Police arrested a 30-year-old man and charged him with setting fire to a charter school bus in Times Square as crowds celebrated the New York Knicks’ NBA championship victory last month, reported New York Post.

According to the news report, Jonathan Strahs was taken into custody July 20 at his residence in the Bushwick neighborhood of Brooklyn. He faces one federal arson charge in connection with the June 14 fire.

Authorities allege Strahs entered the school bus on West 42nd Street at approximately 2:47 a.m., shortly after the Knicks clinched their first NBA championship in 53 years. The bus had reportedly been contracted to transport World Cup attendees between the Port Authority Bus Terminal and MetLife Stadium. No passengers were reported on board when the fire was set.

Surveillance footage allegedly showed Strahs entering the bus and leaving shortly before flames engulfed the vehicle, authorities said. The fire spread through the bus’s interior and damaged a nearby vehicle before responding firefighters extinguished it.

FDNY fire marshals reportedly determined that the blaze had been intentionally set. They worked with the New York Police Department’s Arson and Explosion Squad and ATF special agents to investigate the incident and identify Strahs as a suspect.

“This fire, set on a busy street during a night of celebration, put the lives of bystanders and first responders at risk,” Fire Commissioner Lillian Bonsignore said. She credited the participating agencies and fire marshals for following evidence gathered during what she described as an extensive and complex investigation.

“This arrest reflects the strength of our partnership with ATF and NYPD, and the diligence of our Fire Marshals,” she added.

Strahs was among dozens of people reportedly arrested in connection with disturbances that occurred as crowds gathered across New York City to celebrate the Knicks’ championship. Authorities did not provide information about Strahs’ next court appearance. No injuries were reported in connection with the school bus fire.

Written with the assistance of AI.

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A 20-year-old New York man has been indicted on felony charges after allegedly pointing a handgun at a school bus carrying three children with special needs during a road rage incident earlier this year, reported Mid-Hudson News.

According to the news report, a Westchester County grand jury indicted Michael Alarcon of Mahopac on charges of criminal possession of a weapon, menacing and endangering the welfare of a child.

The incident reportedly occurred Feb. 4 on the Taconic State Parkway in the town of Mount Pleasant. Authorities allege Alarcon pointed what appeared to be a pistol at the school bus driver while the driver was transporting the three children.

New York State Police located Alarcon later that day and took him into custody. During the investigation, authorities reportedly recovered a .22-caliber handgun equipped with a green laser and a weapon-mounted light.

No injuries were reported in connection with the incident. “The defendant’s actions were egregious,” Westchester County District Attorney Susan Cacace said via the article “The fact that the victims were special needs children only amplifies the recklessness. Thankfully, he was quickly apprehended, and no one was injured.”

According to the report, the most serious charge carries a maximum sentence of 15 years in state prison if Alarcon is convicted. He was 19 when he was arrested following the alleged incident and is now 20. The indictment follows Alarcon’s initial arrest and arraignment in Febuary. He remains free on bail while the case proceeds and is scheduled to return to court Oct. 14.

Written with the assistance of AI.

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A 7-year-old girl was fatally struck by a school bus July 8 while crossing a street in Monsey, New York.

Officers responded at approximately 9 a.m. to a report of a child struck by a school bus in front of 182 Blauvelt Road. The girl, a Monsey resident, was pronounced dead at the scene. Police have not released her identity. But the Monsey Scoop reported the girl’s name as Blima Weber.

According to a police news release, the bus was being operated by a 28-year-old Monsey resident and was a full-size yellow school bus operated by Yeshiva Viznitz. The driver remained at the scene and cooperated with investigators.

Police said the driver was screened for alcohol and drugs and showed no signs of impairment. Preliminary findings also indicate speed was not a contributing factor in the crash. No criminal charges are pending against the driver at this time, though the investigation remains active.

The Town of Ramapo Police Department’s Crash Investigation Unit is continuing to investigate the circumstances surrounding the collision.

This marks the fourth student fatality involving a school bus in New York during the 2025–2026 school year, according to School Transportation News data

Authorities have not said whether the bus was transporting students at the time of the collision, how many passengers may have been aboard, or whether it was actively loading or unloading students. Police have not released information about whether onboard camera footage is being reviewed. STN requested more information but received no response at the time of this report.

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New York Gov. Kathy Hochul, a Democrat, issued an executive order Tuesday that puts a moratorium on the construction of large-scale data centers.

