<b>TURNING NOW TO THE ENVIRONMENT.</b> <b>WHEN VOTERS WENT TO THE POLLS</b> <b>LAST NOVEMBER, THERE WAS A</b> <b>QUESTION ON THE BALLOT ABOUT THE</b> <b>ENVIRONMENT.</b> <b>IT ASKED VOTERS IF NEW YORK</b> <b>SHOULD BORROW $4.2 BILLION TO</b> <b>ADAPT TO CLIMATE CHANGE IN</b> <b>PUBLIC SPACES, BUILDINGS AND</b> <b>OTHER INFRASTRUCTURE.</b> <b>ALMOST TWO-THIRDS OF VOTERS</b> <b>APPROVED THAT BORROWING.</b> <b>NOW THE STATE HAS STARTED TO</b> <b>SPEND THAT MONEY AND IS HOSTING</b> <b>A LISTENING TOUR TO HEAR FROM</b> <b>THE PUBLIC, LOCAL LEADERS, AND</b> <b>ANYONE ELSE ON HOW THE REST OF</b> <b>IT SHOULD BE SPENT.</b> <b>AT THE SAME TIME, THERE'S BEEN A</b> <b>LOT OF CONFUSION AND</b> <b>MISINFORMATION, FRANKLY, ABOUT</b> <b>THE STATE'S PLANS FOR GAS STOVES</b> <b>FOR COOKING.</b> <b>SOME WILL TELL YOU THAT THE</b> <b>STATE IS GETTING READY TO BAN</b> <b>THEM, IMPLYING THAT NEW YORK IS</b> <b>GOING TO COME TO YOUR HOUSE AND</b> <b>CONFISCATE YOUR STOVE, BUT</b> <b>THAT'S NOT TRUE AND THAT'S NOT</b> <b>GOING TO HAPPEN.</b> <b>I SPOKE ABOUT THAT SPENDING FROM</b> <b>THE BOND ACT AND MORE WITH NEW</b> <b>YORK'S TOP TWO OFFICIALS ON</b> <b>ENERGY AND THE ENVIRONMENT.</b> <b>DEC COMMISSIONER BASIL SEGGOS</b> <b>AND DOREEN HARRIS, PRESIDENT OF</b> <b>NYSERDA.</b> <b>DOREEN, BASIL, THANK YOU SO MUCH</b> <b>FOR BEING HERE.</b> <b>I APPRECIATE IT.</b> <b>>> THANK YOU FOR HAVING US BACK,</b> <b>DAN.</b> <b>>> GLAD TO BE HERE.</b> <b>>> OF COURSE, ANYTIME.</b> <b>I'M GOING TO START WITH YOU,</b> <b>BASIL.</b> <b>THE BOND ACT WE PASSED IT IN</b> <b>LAST YEAR'S ELECTION.</b> <b>VOTER WENT TO THE POLLS.</b> <b>THEY PASSED IT PRETTY</b> <b>OVERWHELMINGLY NOW YOU'RE</b> <b>GETTING READY TO FIGURE OUT HOW</b> <b>YOU'RE GOING TO SPEND THAT</b> <b>MONEY.</b> <b>CAN YOU REMIND US WHAT THE</b> <b>INTENTION OF THE BOND ACT IS?</b> <b>>> YES.

IT'S A BIG AND BROAD</b> <b>ACT, RIGHT, $4.2 BILLION, THAT'S</b> <b>MEANT TO ENHANCE THE STATE'S</b> <b>RESILIENCY, FOR LACK OF A BETTER</b> <b>WORD.</b> <b>IT'S REALLY WHAT IT FOCUSES ON.</b> <b>SO YOU THINK ABOUT OUR AIR, OUR</b> <b>WATER, THE IMPACTS FROM CLIMATE</b> <b>CHANGE, THE FLOODING WE'RE</b> <b>EXPERIENCING, ELECTRIFYING OUR</b> <b>TRANSPORTATION SECTOR AND OUR</b> <b>SCHOOLS, THOSE ARE THE LARGE</b> <b>BUCKETS THAT WE'RE ULTIMATELY</b> <b>TRYING TO ADDRESS AND WE'RE NOW</b> <b>LAUNCHING THIS IN A SUMMER THAT</b> <b>HAS BEEN DOMINATED BY CLIMATE</b> <b>IMPACTS, FLOODS, RIGHT, THE</b> <b>SMOKE IN THE UPPER MIDWEST AND</b> <b>CANADA.</b> <b>SO PEOPLE ARE, I THINK, LOOKING</b> <b>AT THE BOND ACT, THE PROCEEDS</b> <b>THAT HAD COME TO NEW YORK STATE</b> <b>FROM IT AND SAY THAT WAS A</b> <b>REALLY SMART CHOICE FOR NEW YORK</b> <b>TO SAY, YES, $4.2 BILLION IS</b> <b>WORTH IT.</b> <b>>> IS THIS MONEY-- AND I AM NOT</b> <b>CLEAR ON THIS MYSELF.</b> <b>DOREEN, I'LL GO TO YOU FOR THIS</b> <b>ONE.</b> <b>IS IT MONEY FOR PUBLIC SPACES</b> <b>AND PUBLIC INFRASTRUCTURE?</b> <b>LIKE, THESE AREN'T DOLLARS THAT</b> <b>ARE AVAILABLE TO LIKE A PRIVATE</b> <b>CITIZEN TO GET, RIGHT?</b> <b>THIS IS JUST FOR PUBLIC SPACES.