEAR.

THERE WERE SAFETY CONCERNS, A NUMBER OF ISSUES AND WERE QUICKLY RESOLVING THOSE.

IT'S VERY EXCITING.

YOU MENTION DEMAND.

HERE IN UTAH, WE ARE STATE OF JUST OVER THREE MILLION PEOPLE AND WE HAVE THESE A.I.

CENTERS THAT ONE OF THEM WANTS A GIG AND A HALF.

THAT'S EQUIVALENT TO A VERY, VERY LARGE NUCLEAR PLANT AND AND A HALF OR YOU COULD CALL IT FIVE OR SIX SMRs JUST FOR THAT ONE A.I.

FACILITY.

ANOTHER FACILITY I'M TALKING TO IN UTAH THAT WANTS 10 GIGS.

10 INCREDIBLY LARGE NUCLEAR REACTORS.

THE GROWTH DEMANDS OF OUR ENERGY IS FAR EXCEEDING WHAT MANY OF US THOUGHT OF SEVERAL YEARS AGO.

>> CONGRESSMAN,ITE IT SEEMS LIKE WE ARE AT CROSS PRIORITIES.

WE HAVE THESE HUGE INCREASE IN DEMANDS THAT ARE COMING.

EVERYONE IS ACKNOWLEDGING BUT ALSO EVERYONE IS ACKNOWLEDGING WE HAVE TO CLEAN UP THE AIR AND THAT'S HAVING NEGATIVE EFFECTS BY NOT DOING IT.

WE ARE TRYING TO REDUCE THE CARBON EMISSIONS.

AND DO YOU THINK WE CAN EVEN BEGIN TO ATTAIN THE GOALS WE NEED TO WITH A CLEANER ENVIRONMENT WITHOUT THE APPLICATION OF NUCLEAR POWER?

>> NO, BUT I'LL SAY PERHAPS EVEN MORE PROBLEMATIC I THINK THE U.S. CAN ACHIEVE OUR GOALS AND BEE WILL DO IT WITH NUCLEAR AND OTHER INNOVATIONS WE ARE WORKING ON.

I'M WORRIED ABOUT THE REST OF THE WORLD.

AND I THINK IT HAS FRUSTRATED REPUBLICANS IN THE PAST.

YOU PUT ALL THESE RESTRICTIONS ON U.S.

BUSINESSES FOR CARBON AND WE TURN A BLIND EYE TO WHAT IS HAPPENING OVERSEAS AND IN THE REALITY IF WE DON'T GET THEM ON BOARD AND FIGURE OUT,000 MAKE THIS A WORLDWIDE EFFORT, WE ARE FOOLING OURSELVES.

>> YEAH, AND BRIEFLY YOU CAN JUST SAY YES OR MONTH NO, IT'S FAIR TO SAY CHINA IS ALLOWED TO BUILD AS MANY COAL BURNING POWER PLANTS UNTIL 2030 AND THEN WE ARE GOING TO TELL THEM THEY HAVE TO COME INTO COMPLIANCE AND THAT WON'T HAPPEN, I DON'T THINK.

>> THINK ABOUT THIS.

I HAVE A COUNTY, I LIKE TO SMILE AND SAY CARBON COUNTY AND THEN I SAY WHAT DO YOU SUPPOSE THEY DO IN CARBON COUNTY AND WE JUST ARE SHUTTING DOWN THEIR COAL PLANT AND COAL MINES.

HOW DO YOU THINK THEY FEEL WHEN WE SHUT THEM DOWN AND WE KIND OF TURN A BLIND EYE TO WHAT IS HAPPENING IN CHINA?

AND YOU CAN SEE WHY THEY PUSH BACK AND FIGHT THAT.

>> YEAH, YOU KNOW, THERE IS A LOT OF DIFFERENT TENTACLES.

BUT IT'S A LOT THAT WE ARE ALL TRYING TO GET TO A BETTER ENVIRONMENT AND CLEAN ENERGY IS OBVIOUSLY THE WAY TO GO.

AND YOU KNOW, WE GOT TO BE LEADERS IN THE WORLD LIKE WE ALWAYS HAVE.

