National nonprofits GRID Alternatives, Vote Solar, and the Center for Social Inclusion today launched the Low-Income Solar Policy Guide, a new online tool offering the most comprehensive look at proven policies and program models for expanding access to solar power and solar jobs around the country.

The trustee of Dr. Anne LaBastille's estate donated her 32-acre "West of Wind" property on Twitchell Lake in the western Adirondacks to New York State, Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) Acting Commissioner Basil Seggos announced today. LaBastille, the famed writer and conservationist who died on July 1, 2011, envisioned her land be managed to: "...preserve the natural, ecological, and historical integrity of my 30 acres of North Country wilderness, where writers can find inspiration in the Adirondacks" and her cabin be protected.

During the first class “The Fundamentals of Home Gardening,” instructor Daryl Beyers discussed feeding, mulching, planting, pruning, watering, and weeding. Students also learned about soil and composting. Throughout the series, NYBG horticulture experts will teach participants about the basics of gardening, vegetable growing in various spaces, and budget-friendly gardening techniques.

New York City Economic Development Corporation (NYCEDC) today announced the launch of the NYC Industrial Developer Fund, a $150 million public/private fund to provide project financing for industrial real estate development projects in New York City.  The Fund is designed to catalyze investment in 400,000 square feet of new or renovated industrial real estate workspace across New York City, supporting the creation of as many as 1,200 quality and accessible industrial jobs by 2020.

Independent Democratic Conference Leader Jeff Klein (D-Westchester/Bronx) and New York City Council Public Housing Chair Ritchie Torres (D-Bronx) stood with advocates and residents to reveal the results of a shocking NYCHA damage survey today.<

In his continued efforts to improve access to affordable housing, Tom Reed announced additional federal funding for affordable housing initiatives throughout the Southern Tier through the Arbor Housing and Development organization. “Stable, affordable housing is a critical need that is just out of reach for so many, especially kids, in our region,” said Reed. “We continue to work toward caring for those individuals and we want to make sure everyone has access to the resources they need to get a hand up out of poverty. This is another part of that process.”

Ithaca Officials Have Found Elevated Levels Of Lead In More than 60 Water Sources At Their Public Schools; EPA Has Lead Contamination Experts and Experience Dealing with Lead in Schools

The New York Department of State will host a public meeting of the State Fire Prevention and Building Code Council on Wednesday, March 9, 2016 at 10:00 a.m. at the Governor Nelson A. Rockefeller Empire State Plaza Convention Center in Albany, 123 William Street in New York City and 65 Court Street in Buffalo. The Meeting will be held via videoconference at all locations.

The New York City Housing Authority (NYCHA) today announced the launch of the Public Safety Advisory Committee (PSAC) and the search for resident committee members, specifically young NYCHA resident voices to serve on the committee. As part of NextGeneration NYCHA— the Authority’s 10 year strategic plan— the Public Safety Advisory Committee will engage a variety of stakeholders to develop a NextGen Public Safety Blueprint, a plan that will incorporate current public safety efforts with additional initiatives to address crime, youth and community engagement, emergency response and preparedness, lease enforcement, and quality of life issues ranging from littering to dog owners that fail to curb their pets.

Governor Cuomo today announced proposed revisions to the state’s solid waste regulations to increase protections for public health, safety, natural resources and the environment. The proposed changes include measures to regulate previously unregulated facilities, activities, and waste streams within the state’s existing solid waste management program. The proposed revisions also streamline and reduce regulatory burdens for entities while maintaining environmental protections.

The State Department of Health and the Department of Environmental Conservation today announced progress to address perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) contamination the public water system in the Village of Hoosick Falls and in private wells in the Town of Hoosick

The New York Power Authority has received two Electric Power Research Institute Technology Transfer Awards for research that sheds new light on how crucial components of transmission lines can fail and on conditions that can jeopardize the safety of workers working on energized lines.