</b> <b>>> THIS IS REALLY FOCUSING ON</b> <b>THOSE PUBLIC SPACES.</b> <b>>> YEAH.</b> <b>>> AND TO THE COMMISSIONER'S</b> <b>POINT, REALLY FOCUSING ON THIS</b> <b>TOPIC OF RESILIENCY.</b> <b>ONE REASON, I'M SURE YOU'RE</b> <b>AWARE AND I HOPE OTHERS ARE THAT</b> <b>WE'VE REALLY BEEN TRAVELING THE</b> <b>STATE TO LISTEN TO THESE</b> <b>COMMUNITIES IS BECAUSE WE WANT</b> <b>THEIR NEEDS TO BE REFLECTED IN</b> <b>THE WAYS IN WHICH WE ULTIMATELY</b> <b>EXPEND THESE FUNDS BECAUSE THESE</b> <b>ARE PUBLIC INVESTMENTS IN THE</b> <b>FIRST INSTANCE.</b> <b>>> I WOULD ADD TO THAT.</b> <b>I THINK IT IS ABSOLUTELY</b> <b>DEDICATED TO PUBLIC SPACES.</b> <b>>> UH-HUH.</b> <b>>> WE RECOGNIZE, AS THE LAW</b> <b>RECOGNIZED, THAT COMMUNITY</b> <b>GROUPS, NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIONS,</b> <b>ALSO HELP TO MANAGE THAT SPACE</b> <b>SO THEY, INDEED, ARE ELIGIBLE</b> <b>FOR MANY OF THE CATEGORIES.</b> <b>PRIVATE CITIZENS AND BUSINESSES</b> <b>ARE NOT.</b> <b>>> RIGHT.</b> <b>>> THIS IS VERY MUCH PUBLIC</b> <b>FACING.</b> <b>>> YEAH.

I THINK WHEN WE TALK</b> <b>ABOUT PUBLIC FACES, MAYBE IT'S A</b> <b>WIDER THAN SOME PEOPLE THINK.</b> <b>PUBLIC SPACES CAN MEAN SOMETHING</b> <b>FROM MAKING ROADS MORE RESILIENT</b> <b>TO CLIMATE WEATHER, YOU KNOW,</b> <b>WHEN WE SEE THESE ROADS GETTING</b> <b>WASHED OUT.</b> <b>ARE THERE WAYS THAT WE CAN MAKE</b> <b>THEM MORE RESILIENT TO THESE</b> <b>STORMS?</b> <b>I THINK WHEN PEOPLE THINK ABOUT</b> <b>IT MORE THAT WAY AND HOW THIS</b> <b>BENEFITS EVERYBODY AT LARGE,</b> <b>IT'S A LOT EASIER TO GET ON</b> <b>BOARD WITH, WHICH IS GREAT.</b> <b>DOREEN, AND YOU TOO, BASIL, YOU</b> <b>MENTIONED THE LISTENING TOUR</b> <b>YOU'RE ON RIGHT NOW TO HEAR</b> <b>ABOUT HOW THIS MONEY WILL BE</b> <b>SPENT.</b> <b>DOREEN, WHO DO YOU WANT TO HEAR</b> <b>FROM AT THESE HEARINGS?</b> <b>IT IS PEOPLE?</b> <b>IS IT GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS?</b> <b>IT IS BUSINESSES?</b> <b>WHO DO YOU WANT TO HEAR FROM?</b> <b>>> YOU JUST LISTED, REALLY, THE</b> <b>TARGET AUDIENCES FOR THESE</b> <b>LISTENING SESSIONS.</b> <b>WE'VE HAD A NUMBER OF SESSIONS,</b> <b>INCLUDING VIRTUAL SESSIONS AS</b> <b>WELL, BUT ONE THING THAT WE KNOW</b> <b>AND I'M SURE FOLKS AROUND NEW</b> <b>YORK KNOW IS THAT THE SOLUTIONS</b> <b>THAT ARE BROUGHT TO BEAR ARE</b> <b>GOING TO BE VERY DIFFERENT</b> <b>PERHAPS IN DIFFERENT GEOGRAPHIES</b> <b>OF THE STATE.</b> <b>WE'RE GOING TO BE LAUNCHING IN</b> <b>AUGUST FOUR DIFFERENT SESSIONS</b> <b>IN DOWNSTATE AND LONG ISLAND AND</b> <b>REST ASSURED, THE SOLUTIONS</b> <b>THERE MAY NOT BE THE SAME AS</b> <b>THOSE THAT WE HEARD ABOUT IN</b> <b>BUFFALO WHEN WE KICKED THIS OFF</b> <b>WITH GOVERNOR HOCHUL EARLIER</b> <b>THIS SUMMER.</b> <b>ALL THAT TO SAY, WE REALLY DO</b> <b>LEARN VERY MUCH FROM THE</b> <b>ATTENDEES AND THEY RUN THE GAMUT</b> <b>FROM PUBLIC OFFICIALS TO PRIVATE</b> <b>CITIZENS TO COMMUNITY GROUPS AND</b> <b>BEYOND REALLY INFORMING THE WAYS</b> <b>WE CAN MOST EFFECTIVELY INVEST</b> <b>THESE FUNDS.</b> <b>>> IS IT DIFFICULT AT THESE</b> <b>LISTENING SESSIONS OF THESE</b> <b>HEARINGS, IS IT DIFFICULT TO</b> <b>KIND OF SEPARATE THE CLIMATE</b> <b>CHANGE PART OF IT?