WE COULD TALK ABOUT THIS FOR ANOTHER THREE DAYS BUT WE APPRECIATE YOUR TIME AND THANKS SO MUCH FOR INPUTTING AND GOOD LUCK IN THE FALL.

>> THANK YOU AND JOHN, WE DO MISS YOU, ALL OF US.

WELL, MANY OF US.

>> SOME OF YOU.

NOW LETS LEARN A THING OR TWO!

DID YOU KNOW THAT BESSIE HERE IS PACKED WITH ENERGY?

I KNOW SHE DOESN'T LOOK IT, BUT HEAR ME OUT: SHE'S LEGEN-DAIRY.

WHEN SHE MUNCHES ON GRASS, BESSIE PRODUCES A LOT OF—LET'S JUST SAY—GASSY BYPRODUCTS.

BESSIE, OR ANY COW, CAN RELEASE ENOUGH METHANE IN A YEAR TO EQUAL THE EMISSIONS OF A CAR DRIVING OVER 27,000 MILES!

IF ONLY SHE COULD POWER THAT CAR• WELL, THAT'S NOT SO FAR FROM THE TRUTH.

YA SEE, METHANE CAN ACTUALLY BE CAPTURED THROUGH BIOGAS SYSTEMS!

IN FACT, THIS PROCESS DATES BACK TO 3,000BC WHEN THE ASSYRIANS USED IT TO HEAT THEIR BATHS.

IN THE U.S., BIOGAS PRODUCTION FROM LIVESTOCK AND OTHER ORGANIC WASTE GENERATES ABOUT 41 BILLION KILOWATT-HOURS OF ELECTRICITY EVERY YEAR.

THAT'S ENOUGH TO POWER AROUND 3 MILLION HOMES, OR ONE OF TAYLOR SWIFT'S PRIVATE JETS!

AND IF THAT'S NOT ENOUGH, THE LEFTOVERS FROM BIOGAS PRODUCTION—KNOWN AS DIGESTATE—MAKE FOR GREAT FERTILIZER.

SO, WHILE COWS ARE BUSY TURNING GRASS INTO MILK, THEY'RE ALSO HELPING US GROW MORE GRASS FOR MORE COWS WHICH PRODUCES MORE GAS, AND THUS MORE POWER.

GOOD JOB, BESSIE!

MAYBE I'LL CHOOSE THAT “BEYOND BURGER” TODAY IN YOUR HONOR.

BUT PROBABLY NOT.

AND NOW, YOU DO KNOW.

♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ NEW YORK IS FACING SIGNIFICANT CHALLENGES IN THE REALM OF ENERGY.

THE STATE'S CLEAN ENERGY STANDARD, AIMED AT ADDRESSING CLIMATE CHANGE, AIR POLLUTION, AND ESTABLISHING A RELIABLE LOW-CARBON ENERGY SUPPLY, SETS AMBITIOUS GOALS: ACHIEVING 70% RENEWABLE ELECTRICITY BY 2030 AND A ZERO-EMISSION ELECTRIC GRID BY 2040.

WHILE THESE OBJECTIVES ARE COMMENDABLE, QUESTIONS REMAIN: ARE THEY ATTAINABLE?

AND ARE THEY COST-EFFECTIVE?

HERE TO TAKE A SWING AT THE ISSUE ON THE TRAPEZE IS NEW YORK STATE DEMOCRAT SENATOR RACHEL MAY, WHO REPRESENTS CENTRAL NEW YORK'S 48TH DISTRICT.

SENATOR MAY HAS BEEN INSTRUMENTAL IN ADVANCING BOLD CLIMATE LEGISLATION IN THE STATE.

JOINING HER IS REPUBLICAN SENATOR TOM O'MARA, REPRESENTING THE 58TH DISTRICT IN THE SOUTHERN TIER, WHO HAS BEEN A VOCAL CRITIC OF WHAT HE DEEMS IS NEW YORK'S RADICAL AND UNWORKABLE ENERGY MANDATES.

WELCOME TO YOU BOTH.

>> THANK YOU,.

>> THANK YOU, JOHN.

SENATOR MAY, IF WE MAY START WITH YOU, COULD YOU BRIEFLY GIVE US AN OVER VIEW OF WHAT YOU ARE TRYING ACHIEVE AND HOW YOU ARE GOING TO DO IT?