The pause, which will last up to a year, is the nation’s first statewide ban on data centers, which have drawn increasing concern from lawmakers and citizens based on their impact on electricity prices and the energy grid.

“As data center development threatens to hike up utility bills, deplete our natural resources, and create uncertainty for New Yorkers, it’s my responsibility to take action and lead,” Hochul said in a statement.

Technology companies have invested billions of dollars to build data centers all across the country, driven in part by the computing demands from artificial intelligence.

In her executive order, Hochul directed the state Department of Public Service to issue no new permits for large-scale data centers for a  year. During that period, the agency will conduct an environmental analysis on the impacts of data centers, along with a proceeding to “require data centers to either pay more for their energy or supply their own.”

New York lawmakers passed a more extensive data center moratorium last month, but Hochul has not said whether she will sign the bill.

Maine Gov. Janet Mills, also a Democrat, vetoed a measure earlier this year that would have been the first statewide data center ban.

In a news release, Hochul also directed the state’s economic development agency to develop a framework that local communities can use to negotiate with tech companies that seek to construct data centers. That framework will focus on infrastructure improvements, child care investments, direct financial support and labor and wage standards.

She also announced plans for a fund that would require data centers to invest in New York’s grid infrastructure and clean energy supply. And she called on lawmakers to repeal the state’s sales tax exemptions for large data centers.

Across the country, data centers have drawn vocal opposition at local public meetings and in state capitols. Several cities and counties will vote on ballot measures this year to restrict the development of new data centers.

Stateline reporter Alex Brown can be reached at abrown@stateline.org. 

Ten people were taken to a hospital following a crash involving a school bus and a passenger vehicle in Staten Island’s Brighton Heights neighborhood, reported Silive News.

According to the news report, the collision occurred Monday at approximately 7:45 a.m. Police said a school bus was traveling eastbound when it collided with a car driven by a 49-year-old man who was attempting to merge into traffic from a parked position. The details are based on preliminary information provided by the New York Police Department’s Deputy Commissioner of Public Information.

The crash reportedly involved 12 people on board the bus, including 11 children and one adult. Emergency responders arrived shortly after the incident and evaluated those involved at the scene. Ten patients were transported to Richmond University Medical Center in West Brighton for further evaluation. Authorities did not immediately specify how many of those taken to the hospital were children or adults, nor did they provide details about the severity of any injuries.

The cause of the crash remains under investigation. No arrests have been reported, and police did not immediately release the identities of those involved.

Morning traffic in the area was affected as emergency crews responded to the scene and worked to clear the vehicles from the roadway. Officials have not indicated whether the school bus was able to continue its route or whether alternative transportation arrangements were made for students.

Written with assistance from AI.

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MARLBORO, N.Y. – Durham School Services is proud to share that it will continue in the footsteps of its sister brand, Quality Bus, to serve the students at the Marlboro Central School District for the next five years through June of 2031. This partnership builds on Quality Bus’ 11-year, deep-rooted history in the Marlboro community. The transition to Durham School Services from Quality Bus will not result in any local management or employee changes. Durham School Services and its sister brands currently serve over 613 schools in New York.

Together with the current Marlboro team, Durham School Services will run 48 routes for the school district with its fleet of 53 buses, which come equipped with Zonar’s fleet management platform for real-time GPS tracking and pre and post trip safety inspections and Samsara’s AI enabled dash cameras to improve driver responsiveness and safety along each route, as well as to safeguard students and the community.

In addition to its role as a trusted student transportation provider, the Marlboro team is also a proud community partner that has given back on various occasions through the Company’s Partners Beyond the Bus community outreach program. Over the years, the team has hosted a coat drive for local charity Worthy Virtue and also partnered with the school district to host food and toy drives for local students and the community.

“My team couldn’t be more thrilled and honored that the Marlboro Central School District has awarded us with this opportunity to serve their students and community for another five years,” said Region Manager Britt Liotta, Durham School Services/Quality Bus. “Partnerships of this length are rare, which makes this even more meaningful and significant to my team. It speaks volumes about my team’s expertise, success, and excellence-driven efforts over the years and is a significant acknowledgement of a job well done. I want to thank the district for once again entrusting their students to us and also recognizing my team for their dependability and commitment to safety and service.”

About Durham School Services
As a premier transportation provider, Durham School Services provides safe, reliable student transportation that communities trust and families depend on. With operational discipline, local commitment, proven safety standards, and clear accountability, we bring deep expertise to every route we operate. Driven by our five values: Safety, Care, Transparency, Communities, and Culture, we deliver transportation that works quietly, consistently, and without disruption.

