#nypa

From the coast we go ever inward! The Mangrove forests of Lemuria consist largely of Nypa palms that grow along and in the waterways. Meet the weirdos of this green cathedral, with semi-aquatic sirenians, climbing crocs and tons of fish and birds.

46 species made it into this one, with a lot more I would have liked to add but at some point one must move on and the image is already quite full.

Hybodus looks so much cooler than how most people reconstruct it ngl, this is 100% the case where the more accurate reconstruction looks better than the non-accurate ones imo

Nipa Palm Fruit

Governor Andrew Cuomo announced the completion of a new 15,000-square-foot New York State museum of energy in Utica. Located next to the Utica Zoo, the newly constructed, admission-free John S. Dyson New York Energy Zone, designed and financed by the New York Power Authority (NYPA), will open to the public on May 10. The facility’s dedication rounded out a number of events statewide recognizing Earth Day 2021.

Gil Quiniones, NYPA President and CEO, remarked, "The Utica area is home to many of NYPA's dedicated and talented employees and today we recognize them and invite them to share this crown jewel of energy and electricity education and interactive, hands-on exhibits with their friends and families. I'm honored to dedicate this building in honor of John S. Dyson, a distinguished former chairman and trustee of the Power Authority. This New York Energy Zone is the embodiment of John's legacy of public service and his record of improvements to New York's energy system. We at NYPA hope that people of all ages will visit the Energy Zone to learn the fascinating history of power in New York State and will look with promise toward the future as we continue to move toward a clean energy economy."

Anthony J. Picente Jr., NYPA trustee and Oneida County Executive, commented, "Utica is a natural location for this museum of energy because it complements the work of our Frederick R. Clark Energy Center, NYPA's system-wide energy transmission complex in Marcy. I am grateful to my colleagues at the Power Authority for their vision in conceiving and developing this magnificent facility in Oneida County that will inspire our next generation of energy leaders and benefit all New Yorkers for decades to come."

Welcome to a sunny and bright NYS Earth Week Roundup! This week we feature stories on newly announced energy infrastructure projects around New York State, a great story on New York’s 18-year-old climate activist, and a Earth Day celebration of the Erie Canal.

Governor Cuomo Announces More than 20 Large-Scale Renewable Energy Infrastructure Projects Will Be Under Construction Across New York State This Year

Governor Andrew Cuomo announced this week that more than 20 large-scale renewable energy infrastructure projects will be under construction across the state this year. This includes the first utility-scale solar project in Upstate New York to enter the final phase of construction. These projects will create more than 2000 jobs and spur nearly $1.5 billion in private investment to help stimulate the state's economic recovery from COVID-19.

"New York State's economy faces huge challenges from both the COVID-19 pandemic and the ongoing climate crisis, and renewable energy has a vital role to play in our state's ongoing convalescence and our economic recovery," the Governor said. "These large-scale renewable projects will foster much-needed investment and thousands of good-paying jobs across New York as we continue to rebuild the state's economy with green energy. We're strengthening our commitment to renewable energy by creating new private-public partnerships that can accelerate the development of these critical resources to meet the unprecedented challenges posed by climate change."

Read more details on this wide-ranging, ambitious plan here.

‘I’m hopeful’: Jerome Foster, the 18-year-old helping to craft US climate policy

If a week is a long time in politics, the past year has been an eternity for Jerome Foster. In early 2020, the 18-year-old was holding weekly protests outside the White House calling for action on the climate crisis. Now, he has been ushered into the seat of American power to help craft climate policy.

In a sign of the growing political clout of the youth climate movement that has blossomed around the world, Foster has been included among a group of advisers to President Joe Biden who will inform him on issues related to environmental justice, where low-income communities and people of color face the greatest fallout from climate change and pollution.

“I didn’t expect this to happen so soon, it was like, ‘Wow, this is crazy,’” said Foster, who posted a tweet summing up the dramatic upgrade in his influence.

Foster added: “I’m the only person under 40 on the whole panel, so when I got there I was like, ‘Am I supposed to be here?’ But it was their intention to bring in the youth perspective on climate change. I was a bit startled at first but now I’m getting used to it.” 

More details in the great Guardian story, here.

New York’s Largest Earth Day Celebration Kicks Off

Volunteer groups across New York State are making final preparations for the annual Canal Clean Sweep, the spring cleaning of the NYS Canal System and Canalway Trail. More than 100 events scheduled for the Canal Clean Sweep April 23-25.

Events take place across the 524-mile-long Canal System, providing opportunities for residents to give back to their local communities and to show pride in a unique cultural and recreational resource.

“The annual Canal Clean Sweep is an opportunity to celebrate Earth Day and ensures our state’s iconic Canal System remains environmentally healthy for future generations,” said Brian Stratton, Director of the Canal Corporation. “In 2020 alone, the Erie Canalway Trail saw nearly 3.9 million visitors and because of the dedicated New Yorkers who participate in this event, millions more will be able to continue to appreciate the canal’s scenic and historic sites in 2021 and for years to come.” 

Coinciding with Earth Week, NYPA announced a five-year plan establishing its alignment with New York State’s climate leadership plan through a comprehensive sustainability agenda.

The progress of NYPA’s Sustainability Plan will be measured with annual reports that will detail progress, as the Authority continues to lead New York State’s transition to a carbon-free, economically vibrant New York.