>> SURE, WELL, YOU LAID OUT THE OVERALL GOALS THAT WE ARE SETTING AND WE'VE GOT A CLIMATE LEADERSHIP-- SORRY, A CLIMATE ACTION COUNCIL WORKING ON THE DETAILS.

BUT THE GOOD NEWS IS THAT WE ARE ALREADY MAKING AA LOT OF PROGRESS.

WE JUST LEARNED THAT SIX GIGAWATTS OF DISTRIBUTED SOLAR HAVE BEEN INSTALLED ACROSS THE STATE THAT PUTS US AHEAD OF THE CLCPA GOALS BY A WHOLE YEAR.

AND WE ARE GOING TO HAVE WIND ENERGY FOR ALMOST 700,000 HOMES ONLINE WITHIN THE NEXT YEAR OR TWO.

SO WE ARE GETTING TO THE POINT WHERE WHAT THE CONVERSATION IS TURNING TO IS HOW WE CAN HAVE A POWER GRID THAT CAN SUSTAIN WHAT WE ARE TRYING TO DO.

I'M WORKING ON A LOT OF LEGISLATION TO MAKE OUR GRID MORE EFFICIENT, TO MAKE IT EXPAND MORE EFFICIENTLY AND ALSO FOR CHEAPER FINANCING FOR IT.

WE ALSO NEED TO TALK ABOUT THE HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF GOOD GREEN JOBS THAT WE ARE ALREADY STARTING TO CREATE.

>> SENATOR O'MARA, I THINK YOU WILL AGREE THE GOAL IS LAUDABLE, ESPECIALLY IF YOU LOOK AT THE HURRICANES THAT HAVE OCCURRED OVER THE LAST FEW YEARS, THEY SEEM TO BE INCREASING IN INTENSITY.

THERE IS TO DOUBT THERE IS A PROBLEM.

BUT WHAT THEY'RE DOING, IS IT DOABLE NUMBER ONE AND WHAT ARE THE NEGATIVE EFFECTS IF ANY?

>> WELL, I DON'T THINK IT'S ATTAINABLE.

IT'S VERY ASPIRATIONAL.

I THINK IT'S A LAUDABLE GOAL AND SOMETHING THAT WE HAVE BEEN PURSUING IN NEW YORK.

WE HAVE GREATLY REDUCED EMISSIONS FROM ELECTRICITY GENERATION SINCE THE DEREGULATION OF THE ELECTRICITY INDUSTRY A LITTLE OVER 20 YEARS AGO.

MASSIVE DECREASES IN EMISSIONS AND WE CAN GO FURTHER AND WE SHOULD CONTINUE TO GO FURTHER.

BUT WE HAVE NO PLAN AT THIS POINT, FROM NEW YORK STATE ON HOW WE ARE GOING TO REACH THESE GOALS.

IT'S GOING TO REQUIRE A TRIPLING OF OUR ENERGY ELECTRICITY OUTPUT BY INCREASING DEMAND AND REQUIRING AN ADDITIONAL 83 GIGAWATTS OF ENERGY TO BE PRODUCED.

WILL ELIMINATING ABOUT 25 GIGAWATTS OF FOSSIL FUEL GENERATION, THAT'S A MASSIVE INCREASE IN THE RENEWABLES THAT I DON'T BELIEVE IS UNATTAINABLE.

I THINK THAT THIS PLAN IS OUT OF UTOPIA AND DOESN'T MEET REALITY.

SO THERE IS A LOT THAT WE NEED TO DO, PARTICULARLY IN REGARDS TO WHAT THE COST IS GOING TO BE IN RATE PAYERS ON THIS.

WE'VE ALREADY SEEN MASSIVE INCREASES IN THE OUR UTENSILS BILLS ON THE MOST RECENT RATE CASES THAT ARE SPENDING $40 A MONTH IN NYSEG TERRITORY, NATIONAL GRID IS PROPOSING NOW ABOUT 20% INCREASE FOR THAT.

AND THAT'S JUST THE TIP OF THE ICEBERG ON WHAT THIS IS GOING TO COST RATE PAYERS.