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SCHENACTADY, N.Y. — A new nationwide survey of school transportation professionals revealed that while most districts consider their bus routes moderately efficient, major operational challenges continue to limit optimization.

Key findings show that:

· Most districts rate their routing as only “somewhat efficient,” with clear room for improvement

· Driver shortages are the leading barrier to efficiency, cited across nearly every respondent group

· Between 25 percent and 50 percent of school buses on the road run below capacity in many

· On-time performance and bus utilization are the top metrics used to measure success

The School Bus Routing Efficiency Poll, conducted by Transfinder in April–May 2026, gathered feedback from transportation leaders in more than 30 states, highlighting both persistent pain points and emerging strategies for improvement. The survey was sent to Transfinder clients as well as users of other transportation products or those who manually create routes.

“The challenges transportation leaders are facing are real and in many cases have been longstanding, such as the driver shortage,” said Transfinder President & CEO Antonio Civitella. “But the survey also reveals that transportation leaders have some actions they can take to regain some control and mitigate some of the external forces.”

Districts Balancing Efficiency with Real-World Constraints

While some districts report highly optimized operations, the majority say practical limitations prevent full efficiency.

“Efficiency for us is balancing trip duration, student safety, bus capacity, and trip distance so that neither of the components becomes a parental or school issue,” said Michael Bebko, Transportation & Financial Assistance Coordinator of Hopkinton Public Schools in Massachusetts.

Patricia McGrane, a transportation supervisor at Northport-East Northport Union Free School District in New York, added: “Efficiency is the ability to streamline processes so that work is completed smoothly, on time, and with the best use of available resources, while minimizing unnecessary stress.”

Driver Shortages Continue to Reshape Routing Decisions

The survey underscored that driver shortages are not just a staffing issue but are directly shaping routing outcomes.

Districts report running less-than-full buses, combining routes, or adding complexity to meet service expectations.

“We are meeting our bell times better but we still encounter a driver shortage and we are running half empty buses or more regularly to meet the bell times,” said Lori Smith, transportation coordinator at Bellbrook Sugarcreek Schools in Ohio.

Others noted that consolidating routes, while necessary, can have trade-offs.

“We have combined and eliminated buses. This hurt my company financially but it had to be done due to driver shortage,” said Shae Harkleroad, president of Raystown Transit Service, a transportation contractor in Pennsylvania.

Community Expectations and Bell Schedules Limit Optimization

Beyond staffing, respondents repeatedly pointed to community expectations and school schedules as major constraints.

Requests for shorter ride times, neighborhood stop preferences and strict bell schedules often conflict with efficiency goals.

“Political/community expectations, such as stop locations and ride times, ranked among the most frequently cited barriers to efficiency.

In many cases, districts must prioritize service levels over cost savings or capacity optimization, respondents said.

Technology Widely Used—but Confidence Varies

The vast majority of districts rely on routing software, yet confidence in these systems is mixed. Some respondents expressed strong confidence in their tools, while others said software alone cannot replicate real-world nuances.

“We relied heavily on the Optimize feature to build trips after we set up our general education stops,” said Jack Gershon, a dispatcher at Livonia Public Schools in Michigan. “We then revise those trips based on institutional knowledge and mirror trips.”

Despite Challenges, Districts Are Finding Gains

Even with constraints, many districts are making measurable progress through creative strategies:

· Tiered bell schedules to reduce fleet size

· Double runs and wave scheduling to offset driver shortages

· Route consolidation and redesign to eliminate overlap

“Our routes looked like someone threw a bowl of spaghetti on a map,” said James Graham, financial secretary at Norman Public Schools in Oklahoma. “We had routes crisscrossing, two or three buses in the same neighborhood. With Transfinder tools we solved this.”

Efficiency Gains Could Deliver Immediate Impact

Respondents said a modest 10 percent improvement in routing efficiency would yield significant benefits, including:

· Fewer buses required

· Lower fuel costs

· Easier daily operations

· Shorter student ride times

Summarizing the stakes for school systems, Chris Corder, transportation director at Hardin County Schools in Kentucky, said: “Maximizing taxpayer monies that we are entrusted with to run our department.”

Debbie Schomisch, transportation director at Farwell Area Schools in Michigan, put it this way: “Getting the most bang for the schools money.”

