New York Governor Kathy Hochul's State of the State address failed to provide much comfort to climate activists, who remain unconvinced by her administration's stance on key environmental issues. While Hochul touted an "all-of-the-above" energy strategy, including increased nuclear power and expanded clean energy initiatives, critics argue that these measures will ultimately drive up costs for New Yorkers.
The proposal to build five new nuclear reactors is particularly contentious, with many experts warning of the significant financial burden it would impose on ratepayers. Joseph Romm, a senior researcher at Penn State University, described Hochul's plan as "magical thinking" and pointed out that the V.C. Summer project in South Carolina serves as a cautionary tale for investors.
Hochul also proposed reforms to the environmental review process, which could streamline housing development but has raised concerns about reduced regulatory oversight and potential environmental impacts. Environmental groups have questioned the clarity of these changes, warning that they could be used by developers to circumvent rules meant to protect public health and the environment.
In contrast, the governor's clean energy initiatives – such as the Champlain Hudson Power Express and the Soil and Sun Program – are seen as positive steps forward for renewable energy development. However, advocates argue that more needs to be done to accelerate these efforts, particularly in light of the state's climate leadership goals.
One critical aspect of Hochul's plan was her failure to address the 2019 Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act, which has been delayed by her administration. This omission has left many feeling betrayed, as Yvonne Taylor, co-founder of Seneca Lake Guardian, noted: "Governor Hochul has betrayed New Yorkers... She's not following the law, plain and simple."
Overall, climate activists remain skeptical about Governor Hochul's commitment to addressing environmental issues in New York State.
The proposal to build five new nuclear reactors is particularly contentious, with many experts warning of the significant financial burden it would impose on ratepayers. Joseph Romm, a senior researcher at Penn State University, described Hochul's plan as "magical thinking" and pointed out that the V.C. Summer project in South Carolina serves as a cautionary tale for investors.
Hochul also proposed reforms to the environmental review process, which could streamline housing development but has raised concerns about reduced regulatory oversight and potential environmental impacts. Environmental groups have questioned the clarity of these changes, warning that they could be used by developers to circumvent rules meant to protect public health and the environment.
In contrast, the governor's clean energy initiatives – such as the Champlain Hudson Power Express and the Soil and Sun Program – are seen as positive steps forward for renewable energy development. However, advocates argue that more needs to be done to accelerate these efforts, particularly in light of the state's climate leadership goals.
One critical aspect of Hochul's plan was her failure to address the 2019 Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act, which has been delayed by her administration. This omission has left many feeling betrayed, as Yvonne Taylor, co-founder of Seneca Lake Guardian, noted: "Governor Hochul has betrayed New Yorkers... She's not following the law, plain and simple."
Overall, climate activists remain skeptical about Governor Hochul's commitment to addressing environmental issues in New York State.
... she seemed so vague about how she's gonna tackle climate change 
. I get that "all-of-the-above" energy strategy might sound good on paper 
, but those nuclear reactors are super scary for me 
. And what about the environmental review process? 
I wanna know more about how it'll impact our air and water quality 
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! The Champlain Hudson Power Express is a great start, but we need more done ASAP 
. And what's with the delay on the 2019 Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act? 
That's just infuriating 
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. Can someone pls hold her accountable for this? 
... I'm all for streamlining things, but not at the expense of our planet.
. And yeah, those clean energy initiatives are a step in the right direction, but we can't stop there - we need to see more concrete action on reducing emissions and creating sustainable jobs.
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. And those changes to environmental reviews? Maybe it'll speed up development, which could lead to more homes and jobs 
. It's all about trade-offs, right?
. I get why Hochul didn't address it, but it doesn't mean she's not committed to addressing climate change... yet 
. Climate activists need to chill out and give her some credit for trying 
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when it comes to climat change. she's got a good start w/ clean energy but if they dont follow thru w/ 2019 act, its just lip service 
... I mean, we've seen similar "all-of-the-above" energy strategies fail miserably in the past, like with the V.C. Summer project that got cancelled in South Carolina due to cost overruns 
. And now Hochul's proposing more nuclear reactors? That just feels like a bad 90s decision 
... I'm worried about the cost it'll put on ratepayers and how it'll affect their wallets. I wish she'd focus on more practical solutions, you know? The Champlain Hudson Power Express is a good start, but we need to see more concrete progress on renewable energy 
... And what's with the environmental review process reform? It sounds like they're trying to water down regulations to make it easier for developers to get away with stuff 
. I just don't feel confident in Hochul's commitment to tackling climate issues, and that 2019 Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act delay is still a big sticking point for me...
and then you just gloss over all the important stuff that needs to get done... I mean, what even is an "all-of-the-above" energy strategy if it's just gonna drive up costs for us? 
and nuclear power? are you kidding me?! we should be investing in clean energy not building more nukes 
like, we've got the tech for that already! 
. It's like they're stalling on something important, which doesn't exactly inspire trust among environmental groups 
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I mean, 5 new nuclear reactors? That's a huge financial risk for NY state 
️ And what about the V.C. Summer project? It's like she's ignoring all those warnings 
She's right, Governor Hochul is betraying New Yorkers by not following the law 
We need leaders who can deliver on their promises, not just talk about it 
Now we got Hochul trying to do the same, but it feels like they're just phoning it in at this point. Five new nuclear reactors? Are they kidding me?! That's not even the worst part, it's that they think we'll be okay with the increased costs and just swallow it whole like candy. 
I swear, back in '03 when the cost of a gallon of gas was like 60 cents, people were all worried about the economy... now it's climate change? It feels like our gov is stuck in the Stone Age 
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. Like, who needs more debt? 
. We need concrete action, not a bunch of feel-good words. Climate activists have every right to be skeptical about Hochul's plans. Let's focus on getting our house in order before we start blowing money on new reactors 
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. I mean, how can you expect people to trust your administration when you're not following through on the law? It's just a bunch of lip service 
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, skeptical and frustrated 
. And let's be real, we need more sources of energy to balance out our reliance on renewables. Plus, investing in new reactors will create jobs and stimulate the economy 
. And yeah, critics are right that the nuclear reactors could be super expensive for ratepayers 
. Maybe next time, instead of trying to do everything at once, she can focus on making some real progress? 
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. We just need to speed things up ASAP 
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. I mean, where's the transparency? The accountability? It's all just smoke and mirrors 
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. just sayin'.
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