Here is a roundup of the biggest environmental stories locally this week from the WGXC Newsroom. Click here to download or play this week's environmental news from WGXC.

Andrea Macko in Porcupine Soup reports that on Nov. 30 Gov. Kathy Hochul announced that construction has begun on the 339-mile underground Champlain Hudson Power Express transmission line that will bring electricity from hydropower from Canada to New York City. Local communities get some money and a risk of environmental accidents. Locally, the transmission line mostly runs along the CSX Railroad right-of-way, and passes through Bethlehem, Ravena, Coeymans, New Baltimore, Coxsackie, and Catskill and then into the Hudson River. While their are environmental risks locally, the project supplies 1,250 megawatts of clean energy to New York City, enough to power over one million homes. Hochul's office says that will reduce carbon emissions by 37 million metric tons statewide, the equivalent of taking over half a million cars off the road every year. The Greene County Industrial Development Agency awarded the projects tax breaks, and the project will bring $15.7 million for Greene County, $3.1 million for the Town of New Baltimore, $1.9 million for the Town of Coxsackie, $1.7 million for the Village of Coxsackie, $1.2 million for the Town of Athens, $4.3 million for the Town of Catskill, and $2.1 million for the Village of Catskill. The Coxsackie-Athens Central School District would receive $29.5 million, while the Catskill Central School District is getting $27.5 million. The Riverkeeper environmental group is not enthused about the project. “This destructive project raises numerous concerns. There are better alternatives that have lesser impacts and far greater benefits.... The CHPE project fails to meet the most basic requirement of a clean energy project, because it will not directly reduce greenhouse gas emissions and it will continue to emit greenhouse gases after 2040, when New York’s climate laws require the electric grid to be emissions free,” a Riverkeeper statement says. “Adding insult to injury, this project would take up billions of dollars in taxpayer subsidies that should be paid to a project that would reduce greenhouse gas emissions.” Construction on the transmission line is expected to be complete in 2026. Read more about this story at Porcupine Soup.

Pete DeMola reports in the Times Union that the Coeymans Landing Marina was fined $49,724 in July after a fiery explosion last January that injured a worker. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration filed four violations against the marina because of the explosion that started after a welder inadvertently ignited an oil tank. Settlement talks with the federal agency eventually reduced the fine to $14,917. OSHA officials found that marina employees were improperly trained on hazardous chemicals in their work areas, and that the Coeymans Marina did not insist that cutters or welders and their supervisors were suitably trained. Carver Companies, the marina owners, did not respond for comment about their violations. Marina worker Eric Allen started the explosion in the boat shop welding near a 275-gallon waste-oil tank. Vapors caused the tank to explode, spraying oil within the blast radius. Allen suffered serious burns to his chest, abdomen, hands, arms and torso, with Joe Gessner dragging out his co-worker and using a fire extinguisher to knock back the flames. Smoke from the fire could be seen miles away. Hours later, firefighters got the flames extinguished. Read the full story in the Times Union.

Nick Reisman reports for New York State of Politics that environmental advocates are hoping that Gov. Kathy Hochul will sign a bill that would expand the number of streams in the state that could fall under environmental protection. "C" class waterways, currently used for boating, fishing, and other recreational activities, would be reclassified as streams if Hochul signs Senate Bill S4162. "Because of the close contact people have with class "C" waterways, listing them as streams will allow for their protection," according to the bill's memorandum. Agriculture organizations and the New York State Highway Superintendents Association oppose the measure, and in 2020 then-Gov. Andrew Cuomo vetoed a similar bill. The Northeast Dairy Farmers are also against the legislation, saying in the statement the proposal, "would be an inefficient use of taxpayer resources, while adding undue financial and regulatory burdens for family farms, other landowners, and Local Soil and Water Districts." Peter Harckham, a state Senator who sponsored the legislation says the bill would add 40,000 miles of Class C streams in New York State to the Protection of Waters Regulatory Program and "give the state Department of Environmental Conservation the authority and resources to safeguard these streams." Read the full story at New York State of Politics.