NYPA released the plan during Earth Week 2021 to solidify its firm commitment to sustainability as it continues its leadership role in shaping the state’s energy and environmental policies for the future benefit of all New Yorkers.

“By using an ESG framework to manage and measure NYPA’s sustainability commitments and successes, we will be able to share key milestones as we advance some of the nation’s most ambitious climate targets,” said Gil C. Quiniones, NYPA’s president and CEO. “Everything we do, as we embark on transforming our energy system for a clean energy future, will be shaped by our sustainability strategy as we pursue decarbonization, foster economic growth and create an ESG (Environmental, Social and Governance) blueprint for others to follow.”

Welcome to NYPA’s latest NYS news roundup. This week's stories include news on rising vaccination numbers statewide, vaccination policy for Buffalo Bills announced, and plans for the empty offices and hotels in Manhattan.

Governor Cuomo Announces More Than 40% of New Yorkers Have Received at Least One Dose of COVID-19 Vaccine 

Governor Andrew M. Cuomo this week mentioned that more than 40% of New Yorkers have received at least one dose of the COVID-19 vaccine. 233,973 doses have been administered across the state's vast distribution network in the last 24 hours, and nearly 1.5 million doses have been administered over the past week.       

"We remain locked in a footrace between the rate of infection and the vaccination rate, and we are continuing to work around the clock to get shots in arms as quickly and fairly as possible," Governor Cuomo said. "Our vaccination efforts are going very well - we have opened hundreds of vaccination distribution sites across the state, we've expanded to universal eligibility and we are investing in public awareness and education to make sure every New Yorker knows the vaccine is safe and effective. However, we are still largely dependent on the supply from the Federal Government, and until we have reached herd immunity all New Yorkers must continue with the safe practices we know work to stop the spread." 

Learn more here.

Erie County To Open Up NFL Stadium For Vaccinated New Yorkers

From The Gothamist comes news that Erie County will be opening Buffalo’s football stadium to vaccinated fans. The bargain is simple for Buffalo Bills fans: Get vaccinated, and you can enter the stadium. Erie County officials hope that this pledge will encourage fans who want to attend in-person games to get COVID-19 shots. “You want to go to a Bills game later this year? Get vaccinated with your first dose of the Moderna vaccine today. You get your second dose of the Moderna vaccine in four weeks,” Erie County Executive Mark Poloncarz said. “Two weeks later, you'll be able to fill out the pass, and in the fall, you'll be cheering on Josh Allen at the stadium.” 

The rules would also extend to the local pro hockey team, the Buffalo Sabres. The two teams are owned by billionaire couple Terry and Kim Pegula, but their respective home turfs at Highmark Stadium and KeyBank Center are both owned by Erie County, which Poloncarz contends gives him the right to set admission policy. Both venues would require fans to show either their vaccination card or New York’s Excelsior Pass app in order to attend a game. As a result, attendees would no longer need a negative COVID-19 test for entry. 

“We want to ensure it’s a full house, but a safe house for all. And if you elect not to get vaccinated because of your own personal choice, well, it’s your own personal choice,” Poloncarz said. 

Much more info at the above link.

What Will Happen to All the Empty Office Buildings and Hotels?

Welcome to this week’s New York State News Roundup. This week’s stories include the launch of the new Vaccinate New York campaign,  excellent news for NYS hospitals, and the restart of Erie Canal tours.

Governor Cuomo Announces Statewide Launch of "Vaccinate NY" Campaign and Encourages All New Yorkers to Schedule an Appointment

This week Governor Andrew Cuomo announced the start of the statewide "Vaccinate NY" ad campaign to encourage all New Yorkers to get vaccinated. The ads will run across television, radio, online and print statewide. The effort comes as universal eligibility for the COVID-19 vaccine goes into effect and all New Yorkers 16-years-of-age and older are now eligible to receive the vaccine. 

"Now that all New Yorkers are eligible to receive the vaccine, it is critical that no one is left behind in our efforts to get New York vaccinated," Governor Cuomo said. "For over a year, New Yorkers have sacrificed and dedicated themselves to slowing the spread of COVID-19. The light at the end of the tunnel has never been brighter and I encourage all New Yorkers to do the right thing and protect themselves and their communities by getting their vaccine. We are still in a footrace against the infection rate, but with millions more now eligible to get their vaccine we can finally win this war." 

More info on this new effort is here.

State Budget Scraps Health Care Cuts To At-Need Hospitals Hit Hard By COVID

From the Gothamist, great news on the New York State hospitals budget. Hospital groups and health equity advocates are celebrating now that the upcoming state budget does not include the broad cuts to health care spending initially proposed. Those changes would have disproportionately impacted safety-net hospitals, which serve communities that were hardest hit by COVID-19. 

Some losses would have disproportionately impacted New York City health care providers. One provision sought to push public medical centers—including those in the NYC Health + Hospitals system—out of the Indigent Care Pool, a fund that reimburses them for services provided to people who can’t pay. 

But legislators and health care lobbyists pushed back, and simultaneously, the state’s revenue outlook improved, thanks in part to $12.6 billion in federal relief in the latest COVID-19 stimulus bill. 

“For us, it’s more than a relief,” said Anthony Feliciano, director of the Commission on the Public’s Health System, which advocates for health care access in New York City. “The concern we were having is that the very same communities relying on safety nets during this pandemic would have a much worse recovery if we had these cuts go through.”

Lil Diamond II will be cruising the Erie Canal again this year