An Ongoing Effort, not a One-Time Fix

The survey makes clear that routing efficiency is a continuous process—not a one-time achievement.

“Efficiency is an evolving target,” one respondent noted, emphasizing the importance of ongoing data analysis, route reviews, and stakeholder collaboration.

For districts nationwide, improving transportation efficiency will require balancing technology, policy, and community needs—while adapting to changing conditions year after year.

About the Survey: The School Bus Routing Efficiency Poll was conducted in April–May 2026 and includes responses from school transportation professionals across the United States and Canada.

Key Results

· Route Efficiency Ratings

o 64 percent — Somewhat efficient (room for improvement)

o 22 percent— Very efficient

o 14 percent — Neutral or inefficient

· Top Barriers to Efficiency (selecting up to two)

o 68 percent — Driver shortages

o 46 percent — Long geographic distances / rural coverage

o 44 percent — Bell time constraints

o 41 percent — Special education routing requirements

o 39 percent — Community/political

· Bus Capacity Utilization

o 49 percent — 25–50 percent of buses run below

o 27 percent — Less than 25 percent under capacity

o 24 percent — More than 50 percent under capacity

· Top Metrics for Measuring Efficiency

o 72 percent — On-time performance

o 69 percent — Bus utilization (capacity usage)

o 51 percent — Student ride time

· Routing Review Frequency

o 58 percent — Multiple times per year

o 28 percent — Once per year

o 14 percent — Only when issues arise or rarely

· Primary Routing Tools

o 72 percent — Routing software

o 18 percent — Institutional knowledge/manual

o 10 percent — Spreadsheets or mapping tools

· Confidence in Routing Technology

o 55 percent — Very confident

o 26 percent — Somewhat confident

o 19 percent — Not confident

· Top Benefits of a 10 Percent Efficiency Gain (Respondents pick top two benefits)

o 63 percent — Fewer buses required

o 52 percent — Easier daily operations

o 49 percent — Reduced fuel costs

o 46 percent — Shorter student ride

About Transfinder: Founded in 1988 and headquartered in Schenectady, New York, Transfinder is a national leader in intelligent transportation systems, providing transportation management systems and services to school districts, bus contractors, police departments and adult care facilities. Transfinder, has been on Inc. magazine’s “fastest-growing company” list for 13 years. The software and hardware company has received numerous awards, including Best Software, Best Hardware and Best Safety Technology. In addition, Transfinder has repeatedly won Best Places to Work, Top Workplace and Best Companies to Work for accolades. Transfinder develops and supports routing and scheduling solutions for optimal transportation logistics. Transfinder also created the award-winning Patrolfinder policing technology to enhance law enforcement. For more information, visit www.transfinder.com.

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An upstate New York school bus driver has been fired after video allegedly shows him repeatedly slamming on the brakes and yelling at student riders during his route, reported KTTC News.

Sarah and Matt Martineau, whose three children attend schools in the Boquet Valley Central School District, said their daughter first told them in early March that the driver had been “brake-checking” students during a bus ride.

Video obtained by local news reporters from cameras inside and outside the bus appeared to support the children’s account. Speed data from the footage showed the bus slowing by nearly 10 mph during the brake-checking, or sudden braking incidents. Students were seen jolting forward in their seats, while exterior footage showed no vehicles immediately in front of the bus.

The Martineaus said their son later complained of neck pain after an incident. According to the parents, the boy stood up and moved into the aisle to sit near his sister when the driver allegedly brake-checked again.

“I had told her to have him go sit with her to make sure he was OK, and as he got up to go sit with her, the bus driver brake checked the bus again and then started screaming at him,” Sarah told local news reporters

School Bus Video Tells the Tale

The video also appeared to show the driver arguing with a student and suggesting the braking was related to students not following directions. “There’s no need for anyone to drive a vehicle of that size to brake check for any reason,” Matt Martineau said.

Matt Martineau reportedly said he contacted the district superintendent, who acknowledged there had been inappropriate yelling and braking but considered the braking justified.

After weeks without further action, the Martineaus raised their concerns during a school board meeting in late April. Five days later, the school board voted unanimously to fire the driver, identified as Jeremy Ward. District officials did not provide details about the dismissal. School officials declined immediate comments to reporters.

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A Madison County father and son are recounting the frightening moments after a pickup truck slammed into a stopped school bus, sending debris flying and leaving multiple people injured, reported WKTV News.