Roger Hannigan Gilson reports in the Times Union that Gov. Kathy Hochul last week.signed a new law mandating that fees paid to New York by solar companies that convert agricultural land into solar farms will now go toward preserving other farmland. The fees previously went into the general fund. But now the money goes to the Agricultural and Farmland Viability Protection Fund, created by a bill sponsored by state Sen. Michelle Hinchey. The Saugerties Democrat got the bill unanimously accepted n both the state Senate and Assembly last summer. Since 2000, 750 large commercial or industrial solar projects have been funded through the state, according to the New York State Energy Research and Development Agency. “(I) look forward to ensuring that we continue to work to create a future centered on locally sourced, healthy food and incentivize smart solar development without eliminating our finite agricultural resources,” Hinchey said. Read the full story in the Times Union.

Bill Williams is reporting for Columbia-Greene Media Hudson police are investigating the city's second shooting incident in a week. No one was injured. The shots were reportedly fired Sat., Dec. 10 around 1:40 a.m. on the 200 block of Warren Street, according to Police Chief L. Edward Moore said. A city police sergeant and officer were on foot on the 300 block of Union Street when they heard successive gunshots near the intersection of 3rd and Warren streets. The patrol secured the scene and the New York State Police and Columbia County Sheriff’s Office were asked to assist with the investigation. Police recovered multiple shell casings in the mid-200 block of Warren and two of the bullets struck a parked vehicle and two bullets struck the siding and window at The Maker at 3rd and Warren streets, east from where the shell casings were found, Moore said. Hudson detectives collected evidence and conducted a number of interviews with potential witnesses. Police said the Saturday incident may be related to a December 2 shooting, one block away at 2nd Street and Prison Alley. “Residents should know that I have been coordinating a response with State Police and the Columbia County Sheriff’s Office," Moore said. "We will bring all resources to bear to locate the individual(s) responsible for this recent brazen behavior." There have been no arrests in the first shooting. "Citizens of Hudson will notice more visible patrols and a mobile command post, located at 3rd and Columbia streets, that will serve as a temporary satellite station for our officers," Moore said. "This is a serious matter that must not be allowed to escalate." Moore did not say how long the command post will be at 3rd and Columbia. Read the full story at HudsonValley360 [dot] com.

Paul Kirby is reporting for the Daily Freeman Central Hudson Gas and Electric Corporation announced December 9, that its electric supply prices will drop by nearly 15 percent in December. The price per kilowatt hour as of Mon., Dec. 12, will be 13.7 cents, down from 16.1 cents, or 2.4 cents less than in November. In October, the price was 16.93 cents. However, Central Hudson said again that leaders and energy experts and state officials are warning residents to prepare for elevated energy supply costs throughout the winter months and are also advising residents to take steps to prepare. Before the month of November, electricity prices had skyrocketed for four straight months. Electric supply increased from 13.06 cents per kilowatt hour in September to 16.93 cents in October, the utility said. That represented an increase of 28.46 percent from the previous months, which followed a 56.97 percent jump in August. The residential price for electricity rose from 4.18 cents per kilowatt hour in June to 5.83 cents, in mid-July. Electricity and natural gas are provided by independent generators and suppliers in a competitive marketplace and purchased on behalf of customers, according to Central Hudson. The prices are not marked up and Central Hudson does not profit from them, the utility said. Read more in the Daily Freeman.

Porcupine Soup is reporting the Advisory Council to the Greene County Department for the Aging has announced that nominations are being accepted for the 2023 Greene County Senior Citizen Awards. The two awards, presented each year, are Senior Citizen of the Year and Outstanding Contribution by a Senior Citizen. The awards recognize the outstanding contributions and achievements of senior citizens who have volunteered their time and energy to help other people, their communities, and/or special projects through the year and help to improve the quality of life for all residents of Greene County. The individuals chosen on the county level will then represent the county for recognition at the state awards. Any Greene County resident, 60 years of age or older, is eligible. Achievements must be voluntary in nature; performed in Greene County and not part of paid employment. Past award winners may be nominated if a minimum of seven or more years have passed since they were last recognized. Those who wish to nominate a volunteer, are asked to contact the Greene County Department of Human Services at 518-719-3555 for an official nomination form. The deadline for entries is January 27, 2023. Read more at porcupine soup [dot] com.