U.S. Senator Charles E. Schumer today called on the U.S. Department of Environmental Protection (EPA) to immediately send inspectors to the City of Ithaca, where two schools were found to have high levels of lead in the water. Recently, elevated levels of lead were found in more than 50 samples taken at the Caroline Elementary School, and in 11 samples taken at the Enfield Elementary School

During a conference call with reporters, U.S. Senator Charles E. Schumer today announced new legislation that would directly address the persistent lead problem in Upstate New York. Lead paint was not banned until 1978 and countless homes built before then contain lead paint. Schumer said federal funding for lead poisoning prevention has plummeted and Congress must act fast and pass his legislation to help homeowners reduce the cost of removing lead from homes

The New York State housing market started the new year on a strong note as closed sales jumped more than 13 percent compared to January 2015 to reach 7,640, according to the housing market report released today by the New York State Association of REALTORS (NYSAR). The January 2016 statewide median sales price remained unchanged compared to a year ago

The New York City Department of Housing Preservation and Development (HPD) Commissioner Vicki Been, New York City Council Speaker Melissa Mark-Viverito, and Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz, Jr. joins HELP USA and CMC Development, LLC to celebrate the start of the construction of 984 Woodycrest Avenue in the Highbridge section of the Bronx. The new development will contain 48 affordable studio apartments, 29 of which will serve formerly homeless households with a preference for homeless veterans. The remaining apartments will serve very low-income individuals.

Independent Democratic Conference Leader Jeff Klein (D-Westchester/Bronx) and State Senator Tony Avella (D-Queens) on Monday joined leaders from New York’s senior organizations across the state, to launch the IDC Seniors First Initiative.

U.S. Senators Charles E. Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand, Congresswoman Nydia M. Velázquez and Mayor Bill de Blasio today announced over $4.8 million in federal FEMA funding for the Brooklyn Navy Yard Development Corporation (BNYDC) for repairs to electrical substation G in Building #386 and Dry Dock No. 1/Caisson Gate and Pump Well No. 124 at the Brooklyn Navy Industrial Park damaged as a direct result Superstorm Sandy. The funding was allocated by the Department of Homeland Security Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) through two grants, $3,122,543.70 for the electrical substation repairs and $1,764,921.60 for dock renovations.

Governor Andrew M. Cuomo today announced that 900 solar projects are underway through 26 community “Solarize” campaigns across New York State. A component of the NY-Sun program and the Governor’s comprehensive Reforming the Energy Vision strategy, the “Solarize” campaigns are geared towards locally-organized community outreach efforts aimed at getting more homes and businesses to install solar. The Governor also announced another 31 Solarize campaigns are set to begin this spring.

The New York Department of State will hold a public meeting on Wednesday, February 24, 2016 at 11:30 a.m., regarding the profession of real estate salespersons and brokers. The meeting will take place at the following office locations: 99 Washington Avenue, Albany, 65 Court Street, Buffalo; and, 123 William Street, New York City. The public has the right to attend the meeting at any of these locations.

The New York Power Authority has begun a lighting upgrade project at the New York State Museum in Albany that is expected to save more than $160,000 in annual energy costs and reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 900 tons a year, the equivalent of taking 190 cars off the road.

Tom Reed was joined this afternoon by the superintendents of the Gowanda, Lake Shore, Salamanca and Silver Creek school districts to announce that those four districts will collectively receive more than $6 million in Federal Impact Aid in 2016. Impact Aid compensates local schools for “substantial and continuing financial burden” resulting from federal activities such as when Native American populations and activities adversely impact the local tax base. This is why aid is available to these school districts.

A non-profit provider of supportive housing for the City’s Dept. of Health and Mental Hygiene (DOHMH) overbilled the agency by $1 million according to an audit released today by New York State Comptroller Thomas P. DiNapoli. DOHMH’s weak oversight of the Center for Urban and Community Services (CUCS) made the overpayments possible and raises concerns about potential overpayments to other vendors

With a housing affordability crisis that includes thousands of New Yorkers sleeping in shelters, an audit released by New York City Comptroller Scott M. Stringer revealed that New York City owns over 1,100 vacant properties that could be used to site thousands of units of affordable housing.

With a housing affordability crisis that includes thousands of New Yorkers sleeping in shelters, an audit released by New York City Comptroller Scott M. Stringer revealed that New York City owns over 1,100 vacant properties that could be used to site thousands of units of affordable housing.