AND MORE IMPORTANTLY, BUSINESSES AND INDUSTRIES ACROSS NEW YORK STATE.

>> SO, SENATOR MAY, WE HAVE THE GOAL OF GETTING TO 70% RENEWABLES BY 2030, HOW ARE WE DOING ON THAT GOAL IN PARTICULAR SO FAR?

>> SO THE COMPTROLLER IS AN AUDIT AND FOUND THAT WE ARE PROBABLY GOING TO MISS THAT GOAL BY TWO OR THREE YEARS, BUT YOU HAVE TO REMEMBER THERE WAS A GLOBAL PANDEMIC THAT HIT AFTER WE PASSED THE BILL AND AFFECTED SUPPLY CHAINS AND THE LABOR SECTOR.

SO WE ARE DOING FAIRLY WELL.

IT'S STILL WITHIN REACH TO HIT THAT.

I'M HOPING THE GOVERNOR WILL SIGN THE CLIMATE SUPER FUND ACT, WHICH WILL ENGAGE THE FOSSIL FUEL COMPANIES WHICH HAVE CREATED THE MESSES THAT WE ARE TRYING TO CLEAN UP IN PAYING SOME OF THE COSTS AND BRINGING THE COST DOWN TO TAXPAYERS.

BUT WE'VE ALSO PASSED A NUMBER OF BILLS AND PUT A LOT OF MONEY IN THE BUDGET TO HELP RATE PAYERS AND JUST MAKE THE WHOLE SYSTEM MORE EFFICIENT.

SO I'M HOPING THAT WE CAN TAKE A GLOBAL VIEW OF THIS AND REALLY BE SERVING THE PEOPLE OF NEW YORK, SERVING OUR CHILDREN AND FUTURE GENERATIONS AT THE SAME TIME.

>> SENATOR, O'MARA WHEN I WAS IN CONGRESS IN OFFICE I DEALT WITH NUCLEAR ENERGY BECAUSE THREE POWER PLANTS WERE IN MY DISTRICT BUT I WAS AWARE OF WHAT HAPPENED WITH INDIAN POINT IN NEW YORK CITY.

THEY SUPPLIED A SUBSTANTIAL AMOUNT TO NEW YORK CITY AND EVEN WITH THAT POWER PLANT ENERGY WHICH IS 100% CASH-FREE EMISSIONS-- CARBON-FREE EMISSIONS ON PEAK DAYS IT WOULD HAVE TO FIRE UP COAL BURNING PLANTS TO MEET THE NEEDS.

THAT HAS BEEN MOTH BALLED NOW.

WHAT IS THE CURRENT STATUS WITH RESPECT TO THE POWER GRID IN NEW YORK CITY?

AND IS THE NUCLEAR POWER ARGUMENT SOMETHING WE SHOULD THINK ABOUT?

>> NUCLEAR IS DEFINITELY SOMETHING WE SHOULD THINK ABOUT AND GOVERNOR HOCHUL HELD AN ENERGY SUMMIT IN SYRACUSE JUST A MONTH AGO, WHERE THERE IS RECOGNITION FINALLY THAT NUCLEAR IS GOING TO BE PART OF THE PICTURE.

BUT CLOSING INDIAN POINT WHICH SUPPLIED OVER 20% OF NEW YORK CITY'S ELECTRICITY, RESULTED IN AN INCREASE IN CARBON EMISSIONS BY OVER 40% IN THAT NEW YORK CITY METROPOLITAN AREA.

BY THE USE, ADDITIONAL USE IN REQUIREMENTS TO USE PEAKER PLANTS THAT ARE DIRTIER, AND HIGHER EMISSIONS THAN CERTAINLY WHAT THE ZERO EMISSIONS OF INDEPENDENT YABT POINT WERE.

>>-- INDIAN POINT WERE.

>> 40% HAVE GONE UP 40%.

HAS IT GOTTEN BETTER, IS THE NUMBER GOING DOWN OR NO?

>> THAT'S A COUPLE YEARS OLD THAT NUMBER.

THAT NUMBER WAS FROM 23, SO JUST A YEAR OLD.

SO I DON'T BELIEVE IT HAS GONE DOWN MUCH SINCE THEN.

THESE STATISTICS LAG IN TIME.