Here is this week's WGXC Congressional Report, tracking the votes, statements, positions, and campaigns of the representatives and candidates for the 18th, 19th, 20th, and 21st Congressional seats in New York. Current Democrat Rep. Paul Tonko, from the 20th District, votes with the positions of President Joe Biden 100 percent of the time, according to the fivethirtyeight.com website. Republican Elise Stefanik, currently representing the 21st District, votes with Biden's positions 19.3 percent of the time. Democrat Pat Ryan just began representing the 19th District, and has yet to be included in the rankings. Ryan will represent the 18th Congressional District in January, when Republican Marc Molinaro takes over representing the 19th Congressional District. Click here to listen to this report.

Kevin Frey reports in New York State of Politics speaks with Dutchess County Executive Marc Molinaro, recently elected to represent New York’s 19th Congressional district. Republican Molinaro claims the midterm results show Americans want leaders to work together, taking away Democrats control of the House of Representatives. “It is our responsibility not only to provide the checks and balances and results here in Washington, but I think also to speak up when Albany acts in a way that New Yorkers don’t feel is appropriate for them,” Molinaro said. New York was key for Republicans flipping the House, with four districts switching from Democrats after the votes were counted. Read more about this story at New York State of Politics.

MidHudson News is reporting a group of Hudson Valley Democratic Party chairs has written to longtime state chairman Jay Jacobs asking him to implement four “common sense” reforms to increase democratic operations, provide robust supports to county committees, expand and diversify the voices involved in decision making and strengthen the party’s infrastructure ahead of the next election cycle. The general election this month saw mixed results in the Hudson Valley, ranging from successes in Ulster and Westchester counties to “disappointing outcomes” for statewide candidates in several counties as well as the loss of state legislative and congressional seats previously held by Democrats. Last week two letters were circulated — one calling on Jacobs to step down from his party leadership role and the other from county chairs offering their continued support. The members of the greater Hudson Valley coalition declined to sign onto either letter. That group wrote their own letter to Jacobs asking state leadership to convene a session of the State Democratic Committee’s executive committee before the end of the year to present, discuss, and adopt a plan to implement their reforms. The letter is signed by Columbia County Chairman Sam Hodge, Lori Torgersen of Greene County, Michael Dupree and Julie Shiroishi of Dutchess County, Kelleigh McKenzie of Ulster County and others. Read the full story at MidHudsonNews [dot] com.

Mid-Hudson News reports that while Pat Ryan currently represents the 19th Congressional District in the House of Representatives, he is about to change to the 18th Congressional District in January. Ryan won a special election in August to fill in the final weeks of Rep. Antonio Delgado's term in the 19th District, after he left to become lieutenant governor. Ryan then was elected for a full-term in the new 18th Congressional District in November, which means he switches districts in January. On Nov. 28, Ryan was more in 18th Congressional District mode, speaking just outside of West Point in support of passage of the National Defense Authorization Act. “When it comes to our veterans, our military families, we have to rise above this partisan divide we have in our country right now and come together as patriots and make sure that we deliver in keeping our country safe and supporting our troops and our military families,” he said. In particular, Ryan said $39.8 million would go toward the continuing construction of the $200 million West Point cyber and engineering center, and $1.6 million would upgrade barracks and child development centers at West Point if the National Defense Authorization Act was passed in its current state. There is also a 4.6 percent pay raise for active duty members and civilians in the bill. Read more about this story at Mid-Hudson News.

Steve Benen reports for MSNBC that Rep. Elise Stefanik is keeping up her full-throated defense of former President Donald Trump, but is so far mum on his dinner with a leading figure among white supremacists and anti-semites. After Attorney General Merrick Garland appointed Jack Smith to oversee the criminal investigations into Trump, the former president ordered his backers to defend him saying, “You people have to fight. You have to fight. You have to be strong.” So on Nov. 29 Stefanik told the far-right Breitbart News that, “The facts are clear: Jack Smith is compromised.... Joe Biden’s weaponized DOJ has launched an illegitimate special counsel to investigate his number one political opponent.” She said when Republicans take over the House of Representatives in January, they will launch a counter-investigation, although she did not say exactly what they would investigate. Meanwhile Stefanik is quiet so far on Trump's dinner meeting with notorious anti-Semites Kanye West and Nick Fuentes. PBS News Hour asked 57 Republican lawmakers for comment on that meeting, and Stefanik is one of many not responding with any comment about the former president meeting with fringe political figures with hateful political views. Stefanik represents the 21st Congressional District in New York that includes Rensselaer County. Read more about this story at the MSNBC website.

