The From the Lobby podcast features a behind-the-scenes look at politics and government from New York State to Washington, DC with Jack O’Donnell, an Albany insider and Managing Partner of O’Donnell and Associates, a top lobbying firm that helps clients all over the country cut through government red tape.
Don’t be stuck on the sidelines. Get a front-row seat to what’s happening in politics with Jack! From the issues that affect taxpayers and business owners to the history of the budget process in New York, Jack has the knowledge and depth of experience to cut through the rhetoric and tell you what’s really going on.
Summary of this Episode
Guests
- Betta Broad: Campaign Director for New Yorkers for Clean Power
- Alec Lewis: Vice President and Director of Campaigns at O’Donnell and Associates
- Joanne Pasceri: Director of Communications at O’Donnell and Associates
Major Topics Covered
• New Yorkers for Clean Power has worked to accelerate the shift from fossil fuels to clean energy since 2016.
• Major victories include passing the Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act in 2019 and the All-Electric Building Act recently.
• A top priority is addressing existing buildings and transitioning them to all-electric heat pumps affordably.
• Environmental equity is crucial, with a mandate that 35-40% of clean energy transition benefits go to disadvantaged communities.
Full Transcript of the Episode
Note: This is a generated transcript. Please excuse any typos.
Joanna Pasceri 00:05
Hi everyone. We are back from the lobby with Jack O’Donnell. A podcast that gives listeners the inside track on state and federal politics with Jack, a top New York lobbyist and Managing Partner of O’Donnell and Associates. I’m Joanna Pasceri, Director of Communications at O’Donnell and Associates. We are continuing our series profiling New York’s community leaders. And at the mic once again for Jack is our Alec Louis, Vice President and Director of campaigns. Alec is a legislation and policy expert. He came to O’Donnell and Associates after a decade working with New York Senate Democrats. Alec has a special guest Betta Broad, campaign director for New Yorkers who are clean power, and the Director of Advocacy and organizing for the Association for energy affordability. Alec is going to talk to Betta about her statewide collaborative campaign to rapidly shift to an equitable, clean energy economy. Hi, Alec and Betta. And welcome to the podcast.
Alec Lewis 01:09
Betta it’s great to have you on from the lobby. And you’ve been an advocate for social justice, peace and sustainability for over two decades. And you’ve been involved in some major environmental victories here in New York, including banning fracking, and to expand the use of solar energy. Now, since 2016, you’ve been actively involved with New Yorkers for clean power, which has worked collaboratively to build an extensive network of advocates to accelerate the shift from fossil fuels in the building transportation and power sectors. So when you look back over your achievements, what are you most proud of in terms of how you’ve worked to accelerate the transition to clean power over the last few years?
Betta Broad 01:46
Well, we’ve had a lot of big wins. As you mentioned, New Yorkers for clean power kicked off in 2016, just after we won the big ban on fracking. And so we’ve been working ever since to raise awareness and get more people involved in the transition off of fossil fuels to clean energy. And there’s been, you know, a lot of challenges along the way. And some really big victories, including, of course, in 2019, when our big climate law, the climate leadership and community Protection Act passed, that was a you know, huge victory and really a nation leading law at the time. And it took a few years, but we finally got the scoping plan the climate plan, done at the end of last year, and now we’re busy implementing it, which will essentially decarbonize New York’s economy by 2050, which is an enormous challenge and requires other legislation that we’re working on and really takes everybody to be aware of the transition and participating in it and supporting it. Yeah, a lot, a lot of like small victories along the way. That was definitely a big one. And most recently, this past legislative session, we also had a big victory with getting the all electric building Act passed. And that basically means that all new construction by 2026, for smaller buildings and by 2029, for bigger buildings above seven stories will have to be all electric, so no fossil fuel appliances whatsoever.
Alec Lewis 03:35
Those are certainly some really big wins and transformational wins for New York State. But looking forward now, in the current landscape of the New York state economy and the environment, what do you see as the biggest environmental priorities for New York State?
Betta Broad 03:50
Well, I mentioned that we just got the All-Electric Building Act passed, which applied to new construction, I think one of our biggest challenges is addressing existing buildings and how we’re going to transition our buildings from fossil fuels to all electric heat pumps, and make sure they’re weatherized and energy efficient and make that transition affordable for everyone. Buildings were the largest source of greenhouse gas emissions. In many ways, it’s the sector that’s going to be the hardest to decarbonize. A lot of our energy is focused there and we have a top legislative priority called the New York Heat Act, the Home Energy Affordable Transition Act that’s going to enable us to begin this process of downsizing the gas system. And instead of investing millions and even billions of dollars into putting in brand new gas pipes that are going to last for 80 years, we can actually be investing that money into helping building owners put in heat pumps and do weatherization and other energy efficiency measures. So that’s a big priority for us in the coming year.
Alec Lewis 05:05
So Betta New Yorkers for clean power has made equity, a major focus of its work and advancing energy efficiency, electrification and clean energy policies, programs, and legislation that benefit low income communities in New York. Why is Environmental Equity so important?
Betta Broad 05:24
Well, environmental justice is something that’s really at the heart of New York’s climate law. And that’s something that advocates are really proud of. And actually, it’s being mirrored at the federal level by the Biden administration, which is also really exciting. We’re mandated through the climate act, that 35 to 40% of the benefits of our transition need to go to disadvantaged communities to communities that have historically been marginalized, that have suffered disproportionately from pollution coming from dirty power plants, from fossil fuel, transportation related pollution, and also buildings. Buildings, both indoor and outdoor air pollution have a major impact, especially on our low income communities and communities of color. So it’s really important that as we are prioritizing investments in the transition to clean energy, we’re making sure that those communities are a top priority and are a part of this transition and are empowered to participate, and are really benefiting from these investments. And with cleaner air, more comfortable homes, and ultimately a livable climate for everyone.
Alec Lewis 06:45
Well Betta I know that you continue to do very important work for New York State, from Buffalo to Long Island and everywhere in between. So I can’t thank you enough again for joining us today from the lobby, and I’ll transition to Joanna now to close out our program.
Joanna Pasceri 06:59
Thank you, Alec and Betta for that great conversation on how you’re working to grow New York’s clean energy economy to create new economic opportunities for New Yorkers, all while protecting our environment for future generations. For more information on New Yorkers. For clean power, visit nyforcleanpower.org That’s nyforcleanpower.org. And for the latest in New York and DC, be sure to sign up for our Monday morning memo, Jack’s weekly newsletter, on what’s really happening in politics and government. Get it sent right to your inbox. Subscribe on our website at odonnellsolutions.com That’s odonnellsolutions.com. And for daily updates, follow us on Twitter, LinkedIn threads and Instagram at O’Donnell and Associates. Thanks for listening everyone. We’ll be back from the lobby with Jack O’Donnell.