</b> <b>WE'RE TALKING ABOUT EXTREME</b> <b>WEATHER.</b> <b>IN SOME SPACES, IN BUFFALO WE</b> <b>SEE SEVEN FEET OF SNOW IN THREE</b> <b>DAYS.</b> <b>ON LONG ISLAND, WE SEE EXTREME</b> <b>WEATHER AS THE REMNANTS OF A</b> <b>HURRICANE DEVASTATING</b> <b>COMMUNITIES AND FLOODING AND</b> <b>THINGS LIKE THAT.</b> <b>IS IT DIFFICULT TO SHOW AT THESE</b> <b>MEETINGS THAT CLIMATE CHANGE IS</b> <b>THE CAUSE HERE?</b> <b>>> OH, I DEFINITELY WOULD SAY</b> <b>THAT WE HAVE ALL NOT JUST HERE</b> <b>IN NEW YORK STATE, BUT AROUND</b> <b>THE WORLD, WE ALL RECOGNIZE THAT</b> <b>WE ARE BOTH FIGHTING CLIMATE</b> <b>CHANGE AND ADAPTING TO CLIMATE</b> <b>CHANGE AT THE SAME TIME.</b> <b>>> YEAH.</b> <b>>> THAT'S THE UNFORTUNATE</b> <b>JUXTAPOSITION THAT WE'RE IN IS</b> <b>THAT WHILE WE ARE AGGRESSIVELY</b> <b>PURSUING THE GOALS OF NEW YORK'S</b> <b>CLIMATE LAW, WE KNOW WE NEED TO</b> <b>DO SO IN LIGHT OF THIS EVER MORE</b> <b>EXTREME ENVIRONMENT IN WHICH WE</b> <b>ARE LIVING AND THAT'S REALLY</b> <b>WHAT THIS IS ABOUT.</b> <b>WE HAVE TO DO BOTH</b> <b>SIMULTANEOUSLY.</b> <b>>> IT'S TOP OF MIND FOR ME ALL</b> <b>THE TIME.</b> <b>I'M THINKING ABOUT CLIMATE</b> <b>CHANGE ALL THE TIME IN MY LIFE</b> <b>NOW.</b> <b>WHETHER IT'S, YOU KNOW, THE</b> <b>CONTAINERS THAT I'M RECYCLING.</b> <b>THE NUMBER OF TRIPS THAT I'M</b> <b>MAKING TO THE GROCERY STORE IN A</b> <b>GIVEN WEEK.</b> <b>I'M TRYING TO REDUCE THAT.</b> <b>I'M MAKING THESE CHANGES IN MY</b> <b>LIFE AND I'M ASSUMING THESE ARE</b> <b>THE KINDS OF CHANGES WE WOULD</b> <b>LIKE TO SEE FROM THE MONEY IN</b> <b>THE BOND ACT.</b> <b>BASIL, WHAT DOES THE TIME LINE</b> <b>LOOK LIKE FOR THIS?</b> <b>WE PASSED IT LAST NOVEMBER.</b> <b>IT'S HAD A LITTLE BIT OF A</b> <b>COMPLICATE HISTORY IN TERMS OF</b> <b>THE FIRST ROUND.</b> <b>WE COULDN'T HAVE IT GO FORWARD</b> <b>BECAUSE OF THE STATE'S FINANCES</b> <b>BUT NOW IT WAS APPROVED BY</b> <b>VOTERS SO WHEN DO WE GET TO THE</b> <b>PART WHERE YOU RELEASE HOW THE</b> <b>MONEY WILL BE SPENT AND ON WHAT</b> <b>TIME LINE WILL IT BE SPENT, I</b> <b>GUESS?</b> <b>>> IT'S ACTUALLY UNDERWAY RIGHT</b> <b>NOW.</b> <b>SO THE FIRST BIG TRANCHE OF</b> <b>MONEY THROUGH THE ENVIRONMENTAL</b> <b>FACILITIES CORPORATION WAS THE</b> <b>APPLICATION PERIOD WAS MADE</b> <b>AVAILABLE NOW TO THE PUBLIC AND</b> <b>GOVERNOR JUST EXTENTED THE</b> <b>DEADLINE BECAUSE OF THE FLOODS</b> <b>WE HAD THIS SUMMER INTO</b> <b>MID-AUGUST.</b> <b>SO THOSE DOLLARS, 200 MILLION</b> <b>OUT OF THE BOND ACT AND $200</b> <b>MILLION OUT OF OTHER STATE FUNDS</b> <b>ARE MADE AVAILABLE FOR WATER</b> <b>INFRASTRUCTURE, ANOTHER ISSUE</b> <b>THAT THIS BOND ACT IS TRYING TO</b> <b>RESOLVE THE ISSUE OF WATER BOTH</b> <b>UNDERGROUND AND ABOVE GROUND,</b> <b>WATER INFRASTRUCTURE.</b> <b>AS SOON AS THAT GRANT PERIOD,</b> <b>THAT APPLICATION PERIOD ENDS, WE</b> <b>WOULD MOVE QUICKLY INTO THE</b> <b>AWARDS AND ULTIMATELY GET THOSE</b> <b>DOLLARS ONTO THE STREET AND</b> <b>THAT'S JUST ONE POT OF FUNDING.