Carl Campanile is reporting for the New York Post Republican U.S. Rep. Elise Stefanik is accusing US Postal Service workers of opening her campaign mail and stealing $20,000 in campaign checks. Stefanik, the House GOP Conference chair, made the claim in a December 1 letter to Postmaster General Louis DeJoy. “We are writing you on behalf of our clients, Congresswoman Elise Stefanik and her campaign committee, Elise for Congress, concerning the repeated, targeted theft of campaign contributions from packages sent through the United States Postal Service,” wrote attorney Michael Toner. Toner alleged that on four occasions between June and November this year, packages sent by the Elise for Congress committee containing campaign contributions were ripped open and the contents taken, while in the custody of the post office or its contractors. The attorney further alleged that in addition to the loss of campaign contributions, hundreds of Stefanik’s supporters were exposed to potential identity theft or financial fraud. It is unclear if any of the stolen checks were cashed. The U.S. Postal Service Office of the Inspector General is investigating the mail theft, but Toner said the IG's office “... which recovered the discarded, ripped open packages in Memphis — has not returned our client’s calls.” Stefanik is demanding the postal service provide her with a full update by December 8 on what has been done to date in investigating the thefts, and what measures it will take to prevent or prosecute mail theft against her and other Americans in the future. Postal Service spokesperson Dave Partenheimer said, “We did receive a letter on December 1 from representatives of Elise for Congress and we will respond to the sender directly with our findings on this investigative matter. In matters like this, both the Postal Inspection Service and Office of Inspector General have a potential role to play.” Read the full story in the New York Post.

Kenneth C. Crowe II reports in the Times Union that the floating solar array for the Cohoes city reservoir is not in the water yet, but Rep. Paul Tonko wants to create similar projects across the nation. Tonko is introducing legislation for federal support to replicate the project. “The innovative project in Cohoes shined a light on the advantages of floating solar to reach our nation’s renewable energy goals and reduce bills for families and communities. Since the inception of this project, I’ve said that the Cohoes reservoir will serve as a model for the nation and—with my POWER our Reservoirs Act that I just introduced—it will do just that,” Tonko, a Democrat representing the 20th Congressional District, said on Dec. 2. Cohoes Mayor Bill Keeler predicts that the $5.9 million array with 8,000 solar panels will be floating in the fall of 2024 or the spring of early 2025. “We said from the start this could be a national model. We’ve been working with the congressman. He’s been super enthusiastic and a great help to us financially,” Keeler said. Tonko says a 2018 study by the National Renewable Energy Laboratory found that deploying floating solar on the country’s more than 24,000 human-made reservoirs could save 2.1 million hectares of land and meet 10 percent of the country’s electricity needs. Solar arrays in water cost more than land-based systems, but have other benefits, including reducing algal blooms. Read the full story in the Times Union.

WNYT reports that former Prattsville Town Supervisor Kory O’Hara was sentenced Dec. 8 to one year of probation and a $25,00 fine and restitution for wire fraud. O'Hara pleaded guilty in July to the scheme to get grant money for work that was not done in the wake of Tropical Storm Irene. O'Hara admitted to obtaining false invoices from a home business, claiming to show work done on his automotive garage and service station, when the work was not done by that company and O'Hara kept the money. O'Hara's lawyer recently asked the judge in the case for just probation, saying the publicity of the case was punishment enough. “The local press has caused him to lose customers and affected his reputation in Prattsville," O’Hara’s attorney Lauren Owens said. "O’Hara has been adequately deterred from any future criminal conduct and there is no need to protect the public from any future crimes by Mr. O’Hara." Read more about this story at the WNYT website.