SO I DON'T HAVE FOR THE CURRENT YEAR.

BUT THAT'S JUST A YEAR AGO, THE INFORMATION THAT I HAVE.

AND THAT'S FROM THE, I BELIEVE THE ENERGY INFORMATION AGENCY OF THE U.S. >> OKAY.

SENATOR MAY, WE HAVE ABOUT 30 SECONDS, IF YOU WANT TO JUST MAKE A LAST STATEMENT AND I'LL GIVE SENATOR O'MARA ENOUGH TIME TO.

>> TO SAY THAT GREEN ENERGY PRODUCTION IS ACCELERATING SO RAPIDLY, I BELIEVE IT HAS GOTTEN BETTER IN THE COUPLE OF THE YEARS AND IT WILL GET BETTER YEAR AFTER YEAR BECAUSE NEW YORK IS INCENTIVIZING INNOVATION AND INVESTMENT IN THESE AREAS AND WE REALLY ARE SEEING IT PAY OFF.

>> OKAY.

WELL LISTEN, WE'VE RUN OUT OF TIME.

BUT WE THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR TIME AND YOUR INFORMATION WAS EXTRAORDINARILY HELPFUL.

A LOT MORE TO DO ON THIS SUBJECT GOING FORWARD AND WE HOPE TO HAVE YOU BOTH BACK SOON.

SO THANKS SO MUCH, SENATORS AND KEEP FIGHTING THE GOOD FIGHT.

NOW, LET'S HEAD TO WASHINGTON.

♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ WITH US NOW IS LAUREN MADDOX, SENIOR POLICY ADVISOR AT “BIG TIME” WASHINGTON LAW FIRM, HOLLAND AND KNIGHT, TO GIVE US THE LATEST AND GREATEST OF WHAT'S HAPPENING NEXT WEEK IN WASHINGTON.

WELCOME AGAIN, LAUREN.

>> HEY CONGRESSMAN, GOOD TO BE WITH YOU.

>> WHAT IS GOING ON?

3.

>> SO IT'S QUIET IN THE NATION'S CAPITOL AT THE MOMENTS BUT NOT NOR LONG.

I THINK THE MOST IMMEDIATE CONCERN IS HOW CONGRESS CAN BE MOST HELPFUL TO THOSE COMMUNITIES WHO HAVE BEEN IMPACTED BY THE BACK-TO-BACK HURRICANES IN THE SOUTHEAST.

SO CONGRESS WILL RETURN IN MID NOVEMBER AND WILL DEAL WITH THE DAMAGE ASSESSMENT AT THAT TIME.

AND WILL PASS ADDITIONAL FUNDS.

THERE IS SOME PRESSURE TO HAVE MEMBERS COME BACK TO D.C. BEFORE MID NOVEMBER BUT THAT'S HIGHLY UNLIKELY BECAUSE BEFORE THEY LEFT TOWN LATE LAST MONTH, THEY INCLUDED AN ADDITIONAL $20 BILLION FOR FEMA.

NOW THAT IS JUST A BRIDGE MONEY, SO THEY'RE GOING TO HAVE TO DO SOME ADDITIONAL SUPPLEMENTAL DOLLARS FOR THOSE IMPACTED AREAS.

BUT UNTIL THEY HAVE THAT DAMAGE ASSESSMENT, FOR RIGHT NOW, THEY'RE GOING TO HOLD.

>> SO, YEAH, I WANT TO ASK A LITTLE BIT MORE ABOUT THAT.

THERE HAS BEEN A LOT OF INFORMATION AND SOME WOULD ARGUE DIS INFORMATION WHAT MONEY FEMA HAS AND WHAT MONEY PEOPLE HAVE TAKEN OUT OF FEMA'S POT.

BUT YOU ARE TELLING ME THERE IS $20 BILLION THAT HAVE BEEN AUTHORIZED TO FEMA FOR DISASTER RELIEF AND THAT MONEY HAS NOT BEEN EXHAUSTED.

THAT MONIES BEING USED.

IS THAT CORRECT SO FAR?

>> YES THAT IS CORRECT.

THERE WAS AN ANNOUNCEMENT FROM THE SMALL BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION.

THEY HAVE A SEPARATE POT OF MONEY.