</b> <b>THERE ARE OTHER POTS OF FUNDING</b> <b>THAT WE ARE NOW CURRENTLY</b> <b>DRAFTING AND FINALIZING THE</b> <b>CRITERIA FOR AND ALL OF THAT</b> <b>CRITERIA THEN GOES OUT TO THE</b> <b>PUBLIC FOR THEIR COMMENTS.</b> <b>SO WHETHER IT'S FUNDING FOR</b> <b>CLEAN ENERGY, WHETHER IT'S</b> <b>FUNDING FOR FARM PROTECTION, WE</b> <b>WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT THE</b> <b>PUBLIC HAS A CHANCE TO WEIGH IN</b> <b>ON WHAT KINDS OF PROJECTS WILL</b> <b>BE ELIGIBLE SO THAT WE THEN MAKE</b> <b>THE RIGHT CHOICES IN TERMS OF</b> <b>AWARDS REALLY SOON.</b> <b>>> ABSOLUTELY.</b> <b>35% OF THE FUNDING, ACCORDING TO</b> <b>THE ACT, HAS TO BE SET ASIDE FOR</b> <b>ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE PROBLEMS.</b> <b>>> RIGHT.</b> <b>>> SO I WANT TO GO OVER WHAT</b> <b>THAT MEANS FIRST.</b> <b>>> SURE.</b> <b>>> CAN YOU DESCRIBE WHAT WE'RE</b> <b>TALKING ABOUT WHEN WE SAY</b> <b>ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE PROBLEMS</b> <b>OR PROGRAMS</b> <b>>> YOU MIGHT REMEMBER THE</b> <b>STATE'S CLIMATE LAW, THE CLCPA,</b> <b>WHICH SET REALLY A NATIONAL</b> <b>STANDARD IN SOME WAYS BECAUSE</b> <b>THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION</b> <b>ACTUALLY COPIED WHAT WE WERE</b> <b>DRAFTING HERE IN THE STATE.</b> <b>>> YEAH.</b> <b>>> THIS MANDATORY 35% INVESTMENT</b> <b>IN DISADVANTAGE COMMUNITIES WITH</b> <b>A TARGET OF 45% INVESTMENT.</b> <b>WHAT THAT GETS AT IS THE</b> <b>HISTORIC DISINVESTMENT AND ALSO</b> <b>THE FACT THAT MOST OF THOSE</b> <b>COMMUNITIES, YOU THINK ABOUT</b> <b>COMMUNITIES OF COLOR, POORER</b> <b>COMMUNITIES AROUND THE STATE</b> <b>HAVE BEEN BEARING THE BRUNT OF</b> <b>POLLUTION FOR DECADES.</b> <b>SO WE ARE TRYING TO BE VERY</b> <b>DELIBERATE, RIGHT?</b> <b>IN FACT, NOT JUST MAKING</b> <b>ENVIRONMENTAL INVESTMENTS BUT</b> <b>MAKING ENVIRONMENTAL INVESTMENTS</b> <b>TO CHANGE THE COURSE OF CERTAIN</b> <b>COMMUNITIES.</b> <b>SO WE SPENT MORE THAN TWO PLUS</b> <b>YEARS WORKING ON WHAT A</b> <b>DISADVANTAGED COMMUNITY WAS.</b> <b>IT HAS A VERY IMPORTANT</b> <b>DEFINITION.</b> <b>IF YOU'RE GOING TO MAKE THOSE</b> <b>INVESTMENTS, YOU NEED TO MAKE</b> <b>THEM IN THE RIGHT PLACES.</b> <b>THAT REALLY GOT TO DEFINING</b> <b>THOSE CHARACTERISTICS SO NOW,</b> <b>STATEWIDE, WE HAVE MAPS</b> <b>INDICATING WHICH ARE THE EJ,</b> <b>ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE</b> <b>COMMUNITIES, AND THAT THEN WILL</b> <b>HELP APPLICANTS, HELP US TO</b> <b>STEER THOSE DONATIONS-- THOSE</b> <b>INVESTMENTS IN PLACES THAT NEED</b> <b>GREEN SPACE, THAT HAVE DIRTY</b> <b>AIR, THAT NEED AN INFLUX OF</b> <b>GREEN JOBS, AND THAT'S REALLY AT</b> <b>THE HEART OF THE BOND ACT.</b> <b>>> THERE ARE SOME COMMUNITIES</b> <b>THAT MAY SAY WHY SET ASIDE A</b> <b>CERTAIN AMOUNT OF THE FUNDING</b> <b>FOR ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE?</b> <b>BECAUSE SOME COMMUNITIES MAY</b> <b>SAY, WELL, I DON'T HAVE AN</b> <b>ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE PROBLEM,</b> <b>BUT THE ENVIRONMENT IN MY</b> <b>COMMUNITY IS NOT DOING GREAT.</b> <b>WHY SET ASIDE THAT FUNDING AND</b> <b>NOT JUST HAVE IT, YOU KNOW, EVEN</b> <b>ACROSS THE PLAYING FIELD?