According to the news report, the crash happened May 7 at around 7:15 a.m. on Route 20 in front of the Rutkowski family home in Bouckville. Jeremiah Rutkowski, a high school junior, had just walked outside to board the Madison Central School District bus, when he saw the truck approaching.

“I just figured like if that thing’s not going to stop, it’s either going to hit the bus and something’s coming flying at me or the entire truck is coming flying at me,” Jeremiah told local news reporters.

Security video from the home and shared across social media showed the school bus stopped on the roadside as Jeremiah walked toward it, moments before the collision. He quickly jumped back to avoid debris as the truck crashed into the rear of the bus, pushing it farther down the road.

Jeremiah ran back onto the porch while his father, Matt Rutkowski, rushed outside after hearing what he described as the sound of “crunching metal.”

“[My] first priority was to make sure my son was safe and good,” Matt Rutkowski said. “Opening that door, wasn’t sure what would happen, so big sigh of relief. That’s why I instantly gave him a hug.”

Minor Injuries Reported

State Police said 23 students and the bus driver were aboard the bus. The 29-year-old bus driver and two students were transported to a hospital with minor injuries. An adult and two children were inside the pickup truck. The adult was taken to a hospital with minor injuries and later issued numerous tickets for distraction and following too closely.

Matt Rutkowski said he was relieved to find the bus driver alert and students safely exiting the vehicle. He called 911 and, along with passing motorists, helped manage the scene until emergency crews arrived.

Jeremiah said he initially froze in shock before focusing on comforting one of the children from the truck. “Once one of the kids was out of the truck and needed comforting and was sent to the porch, my brain just sort of kicked into that child caring mode,” he said via the report.

Jeremiah, who works as a camp counselor, said his experience helping children took over during the chaotic aftermath. Both father and son said they were grateful no one suffered serious injuries.

“My first thought was for him, then just went through everyone else,” Matt said. “It really makes you appreciate the moment.”

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A school bus hit and killed a 9-year-old boy in Brooklyn’s Williamsburg neighborhood, prompting renewed calls from residents and city leaders for safety improvements at a busy intersection, reported ABC News 7.

According to the news report, police identified the child as Yoel Jacobowitz. He was crossing the street May 1 on his way to school, when the school bus hit him around 8:15 a.m. in South Williamsburg.

Investigators said a private Yeshiva school bus was turning onto Lorimer Street at the time. The 49-year-old driver, who was not identified at this reportg, initially continued driving after hitting the child. The driver then returned to the scene once alerted of the school bus hit the boy. Jacobowitz was pronounced dead at the scene. No charges had been filed, and the investigation remains ongoing.

The crash stunned members of the neighborhood’s Orthodox Jewish community, many of whom gathered nearby in prayer and mourning while expressing frustration over traffic conditions and street safety.

Traffic Patterns, Congestion Blamed

“The traffic here is crazy. There needs to be some guidance and some rules,” one resident told local news reporters.

Residents said the intersection has become increasingly hazardous, especially because of ongoing construction work that has left the area without clearly marked crosswalks and street markings.

“It’s a very, very busy intersection,” another community member said. “We have a lot going on, a lot of stores and a lot of people crossing over. We need something to be done so this doesn’t keep happening.”

Witnesses and neighbors described the area as especially crowded May 1 as families prepared for Shabbat.

City leaders urged the New York City Department of Transportation to examine signal timing and consider immediate changes to improve conditions for pedestrians. Mayor Zohran Mamdani reportedly said that he was “devastated” by the child’s death and called the crash “a painful reminder” of the need to make city streets safer for pedestrians.

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A Long Island teenager and his mother are being praised after helping rescue a neighbor from a house fire while the boy waited for his school bus, reported People News.

The incident reportedly occurred March 31 when Jovani Moss, 15, heard “crackling” of flames coming from a house across the street from his family’s residence in Melville, New York.

“I didn’t notice the fire at first,” Moss told local news reporters. “But I heard the crackling of the fire, and I turned to look and called my mom.”

Moss said he immediately alerted his mother, Natechia Moss, and asked whether he should go to the house or call 911.

Natechia reportedly instructed her son to contact emergency responders while she rushed outside her house to warn the homeowner. She repeatedly rang the doorbell but got no response and thus began kicking the door until it partially opened. “I kept kicking the door,” she said via the article “Finally, I got it ajar a little bit, and all of a sudden, I saw her standing there and I grabbed her and said, ‘Your house is on fire!’”