Joe Mahoney reports in the Press Republican that Rep. Elise Stefanik was the only member of the House Republican leadership team to vote on Dec. 8 in favor of a final measure giving federal recognition to same sex and interracial unions. Only 39 Republican representatives voted with all 219 Democrats for the Respect for Marriage Act. Stefanik spokesperson Palmer Brigham said the congresswoman’s vote is in line with “her views on how states should respect concealed carry permits and military family spousal licensing.... Just as she believes concealed carry permits should be recognized from state to state, this bill will ensure if a marriage is recognized in one state, it is recognized in another,” Brigham added. “This bill includes important provisions to uphold religious liberty and not encroach on the sincerely-held beliefs of Americans.” Dutchess County Executive Marc Molinaro, a Republican who begins representing New York’s 19th Congressional District in January, said he would have supported the legislation. Democrats Paul Tonko and Pat Ryan also voted for the bill. Read the full story in the Press Republican.

Roger Hannigan Gilson reports in the Times Union that Gov. Kathy Hochul last week.signed a new law mandating that fees paid to New York by solar companies that convert agricultural land into solar farms will now go toward preserving other farmland. The fees previously went into the general fund. But now the money goes to the Agricultural and Farmland Viability Protection Fund, created by a bill sponsored by state Sen. Michelle Hinchey. The Saugerties Democrat got the bill unanimously accepted n both the state Senate and Assembly last summer. Since 2000, 750 large commercial or industrial solar projects have been funded through the state, according to the New York State Energy Research and Development Agency. “(I) look forward to ensuring that we continue to work to create a future centered on locally sourced, healthy food and incentivize smart solar development without eliminating our finite agricultural resources,” Hinchey said. Read the full story in the Times Union.

Today's daily news update.

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Catskill schools announced on Dec. 8 that after a week out of school because of a water main issue, middle school students return to classrooms Dec. 12, but in the high school. "Grade 6 students will be occupying the former space of the Catskill Academy. Grade 7 and 8 students will follow their normal schedules to reassigned rooms at CHS," Interim Superintendent Thomas Bongiovi wrote on the school district's website. "That Monday, December 12, CMS/CHS will operate on a two-hour daily schedule where classes will begin at 9:35 a.m. (CES will still be running on their normal schedule). All students will enter the main entrance of CHS." The water main issue closed the middle and high school on Dec. 5, and had middle school students studying remotely the rest of the week. See the Catskill schools website for more information.

Jammel Cutler is reporting for Columbia-Greene Media a ransomware attack disrupted email services at Hudson City Hall this week. The attack was launched on December 2, officials said. “It’s a data breach issue that happened with Rackspace, which provides our email hosting,” Mayor's Aide Michael Hofmann said. “Rackspace identified the issue and took action to shut down the hosted web environment. They cut off access to emails entirely. As far as we know, there were no breaches in any of our security data,” he said. As a result of the attack, City Hall is moving on from Rackspace to Microsoft 365, Hofmann added. A ransomware attack locks and encrypts the target’s data and important files, and then demands payment to unlock and decrypt that data. Recently, companies in Texas and France have seen increases in ransomware problems. The attacks can have devastating consequences on businesses, resulting in the loss of essential data and long operational downtime. Rackspace Technology, a Texas-based computer cloud company, issued a statement on December 7: “... Our investigation is still in its early stages, and it is too early to say what, if any, data was affected. If we determine sensitive information was affected, we will notify customers as appropriate. Based on the investigation to date, we believe that this incident was isolated to our Hosted Exchange business." Hudson was a ransomware target in 2016 when the Hudson City School District fell victim to a similar attack. Ransomware is considered a cybercrime and is punishable by 20 years in prison and fines of upwards of $1 million. Read the full story at HudsonValley360 [dot] com.

Greg Dahlmann is reporting for the Albany Business Review Siena College has named Charles F. Seifert as its next president. The college’s board of trustees approved the appointment last week. The appointment is effective June 1, 2023. The school's current president, Chris Gibson, announced in September he would be retiring at the end of the current academic year after three years in the job. Seifert is currently serving as the dean of Siena’s school of business. He has also served as an interim vice president for academic affairs and executive director of the college’s Institute for Leadership Development during his 26-year association with the college. Seifert's career has included time working in banking and finance, and he was the chief financial officer of the former Albany-Colonie Regional Chamber of Commerce during the 1990s. Seifert originally joined Siena as an adjunct faculty member in 1996 to teach business and management courses. He became a full professor in 2007. Thomas J. Baldwin Jr., chair of the board of trustees, said of Seifert in a statement. “By his absolute devotion and service to Siena, impeccable credentials, and a strong track record for leadership, he has distinguished himself so clearly for the presidency of Siena College." Read the full story in the Albany Business Review.