ITE CALLED DISASTER LOAN PROGRAM.

AND THESE ARE LOW INTEREST, LONG-TERM LOANS FOR DISASTER SURVIVORS.

THEY HAVE TO APPLY FOR THE FUNDS BUT THEY ANNOUNCED THIS WEEK THEY HAVE RUN OUT OF FUNDS.

BUT ON THE ASSURANCES THAT CONGRESS, AGAIN IS GOING TO PASS ADDITIONAL MONIES WHEN THEY GET BACK, THEY'RE STILL ACCEPTING APPLICATIONS FOR THAT PARTICULAR POT OF MONEY.

>> JUST SO I'M CLEAR THOUGH, THE $20 BILLION THAT FEMA HAS TO DO THEIR DISASTER RELIEF IS A SEPARATE POT THE OF MONEY FROM THE SMALL BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION AND SBA MONIES IS OUT RIGHT NOW BUT WILL BE REPLENISHED CORRECT?

>> THAT'S CORRECT.

>> WHAT ELSE IS GOING ON IN WASHINGTON NEXT WEEK.

>> AT A STAFF LEVEL, THE HOUSE AND SENATE ARE WORKING THROUGH THEIR DIFFERENCES ON THE ANNUAL DEFENSE DEPARTMENT POLICY BILL CALLED THE NATIONAL DEFENSE AUTHORIZATION ACT.

CONGRESS HAS PASSED IT ON A BIPARTISAN BASIS FOR THE LAST 60 YEARS.

WE EXPECT THEM TO DO THE SAME WHEN THEY COME BACK.

BUT THEY'RE ABOUT $25 BILLION OFF.

SO THE SENATE BILL IS A LITTLE MORE GENEROUS THAN THE HOUSE.

THERE IS SOME ADDITIONAL PROVISIONS PUT IN THE HOUSE THAT ARE SORT OF NON-STARTERS IN THE SENATE SO SOME OF THAT WILL BE STRIPPED OUT AT THE END OF THE DAY, BUT WE ANTICIPATE THAT GETTING PASSED.

BUT A LOT OF THAT, SORT OF STAFF WORK, GOING THROUGH SOME OF THE DIFFERENCES, IS TAKING PLACE NOW IN ANTICIPATION OF CONGRESS PICKING THAT BILL UP AND MOVING IT IN NOVEMBER.

>> MAN, I USED TO LOVE THE NDAA BILLS WE USED TO CALL IT IN CONGRESS BECAUSE IF YOU HAD SMALLER BILLS THAT YOU WANTED TO GET PASSED, YOU WOULD OFTEN GET THEM PASSED AS AN AMENDMENT TO THE NDAA BILL AND IT WOULD BECOME LAW SO IT WAS LIKE A CHRISTMAS TREE FOR ME.

I LOVED PUTTING ALL MY BILLS ON THE TREE AND GETTING THEM INTO LAW.

IT WAS GREAT FOR ME.

>> WHEN YOU HAVE A MUST PASS LIKE THAT BILL, MEMBERS ARE LOOKING FOR OPPORTUNITIES TO PUT THINGS IN THAT WILL HELP THEIR CONSTITUENTS.

SO THAT WAS THE RIGHT THING TO DO.

>> YEAH, AND IT SEEMS LIKE THE NDAA BILL IS SUCH AN IMPORTANT PART OF THE NATIONAL DEFENSE AND MUCH MORE, SO IT'S GENERALLY SOMETHING THAT WE DIDN'T HAVE TOO MUCH OF A HARD TIME WITH.

>> YEAH, EXACTLY.

>> WELL, THANKS AGAIN, LAUREN AND WE'LL SEE YOU NEXT WEEK.

>> SOUNDS GOOD.

>> THANKS.

>> NOW, LET'S LEAVE ‘EM LAUGHIN'.

WE'RE “CLOWNING AROUND” NOW IN THE WORLD OF POLITICS AS WE WELCOME OUR RESIDENT CLOWN AND NATIONALLY RENOWNED COMEDIAN, MOODY MCCARTHY.

HEY MOODY!

>> ALWAYS GREAT TO BE WITH YOU, GREAT TO BE BACK ON THE SHOW.