The homeowner had reportedly attempted to re-enter the burning residence to retrieve her cat and jewelry before eventually escaping safely. Firefighters from the Melville Fire Department responded to the blaze. No injuries were reported.

Moss has since been hailed as a hero for reacting quickly, though the teen downplayed the attention. “A lot of people calling me a hero,” he said via the report. “I was like, ‘I’m not really a hero. I’m just being a good neighbor.”

He credited his mother with setting the example and teaching him to stay aware of his surroundings.

“Take out the ear pods. Keep your phone in your pocket until you get on that bus,” Natechia said of the advice she gives her son. “Always be aware.”

Melville Fire Chief Donald Barclay praised the family’s actions. “We are thankful no one was hurt and that Jovani did the right thing and helped his neighbor. The world needs more Jovani,” said Barclay via the article. He also commended the department’s volunteer firefighters, saying the incident reflected “the idea of helping your neighbor in multiple ways.”

Written with assistance from AI.

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After the reelection of former President Donald Trump, clean energy advocates across the country are preparing for a White House that will no doubt pursue aggressive rollbacks of climate policies and further expand fossil-fuel production.

Now more than ever, states will need to step up and pursue climate efforts on their own to ​“ensure continued progress toward clean energy,” said Caroline Spears, executive director of the advocacy group Climate Cabinet.

Few states are as important as New York, which is large, Democrat-controlled — and already committed to ambitious clean energy goals. In 2019, the state passed the Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act (CLCPA), which pledged to reach 70 percent renewable energy by 2030 and net-zero emissions by 2050.

“New York State can continue to lead without federal support or federal oversight,” said Mandy DeRoche, deputy managing attorney at the advocacy group Earthjustice. ​“We’ll continue our progress regardless, and that will happen in every state no matter what.”

But so far, the Empire State is falling behind on its climate goals. Across a slew of initiatives under New York’s 2019 climate law, regulators are missing key rulemaking deadlines. According to a July report from the state, New York will likely miss its landmark clean energy target for 2030. Right now, it’s on track to get just 53 percent of its electricity from renewable sources by that date, far short of 70 percent.

The report mostly blamed external economic factors, including supply-chain disruptions and high interest rates that led to a spate of major renewable project cancellations. Another issue is skyrocketing energy demand, largely driven by new data centers for crypto mining and AI, as well as microchip manufacturing facilities and the rise in electric vehicles and appliances.

Environmental advocates argue that faltering political will contributes just as much, if not more, to the state’s lackluster progress. Governor Kathy Hochul, a Democrat, has expressed ambivalence over meeting looming clean energy targets.

“The costs have gone up so much I now have to say, ​‘What is the cost on the typical New York family?’” Hochul said in a recent TV interview. ​“The goals are still worthy. But we have to think about the collateral damage of these decisions.”

Missing the 2030 deadline would jeopardize many of the state’s other climate goals, including achieving 100 percent zero-emissions energy by 2040 and shuttering ​“peaker” fossil-gas plants that disproportionately spew toxic pollutants into low-income communities and communities of color, in addition to emitting large amounts of planet-warming carbon dioxide.

But missing these goals is far from inevitable. From raising energy procurement targets to leaning on public power agencies, climate and legal experts say that there’s still plenty of ways New York can make good on its clean energy pledge.

“We’re not ready to say we can’t meet the 2030 goal,” said DeRoche. ​“Of course, there are obstacles, but the messaging and the approach from the state should be, ​‘This is a statutory obligation, and we will do everything in our power to meet it.’”

How New York could get back on track

On some level, New York’s struggles come down to a straightforward problem: The state doesn’t have enough existing or upcoming renewable energy projects to meet its goals. 

About 30 percent of the state’s electricity currently comes from renewable sources, mostly from upstate hydropower plants built many decades ago.

One bright spot is that New York has already outpaced its 6-gigawatt goal for rooftop and community solar — but its targets for utility-scale solar, wind, and battery storage projects, which make up the bulk of its clean energy plan, remain well off-track.

To help solve this, DeRoche and her team at Earthjustice argue in public comments to state energy regulators that New York should vastly increase its renewable energy procurement targets, which set guidelines for how much clean power the state should purchase from private developers. State agencies have determined that they would need to purchase about 14,000 gigawatt hours each year for the next three years to meet the 2030 deadline, yet have recommended procuring only 5,600 gigawatt hours per year.