</b> <b>>> LISTEN, ALL COMMUNITIES</b> <b>ACROSS NEW YORK STATE ARE</b> <b>ELIGIBLE FOR BOND ACT FUNDS.</b> <b>WE MADE A DETERMINATION THAT WE</b> <b>NEEDED TO PLACE AN EMPHASIS ON</b> <b>ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE</b> <b>COMMUNITIES BECAUSE THOSE ARE</b> <b>SOME OF THE MOST IMPACTED</b> <b>COMMUNITIES WHEN IT COMES TO</b> <b>ENVIRONMENTS.</b> <b>YOU TALK ABOUT SPENDING STATE</b> <b>DOLLARS WISELY, WE KNOW THAT</b> <b>MAKING AN EMPHASIS ON THOSE</b> <b>COMMUNITIES IS A CHANCE TO-- A</b> <b>CHANCE FOR THE STATE, REALLY,</b> <b>AND THESE COMMUNITIES TO GET OUT</b> <b>OF THE CYCLE OF DISINVESTMENT</b> <b>THEY'VE BEEN IN FOR SO LONG.</b> <b>SO IT IS VERY IMPORTANT, AND</b> <b>THOSE ARE THE COMMUNITIES, IN</b> <b>SOME CASES, OF COURSE, URBAN</b> <b>COMMUNITIES.</b> <b>THINK ABOUT SOUTH END OF ALBANY</b> <b>OR HARLEM, BUT IT'S ALSO MANY</b> <b>RURAL COMMUNITIES ACROSS THE</b> <b>STATE THAT HAVE HAD THAT</b> <b>DISINVESTMENT FOR YEARS.</b> <b>SO AGAIN, WE FOLLOW THE DATA ON</b> <b>THAT.</b> <b>THE DATA INDICATES WHERE THE</b> <b>DISADVANTAGED COMMUNITIES ARE</b> <b>AND WE MAKE THE INVESTMENTS</b> <b>ACCORDINGLY.</b> <b>>> SURE.

DOREEN, THIS IS A LOT</b> <b>OF MONEY.</b> <b>FOR PEOPLE WHO MAY NOT BE</b> <b>FOLLOWING IT DAY TO DAY, I COULD</b> <b>SEE SOME CONFUSION ABOUT HOW</b> <b>THIS LOOKS LIKE TANGIBLY FOR</b> <b>THESE COMMUNITIES SO IF I'M</b> <b>SOMEBODY EITHER IN ENVIRONMENTAL</b> <b>JUSTICE COMMUNITY WHERE THE</b> <b>MONEY'S BEING SPENT DIRECTLY AND</b> <b>TARGETED THERE OR I'M JUST A</b> <b>COMMUNITY THAT QUALIFIES FOR</b> <b>THIS TYPE OF FUNDING, WHAT DOES</b> <b>IT LOOK LIKE TANGIBLY FOR ME?</b> <b>IS IT, UM, YOU KNOW, BETTER</b> <b>ROADS?</b> <b>IS IT MORE RESILIENT BUILDINGS?</b> <b>>> WELL, THERE'S DIFFERENT</b> <b>CATEGORIES OF THE $4.2 BILLION,</b> <b>AND REALLY THIS IS ALL INTENDED</b> <b>TO BE VERY LOCAL WITH RESPECT TO</b> <b>THE INVESTMENTS THAT WE'RE</b> <b>MAKING.</b> <b>>> YEAH.</b> <b>>> SO YES, INFRASTRUCTURE IS</b> <b>DEFINITELY ON THE LIST.</b> <b>ALL THE MORE IMPORTANT IN LIGHT</b> <b>OF THE CHANGING CLIMATE AND THE</b> <b>IMPACTS THEREOF, BUT YOU KNOW,</b> <b>LET ME GIVE YOU A COUPLE OF</b> <b>ADDITIONAL EXAMPLES.</b> <b>NYSERDA IS, WORKING SPECIFICALLY</b> <b>TO CAREFULLY DETERMINE THE BEST</b> <b>WAY TO DEPLOY $500 MILLION</b> <b>FOCUSING ON ELECTRIC SCHOOL</b> <b>BUSES.</b> <b>THERE'S A REQUIREMENT IN NEW</b> <b>YORK STATE TO REALLY PHASE IN IN</b> <b>THE LATE 2020S THE PURCHASE OF</b> <b>ELECTRIC SCHOOL BUSES.</b> <b>AS AN EXAMPLE, A REAL PLACE THAT</b> <b>WE'RE LEADING, BECAUSE WE KNOW</b> <b>THERE'S HUGE BENEFITS THAT COME</b> <b>NOT ONLY FROM AN AIR QUALITY</b> <b>PERSPECTIVE BUT FOR THE YOUNG</b> <b>STUDENTS THAT ARE IN THESE BUSES</b> <b>AND THE COMMUNITIES THAT THEY</b> <b>SERVE.</b> <b>SO THAT WOULD BE A GREAT EXAMPLE</b> <b>OF A PLACE WHERE WE WILL</b> <b>DIRECTLY BE WORKING WITH SCHOOL</b> <b>DISTRICTS TO HAVE THE TOOLS AND</b> <b>RESOURCES AVAILABLE TO DEPLOY</b> <b>THOSE BUSS AND TO HAVE THOSE</b> <b>BENEFITS ACROSS THE COMMUNITY.