HAVE I TO THANK YOU.

AS A COMEDIAN EVERY COMEDIAN'S DREAM TO BE ON THE PBS.

>> I'M SURE IT IS AND I'M GLAD YOU ARE FULFILLING THAT DREAM.

THE DINNER WAS LAST NIGHT.

WHAT WAS YOUR TAKE ON THAT AND ANYTHING ELSE YOU WANT TO TALK ABOUT.

>> IT IS FASCINATING TO ME WHEN BOTH CANDIDATES DO STANDUP COMEDY.

IT WAS INTERESTING BECAUSE KAMALA HARRIS WAS NOT THERE IN PERSON, AND I CAN EMPATHIZE WITH THAT.

IT IS IMPOSSIBLE TO DO COMEDY VIA CAMERA.

AS YOU ARE ABOUT TO SEE.

NOW DONALD TRUMP WAS THERE IN PERSON, BUT HE HAD A PRIEST SITTING NEXT TO HIM.

I HAVE BEEN IN THAT POSITION BEFORE, TOO.

AS A COMIC YOU WANT TO SAY HEY, PADRE, CAN YOU TAKE A SNOWMOBILING BREAK?

YOU ARE NOT GOING TO GET MY WIFE JOKES.

LESS THAN 3 WEEKS UNTIL THE ELECTION AND BOTH CANDIDATES ARE IN A FULL-COURT PRESS.

THERE'S A LOT OF ANALYTICS, AND THEY'RE VERY SPECIFIC ABOUT THE DEMOGRAPHICS THEY'RE TARGETING: KAMALA HARRIS HAS BEEN EVERYWHERE: SHE WENT ON THE “CALL HER DADDY” PODCAST, TO APPEAL TO YOUNG WOMEN; CHARLAMAGNE THA GOD'S RADIO SHOW, TO REACH BLACK MALE VOTERS; AND FOX NEWS TO SHOWCASE HERSELF TO VIEWERS WHO LIKE WHEN PEOPLE TALK OVER EACH OTHER.

WHEN YOU ASK A QUESTION AND DON'T ALLOW AN ANSWER.

>> THE FIRST BILL, PRACTICALLY WITHIN HOURS OF TAKING THE OATH WAS A BILL TO FIX OUR IMMIGRATION SYSTEM.

>> YES MA'AM, IT WAS CALLED THE U.S.

CITIZENSHIP ACT OF 2021.

>> EXACTLY IT WAS ESSENTIALLY PATHWAY TO CITIZENSHIP.

>> MAY I PLEASE FINISH RESPONDING PLEASE.

>> BUT THIS... >> HAVE YOU TO LET ME FINISH.

>> LUCKY SHE DIDN'T GET OUT HER GLOCK FOR THAT ONE.

STRUSM HAS BEEN TALKING ABOUT THE ENEMY WITHIN.

I THINK HE HAS AN ENEMY WITHIN THE HOUSE.

HIS WIFE CAME OUT WITH A BOOK.

IN IT SHE HAD THIS TO SAY ABOUT A VERY IMPORTANT POLICY THAT I THINK SHE DISAGREED WITH HIM WITH.

>> SHE REVEALS SHE BACKS ABORTION RIGHTS AND POSTED A NEW VIDEO OF HER STANCE ON TWITTER TODAY SAYING THERE IS "NO ROOM FOR COMPROMISE."

>> NOW YOU KNOW WHAT, I'LL GIVE DONALD TRUMP CREDIT BECAUSE HIS REACTION WAS CANDID AND HE MOVE MOVE TO CONSIDER THE VOTE BY WHICH THE BILL PASSEDDED WITHIN A MARRIAGE YOU CAN HAVE DISAGREEMENTS.

>> SHE IS NOT MY TYPE.

>> THAT WAS GREAT.

IT IS ALWAYS GOOD LEAVE THEM LAUGHING.

WE'LL SEE YOU NEXT WEEK MY FRIEND.

I THINK WE CAN ALL AGREE THIS COUNTRY PEAKED IN HIGH SCHOOL.

>> THANK YOU FOR JOINING US AND REMEMBER IN THE CIRCUS THAT IS POLITICS, THERE IS ALWAYS A BALANCING ACT.