“The Draft Review provides no basis for setting the target so low,” her team wrote, arguing that state agencies should reevaluate how feasible it would be to procure a higher volume.

New clean energy construction should be prioritized in downstate New York, DeRoche adds, a region that houses most of the state’s population yet relies heavily on fossil fuels compared with the largely hydro- and nuclear-powered upstate areas. The state will also need to address transmission and interconnection backlogs that make it harder to connect new power generation to the grid. Earlier this year, lawmakers passed the RAPID Act to expedite that process for clean energy projects and transmission lines.

Some activists argue that the state itself should take a leading role to develop more clean energy.

Last year, an amendment to the state budget granted the New York Power Authority the ability to build, own, and operate renewable energy projects for the first time. Organizers at the grassroots coalition Public Power New York say that government leaders have yet to capitalize on the change, commonly referred to as the Build Public Renewables Act. In October, NYPA released its first strategic plan for developing renewable energy projects, proposing the installation of 3.5 gigawatts of new clean energy in the next several years.

“This is only the first tranche of NYPA renewables projects,” the report said, with potentially ​“further projects for consideration.”

Andrea Johnson, an organizer with the New York City chapter of Democratic Socialists of America, a member group of Public Power New York, called that number ​“measly.” Public Power New York is rallying for the authority to commit to 15 gigawatts of new clean power by 2030, an amount based on research commissioned by the group.

Expanding clean power at a faster rate would fulfill NYPA’s responsibilities under last year’s expanded authority, which calls on it to build projects when the state falls short on its climate mandates, Johnson said. ​“When the private sector fails — and the private sector is failing — the state needs to step in and actually fill the gap.”

Leveraging NYPA can also allow New York to meet its climate goals at a lower cost, Johnson said. As a nonprofit, public institution, NYPA can access more favorable financing. It also owns and builds transmission lines, allowing it to plan for both energy generation and distribution at the same time, she said. NYPA is also required to provide utility bill credits to low- and moderate-income households for any clean energy produced from its projects.

Beyond building more clean energy, the state should also take steps to ease growing power demand, including strengthening building efficiency standards and accelerating the installation of heat pumps, said Michael Gerrard, faculty director of the Sabin Center for Climate Change Law at Columbia Law School.

That includes addressing the rapid growth of crypto mining and AI electricity use and its effects on residents, said DeRoche. State officials noted that those rising energy demands have made it far more difficult to reach clean energy targets. But agencies have policy tools available to understand and reduce unabated growth — and they should start with making sure that discounted electricity rates for cryptocurrency and AI companies aren’t being subsidized by residents, DeRoche said.

Offshore wind’s uncertain future

Any effort to accelerate New York’s adoption of clean energy will need to grapple with challenges in the offshore wind sector, a cornerstone of the state’s strategy that is likely to face even more setbacks under the incoming Trump administration.

New York aims to install 9 gigawatts of offshore wind power by 2035, but in the past four years, inflation, high interest rates, and supply-chain issues led developers to pull out of contracts in the state.

That challenging economic environment is now improving, however, according to Atin Jain, an offshore wind analyst at the energy consulting firm BloombergNEF. As inflation has started to ease and interest rates have begun to come down, ​“We have probably passed the worst of it,” Jain said. State officials have been quick to respond to the industry’s economic pressures, he added, expediting auctions to renegotiate previous agreements and adding language in contracts to allow for inflation adjustments.

Two new projects, Sunrise Wind and Empire Wind 1, with 924 and 810 megawatts of capacity, respectively, are currently moving forward in New York. The 132-megawatt South Fork Wind farm went live in March off the coast of Long Island.

But Trump’s reelection casts a new uncertainty over the industry. Trump has vowed to stop offshore wind development ​“on day one” and to ​“terminate” the Inflation Reduction Act. If those declarations end up translating to real policy, then offshore wind, which relies heavily on federal tax credits and requires federal approval and permits to build and operate, could suffer — in New York and beyond.

Still, New York has enshrined a legal mandate to decarbonize its economy — meaning no matter the headwinds, the state has an obligation to follow through, DeRoche said. 

“We hear from the governor that the CLCPA is the nation’s leading climate law,” said DeRoche. ​“Well, it’s only the nation’s leading climate law if we’re implementing it.”

How New York can get on track to meet its big clean energy goals is an article from Energy News Network, a nonprofit news service covering the clean energy transition. If you would like to support us please make a donation.