</b> <b>SO IT REALLY DOES RUN THE GAMUT</b> <b>THROUGH EVERY SECTOR OF OUR</b> <b>ECONOMY.</b> <b>>> I WOULD ASSUME THOSE BUSES IN</b> <b>PARTICULAR, WOULD MAKE A VERY</b> <b>BIG DIFFERENCE, RIGHT?</b> <b>I MEAN, JUST FOR MY SCHOOL WHICH</b> <b>HAD A GRADUATION CLASS OF 50, I</b> <b>THINK WE HAD 13 BUSES GOING OUT</b> <b>INTO THE COMMUNITY TWICE A DAY</b> <b>TO PICK UP AND DROP OFF.</b> <b>SCHOOL BUSES WOULD HAVE A</b> <b>SIGNIFICANT IMPACT, I WOULD</b> <b>ASSUME.</b> <b>>> IT'S A BIG LIFT, BUT A HUGE</b> <b>IMPACT.</b> <b>>> YEAH.</b> <b>>> WHEN WE THINK ABOUT SCHOOLS,</b> <b>SCHOOLS ARE ANOTHER PLACE WE'LL</b> <b>BE INVESTING IN THROUGH THE BOND</b> <b>ACT AND WE THINK ABOUT BUSES,</b> <b>LIKE WHAT IS MORE PERSONAL THAN</b> <b>THESE YOUNG STUDENTS AND THE</b> <b>IMPACTS THAT THEY'RE HAVING?</b> <b>IF YOU SAT ON AN IDLING DIESEL</b> <b>BUS, I'M SURE YOU KNOW WHAT WAS</b> <b>GOING ON WITH THE AIR QUALITY</b> <b>WITHIN THE BUS AND ULTIMATELY,</b> <b>WE'VE GOT REALLY EXCITING</b> <b>SOLUTIONS THAT CAN BE BROUGHT TO</b> <b>BEAR TO ADDRESS THAT CHALLENGE</b> <b>AND CREATE BETTER HEALTH AT THE</b> <b>SAME TIME.</b> <b>>> ALL RIGHT.</b> <b>I'M GOING TO SWITCH GEARS TO A</b> <b>VERY DIFFERENT BUT RELATED</b> <b>TOPIC.</b> <b>IT'S THE TOPIC OF GAS STOVES,</b> <b>WHICH IS SOMETHING-- IT'S NOT</b> <b>REALLY GAS STOVES IS WHAT I'LL</b> <b>SAY.</b> <b>IT'S THE PHASEOUT OF FOSSIL</b> <b>FUELS IN NEW CONSTRUCTION, BUT</b> <b>THIS ISSUE HAS BEEN REALLY LASER</b> <b>FOCUSED ON THE ISSUE OF GAS</b> <b>STOVES BECAUSE IT'S SOMETHING</b> <b>THAT PEOPLE CAN RELATE TO, IT'S</b> <b>SOMETHING THAT THEY USE EVERY</b> <b>DAY AND THEY'RE BEING TOLD</b> <b>FALSELY AT TIMES THAT NEW YORK</b> <b>STATE IS GOING TO COME AND RIP</b> <b>THEIR GAS STOVE OUT OF THEIR</b> <b>WALL, I THINK.</b> <b>SO I JUST WANT TO GO OVER WHAT</b> <b>THE LAW PASSED IN THIS YEAR'S</b> <b>BUDGET IS ACTUALLY GOING TO DO,</b> <b>WHAT THE REQUIREMENTS ARE FOR</b> <b>PEOPLE AND IT WILL BE VERY</b> <b>STRAIGHT FORWARD.</b> <b>SO THE DATES FIRST BY 2026,</b> <b>BUILDINGS OF SEVEN STORY OR</b> <b>FEWER WILL NOT BE ABLE TO HAVE</b> <b>FOSSIL FUEL HOOKUPS.</b> <b>BY 2029, LARGER BUILDINGS.</b> <b>LET'S START THERE.</b> <b>IF I'M SOMEBODY WHO LIVES IN A</b> <b>HOUSE-- I'LL START WITH YOU,</b> <b>DOREEN.</b> <b>IF I'M SOMEBODY WHO LIVES IN A</b> <b>HOUSE THAT HAS A GAS STOVE RIGHT</b> <b>NOW AND MY HOUSE IS ALREADY</b> <b>BUILT, WILL I HAVE TO CHANGE</b> <b>ANYTHING IN 2026?</b> <b>>> SO THE ANSWER TO THAT IS</b> <b>UNEQUIVOCALLY NO.</b> <b>>> RIGHT.</b> <b>>> THERE'S NO CHANGE TO EXISTING</b> <b>BUILDINGS AT ALL THAT ARE PART</b> <b>OF THIS LEGISLATION, BUT I WOULD</b> <b>SAY WHEN WE THINK ABOUT HOW WE</b> <b>GET FROM HERE TO THERE AND HOW</b> <b>WE ACTUALLY ADDRESS CLIMATE</b> <b>CHANGE AS A STATE, BUILDINGS ARE</b> <b>GOING TO BE PART OF THAT</b> <b>EQUATION.</b> <b>WE KNOW THAT THEY ARE ACTUALLY</b> <b>THE LARGEST SOURCE OF GREENHOUSE</b> <b>GAS EMISSIONS IN OUR STATE.</b> <b>WE TALKED ABOUT THAT A LONG TIME</b> <b>AGO.</b> <b>ULTIMATELY, WE KNOW THAT NEW</b> <b>BUILDINGS ARE THE BEST PLACE TO</b> <b>START AND REALLY GETTING AT THAT</b> <b>ISSUE.