Today's daily news update.

Deborah E. Lans reports for the Columbia Paper that on November 9, the County Board of Supervisors appointed an Affordable Housing Task Force to help develop and implement a county-wide comprehensive plan for affordable and workforce housing. The task force includes co-chair Supervisors Brenda Adams (D-Canaan) and Ron Knott (R- Stockport), plus Dan Barufaldi, Ghent Planning Board member; Robert Gibson ; County Social Services Commissioner; Bill Hughes, community leader; Meredith Kane, Roe Jan Housing Task Force member; Kirk Kneller, Kneller Insurance; Brandon Mullins, building code inspector-Livingston/Germantown; Rob Perry, City of Hudson Public Works; Tim Stalker, County Planning Board member; Kelly Sweet, Berkshire Taconic Community Foundation; Dennis Wedlick, Barlis/Wedlick Architects LLC. The supervisors also appointed an Advisory Resource Committee with William Gerlach, Columbia County Chamber of Commerce; William Fischer; Columbia County Fair Housing officer; Al Bellenchia, Columbia County Habitat for Humanity; Lisa Gallina, Columbia Greene Cornell Coop Extension; Claire Cousin, Hudson/Catskill Housing Coalition; Christopher Nardone, Columbia-Greene Workforce NY; Michelle Tullo, City of Hudson-Housing Justice coordinator; board representative Columbia Greene Association of Realtors; Adam Bosch, Hudson Valley Pattern for Progress; and Michael Borges, of the NYS Rural Housing Coalition. The Columbia County Economic Development Corporation, meanwhile, is interviewing candidates for a housing coordinator position, as the county focuses on the affordable housing crisis locally. Experts cite low building inventory, high prices and demand, and incentives for landlords for short-term rather than long-term rentals, causing the housing crisis. Read more about this story in the Columbia Paper.

Mike Ryan from the Mountain Eagle reports in Porcupine Soup that the Jewett Nutrition Center is once again serving hot meals to needy local seniors. The Center closed for three months because of staffing shortages. “We consider this an essential service. It’s part of what we need to do for our elderly residents. We want to send the message we are open for business again. It is nice to see everyone back here,” Jewett town supervisor Greg Kroyer said. The Jewett Nutrition Center has been cooking since 1984, serving hot meals in person and delivering food to those who cannot get out. “Having this program means older homebound people know they are not alone, that someone is looking out for them. Sometimes the only other person they see in a day is one of the volunteers,” said Pat Merwin, the former program head chef and Jewett town clerk. The center makes 40-50 meals per day on weekdays, mainly for the homebound, and this year served 80 on Thanksgiving. “It was great. We actually ran out of turkey,” said head chef Gayle Ruvolo. “It is so nice to see people coming in again. What we do here is very important.” Read more about this story in Porcupine Soup.

Kate Lisa reports for New York State of Politics that 13.9 percent of New Yorkers, or 2.7 million people in the state, live in poverty, according to a report from state Comptroller Tom DiNapoli's office released Dec. 8. Nationally, 12.8 percent of people live in poverty in the United States. Living in poverty is defined by making less than $13,788 for one person and $27,740 for a household of four. “While economic hardships existed long before the pandemic, it deepened the financial stress experienced by many households,” DiNapoli said in a prepared statement. “We saw what a large and broad federal response achieved, as the country made historic progress in the fight against poverty. Continued federal resources, along with a greater equity in state services, can help improve the lives of New Yorkers struggling to make ends meet.” The child poverty in the state declined from roughly 21 percent in 2010 to 18.5 percent in 2021, but poverty rates increased for seniors during the same time period, the comptroller said. New York ranked 13th among all U.S. states in poverty, and had a higher rate than neighboring states and most large states, according to the report. Read the full story at New York State of Politics.

Today's daily news update.

Click above to download or play the "Better Weather." Produced by Joe Demanso of the Catskill Makers Syndicate.