</b> <b>WE AS A STATE BUILD ABOUT 40,000</b> <b>NEW BUILDINGS EVERY YEAR.</b> <b>THAT'S WHAT THIS IS TARGETING.</b> <b>SO NOTHING WITH RESPECT TO</b> <b>EXISTING BUILDINGS OR HOMES, BUT</b> <b>REALLY ALLOWING NEW CONSTRUCTION</b> <b>TO PROCEED IN A WAY THAT</b> <b>UTILIZES YOUR EMISSION</b> <b>TECHNOLOGIES, LIKE HEAT UM</b> <b>ANDPS, LIKE INDUCTION COOKTOPS,</b> <b>ELECTRIC DRIERS, YOU KNOW, THOSE</b> <b>ARE THE TECHNOLOGIES THAT ARE</b> <b>VERY AVAILABLE AND CREATE A</b> <b>BETTER QUALITY OF LIFE FOR THEIR</b> <b>INHABITANTS, AND WHEN YOU'RE</b> <b>THINKING ABOUT NEW CONSTRUCTION,</b> <b>IT CAN BE DONE REALLY WITH</b> <b>ALMOST NO COST PREMIUM</b> <b>ESPECIALLY CONSIDERING ALL THE</b> <b>FEDERAL INCENTIVES THAT ARE</b> <b>AVAILABLE.</b> <b>SO WHAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT IS</b> <b>STARTING AT THE BEGINNING AND</b> <b>REALLY FOCUSING IN THE PLACES</b> <b>WHERE THERE ARE REAL BENEFITS TO</b> <b>BE GAINED AS WE ADVANCE TOWARD</b> <b>OUR BROADER GOALS.</b> <b>>> BASIL, ON THAT NOTE, IF I AM</b> <b>SOMEBODY AND IT'S 2027 AND I</b> <b>LIVE IN MY HOME THAT HAS BEEN</b> <b>AROUND FOR QUITE A WHILE AND MY</b> <b>GAS STOVE BREAKS DOWN AND I HAVE</b> <b>TO REPLACE IT, CAN I REPLACE IT</b> <b>WITH A NEW GAS STOVE, OR DO I</b> <b>HAVE TO CONVERT TO ELECTRIC?</b> <b>>> I THINK THE ANSWER IS YES.</b> <b>YOU CAN MAKE THAT CHOICE, RIGHT?</b> <b>CONSUMER CHOICE WILL STILL BE</b> <b>THERE AT 2027.</b> <b>WHAT WE ARE EXPECTING IS, I</b> <b>THINK, THE MARKET IS SHOWING</b> <b>RIGHT NOW THAT THE PRICE OF</b> <b>THESE GAS AND ELECTRIC STOVES IS</b> <b>COMING DOWN, RIGHT?</b> <b>>> YEAH.</b> <b>>> SO IF YOU'RE SOMEONE WHO</b> <b>WANTS TO MAKE THAT TRANSITION,</b> <b>YOU CAN.</b> <b>JUST AS IF YOU WANTED TO SWITCH</b> <b>TO AN ELECTRIC VEHICLE AT THIS</b> <b>POINT, THOSE PRICES ARE ALSO</b> <b>COMING DOWN.</b> <b>THAT CHOICE I THINK WILL</b> <b>DOMINATE THE MARKETPLACE FOR</b> <b>YEARS TO COME, AND WE'RE HOPING</b> <b>THAT NEW YORK WORKERS CAN</b> <b>EDUCATE THEMSELVES ABOUT THE</b> <b>BENEFITS OF THAT TRANSITION AS</b> <b>WE HAVE HERE AT NYSERDA.</b> <b>>> BUT THEY WON'T HAVE TO?</b> <b>>> CORRECT, THEY WON'T HAVE TO.</b> <b>SO IN TERMS OF THIS, THE ISSUE</b> <b>HERE IS REALLY COST FOR A LOT OF</b> <b>PEOPLE WHEN THEY TALK ABOUT IT.</b> <b>I THINK WE DISPELLED THE MYTH</b> <b>THAT THEY ARE GOING TO HAVE TO</b> <b>REPLACE THEIR GAS STOVE.</b> <b>THEY DON'T HAVE TO.</b> <b>THEY CERTAINLY COULD.</b> <b>I PREFER ELECTRIC STOVES BECAUSE</b> <b>I THINK I'M GOING TO BLOW UP MY</b> <b>HOUSE ONE DAY WITH MY GAS STOVE,</b> <b>BUT THAT'S JUST ME.</b> <b>[LAUGHTER] ALSO JUST ON THE COST</b> <b>OF THIS TRANSITION FOR PEOPLE,</b> <b>AND I'LL GO TO BOTH OF YOU.</b> <b>DOREEN, YOU FIRST.</b> <b>WHAT CAN PEOPLE DO ABOUT THAT?</b> <b>WHAT RESOURCES ARE AVAILABLE,</b> <b>NOT JUST FOR GAS STOVES BUT IF</b> <b>THEY DID WANT TO MAKE A</b> <b>TRANSITION TO AN ELECTRIC STOVE</b> <b>OR ELECTRIC CAR OR JUST TO BE</b> <b>MORE SUSTAINABLE, WHAT ARE THEIR</b> <b>OPTIONS?</b> <b>I KNOW THAT IS A VERY BIG</b> <b>QUESTION.</b> <b>[LAUGHTER]</b> <b>>> IT IS.

HOW LONG DO I HAVE?</b> <b>[LAUGHTER] THIS IS A QUESTION</b> <b>THAT WE REALLY SPENT YEARS</b> <b>LOOKING AT AS A CLIMATE ACTION</b> <b>COUNCIL, AND ARE CONTINUING TO.</b> <b>OUR AGENCIES ARE WORKING</b> <b>CAREFULLY ON IMPLEMENTATION OF</b> <b>THAT LAW, AND WE RECOGNIZE THAT</b> <b>TO BE SUCCESSFUL WE HAVE TO KEEP</b> <b>THIS AFFORDABLE FOR NEW YORKERS.</b> <b>LIKE, THAT'S FULL STOP THE WAYS</b> <b>IN WHICH WE CAN TRANSITION.</b> <b>SO HOW DO WE DO THAT?</b> <b>WE LEVERAGE DOLLARS EVERYWHERE</b> <b>WE CAN.</b> <b>FEDERAL DOLLARS ARE A HUGE FOCUS</b> <b>SO IF YOU'RE OUT TO BUY THAT</b> <b>ELECTRIC VEHICLE TAKE A LOOK AT</b> <b>THE WAYS IN WHICH YOU CAN GET</b> <b>VERY LUCRATIVE REBATES RIGHT NOW</b> <b>AS AN EXAMPLE, BUT WE ALSO</b> <b>RECOGNIZE THAT WE NEED TO DO</b> <b>THIS ON PEOPLE'S TIME AND BY</b> <b>THAT, I MEAN, WHEN YOUR STOVE IS</b> <b>BROKEN AND NEEDS TO BE REPLACED,</b> <b>THERE'S GOING TO BE SOLUTIONS</b> <b>THAT ARE BROUGHT TO BEAR THAT</b> <b>ARE AFFORDABLE AND AVAILABLE,</b> <b>AND THAT'S REALLY WHAT WE'RE</b> <b>TALKING ABOUT IS NOT CHANGING</b> <b>THINGS OUT OF CYCLE BUT WHEN THE</b> <b>CYCLE IS UP, HAVING THOSE</b> <b>TECHNOLOGIES AVAILABLE FOR FOLKS</b> <b>TO BUY THEM IN A WAY THAT IS</b> <b>COST EFFECTIVE.</b> <b>>> SURE.

BASIL, ANYTHING TO ADD?</b> <b>>> WELL, I'LL JUST SAY, YOU</b> <b>KNOW, WHEN MY LEASE RAN UP ON MY</b> <b>LAST VEHICLE, I LOOKED AT THE</b> <b>ELECTRIC VEHICLES THAT WERE</b> <b>AVAILABLE AND I WAS ABLE TO MAKE</b> <b>A CHOICE BASED ON THAT.</b> <b>WITHOUT ANY REAL INCENTIVES.</b> <b>I HAD A BASIC FEDERAL INCENTIVE</b> <b>ON THAT, BUT I WAS ABLE TO</b> <b>COMPARE THE COST OF OWNERSHIP OF</b> <b>A GAS VEHICLE WITH AN ELECTRIC</b> <b>VEHICLE.</b> <b>IT WAS CHEAPER FOR ME TO HAVE AN</b> <b>ELECTRIC VEHICLE OVER THE COST</b> <b>OF THE LIFE OF THAT VEHICLE AND</b> <b>I'M REAPING THE BENEFITS OF THAT</b> <b>RIGHT NOW.</b> <b>THE ISSUE OF RANGE ANXIETY,</b> <b>RIGHT, REALLY TO ME, HASN'T BEEN</b> <b>A PROBLEM AND I DRIVE AN</b> <b>ENORMOUS AMOUNT ACROSS NEW YORK</b> <b>STATE.</b> <b>I THINK THAT'S A SIGN OF THINGS</b> <b>TO COME.</b> <b>TECHNOLOGIES WILL IMPROVE AS</b> <b>LONG AS THE GOVERNMENT IS</b> <b>PROVIDING THE RIGHT SIGNALS TO</b> <b>THAT TRANSITION AND THEN</b> <b>CONSUMERS CAN THEN MAKE THOSE</b> <b>CHOICES WITHOUT FEAR OF NOT</b> <b>BEING ABLE TO GET FROM A TO B OR</b> <b>NOT BEING ABLE TO MAKE A BOWL OF</b> <b>PASTA.</b> <b>THAT'S REALLY WHERE WE ARE RIGHT</b> <b>NOW.</b> <b>WE'RE IN THIS VERY INTERESTING</b> <b>AND IMPORTANT TRANSITION PERIOD.</b> <b>>> ALL RIGHT.</b> <b>DEC COMMISSIONER, BASIL SEGGOS</b> <b>GOES, NYSERDA PRESIDENT DOREEN</b> <b>HARRIS, THANK YOU BOTH SO MUCH.</b> <b>>> THANK YOU.</b> <b>>> THE NEXT LISTENING SESSION ON</b> <b>THE BOND ACT ARE HAPPENING THIS</b> <b>MONTH IN NEW YORK CITY AND ITS</b> <b>SUBURBS.</b> <b>WE'LL HAVE A LINK WITH DETAILS</b> <b>ALONGSIDE THIS WEEK'S SHOW ON</b> <b>OUR WEBSITE.</b> <b>AS ALWAYS, THAT'S AT NYNOW.ORG.</b>