Page 4 - qt edition #39 SEPTEMBER 28, 2023
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PAGE 4                                                     THE QUEENS TIMES                            THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 28, 2023

             Con Edison Says Region is Warming Quickly as                                        Meng Announces Nearly $2 Million

                       Climate Change Impacts Accelerate                                         in Federal Grants For Nonprofits . . .

        Update to 2019 Research Predicts  on the measures it will have to       The urban heat island effect adds   (Continued from page 3)  eryone, regardless of race, immi-
        Faster Increase of Extreme Hot  take to protect its equipment and  to the challenge of extreme heat in               gration status, or gender identity,
        Temperatures                 customers in New York City and  New York City. The rooftops and   services, including the purchasing  finds the support and solidarity
                                     Westchester County from the ris-  pavement that characterize city   of technology, to reduce poverty  they need, when they open the
             Temperatures in the New York  ing temperatures and other climate  landscapes retain heat, meaning   and create opportunities for eco-  door to our organization.”
        City region are rising quickly due  change impacts.        higher temperatures, particularly   nomic advancement such as adult       “For the past 13 years, the
        to climate change, meaning Con       While the 2019 study predicted  at night.          literacy, health access and legal  mission at La Jornada has always
        Edison must accelerate its invest-  a dramatic increase in the number       The higher night-time tem-  services. In addition, the funding  been to serve with compassion
        ments to keep electric service  of hot days, the new study accel-  peratures result in air condition-  will help buy tools to combat pov-  New  York  City’s  most  vulner-
        reliable and resilient for customers,  erates the predicted timetable by  ers working harder to cool homes   erty for low-income immigrant  able families, which sometimes
        according to Con Edison’s 2023  a decade.                  and businesses. That means the   communities throughout New  includes the immigrant com-
        Climate Change Vulnerability       The first study forecast that by  underground delivery equipment   York City.     munities that arrive to our great
        Study.                       2030 there would be 11 days a year  does not cool off as much overnight        “As New York’s senior mem-  city. We have always been proud
             The findings have significant  when the temperature in Central  during heat waves.  ber of the House Appropriations  to provide basic needs to these
        implications for Con Edison’s  Park exceeds 95 degrees, increas-        Higher temperatures can   Committee, a key part of my job is  vulnerable groups, while also
        electric delivery system because  ing to 18 days by 2040 and 23 days  decrease the capacity of cable,   ensuring that federal agencies are  working to empower them to help
        heat and humidity drive up cus-  a decade later.           substation transformers and other   properly funded so that they are  them reach their full potential,”
        tomers’ air conditioning needs,       Climate change, which the  equipment, meaning Con Edison   able to assist non-profits which  said Pedro Rodriguez, Executive
        placing a strain on the company’s  new study calls “an existential  has to invest to replace that lost   aim to serve their communities,”  Director of La Jornada. “We thank
        equipment.                   and multi-faceted threat around  capacity. The heat can also cause   said Meng. “The nearly $2 million  Rep. Meng and her congressional
             By 2030, New York City will  the world,” will affect Con Edison  the demand for power to exceed the   that was awarded to La Jornada  colleagues for working to secure
        experience up to 17 days a year  customers and equipment in other  system’s capacity.   and Make the Road will go a long  funding for organizations like
        with temperatures of 95 degrees  ways, the company said.        Con Edison recognizes that   way to help ensure that the key  ours that aim to uplift and enrich
        or higher, the study projects, up  •    The risk of flooding, which  disadvantaged communities have   goals of both of these organiza-  the New York community and
        from four days a year historically.  can damage underground electric  fewer alternatives during outages,   tions are reached.”  similar communities around the
        New Yorkers will experience up  delivery equipment, will increase,  meaning they suffer greater ef-       “We’re deeply appreciative of  country. We look forward to con-
        to 27 such days by 2040 and up to  as sea levels rise 16 inches by  fects from flooding and heat. Con   our House allies for supporting  tinuing to work with Representa-
        32 such days by 2050, according  2050 and New York experiences  Edison will consider how climate   our work to provide programs  tive Meng to help secure future
        to the study.                five days a year with precipitation  change affects these areas and   and services for thousands of im-  funding that will help advance
             “This most recent study provides  exceeding 2 inches. The historical  incorporate that consideration into   migrants and working-class New  our mission.”
        alarming evidence that climate  norm is three days per year.   its reliability and resiliency invest-  Yorkers so that they can live with       The funds were awarded by the
        change will affect the lives of New  •    The annual maximum wind  ment plans.          respect and dignity,” said Theo  Administration for Children and
        Yorkers sooner and more severely  speed in New York City could       The company has been fortify-  Oshiro, Co-Executive Director of  Families, which is a part of the
        than had previously thought,” said  reach 60 miles per hour in 10 to  ing its vast electric delivery system   Make the Road New York. “We  U.S. Department of Health and
        Tim Cawley, the chairman and  15 years, compared to about 50  for years, but climate change is   strive every day to ensure that ev-  Human Services.
        chief executive of Con Edison.  miles per hour on a historical basis.  prompting the company to acceler-
        “That’s why Con Edison is think-  Strong winds can knock trees and  ate the planning and execution of   Senator Gillibrand Announces
        ing more boldly about ways to  branches onto overhead delivery  upgrades.
        strengthen the reliability of our  equipment, causing customers to       The company invested $1 bil-  $20 Million in Federal Funding
        electric delivery system. We are  lose power.              lion in its energy systems over four
        ushering in new sources of renew-  •    The risk of ice forming on  years following Sandy. After two  to Conserve And Build New Green
        able energy and making sure that  overhead power lines and trees will  March 2018 storms caused severe   Spaces in NYC
        every New Yorker can share in  increase. That impact can cause  damage, the company invested an-
        the benefits of a more sustainable  outages.               other $100 million in Westchester
        grid.”                       •    Hurricanes could be more  County. The company’s analysis  Federal Dollars Secured in the  Reduction Act funding, which will
             “This study shows Con Edison’s  intense and more likely to track  shows the investments since Sandy  Inflation Reduction Act Will Help  help combat extreme heat, create
        commitment to staying abreast of  toward the Northeast.    have prevented more than a million  Create  Green  Jobs,  Plant  New  equitable access to green spaces,
        the latest climate science and to       In addition, Nor’easters and cold  customer outages.  Trees, and Maximize Green Spac-  improve air quality, and better the
        relying on leading experts,” said  snaps could be less frequent, but       While investing to fortify its  es In Historically Disadvantaged  overall quality of life in this great
        Michael Gerrard, professor at  more intense when they do occur.  infrastructure, the company is  Communities, Including Jackson  city,” said Senator Gillibrand.
        Columbia University Law School  Torrential downpours could be  leading the region’s transition to  Heights, Elmhurst, Corona, and  “This money will help bring new
        and director of the Sabin Center  more frequent and intense.  a clean energy future. Con Edison  Neighborhoods Throughout the  life for New Yorkers to enjoy a
        for Climate Change Law. “The       Climate change is likely to drive  works with customers to help them  Bronx       greener, healthier environment.”
        company is taking a leading role  stronger and more frequent storms  complete rooftop solar projects,                     “Thank you to the Biden
        among energy companies in mak-  in the New York City region, bring-  adopt heat pumps and reduce their       U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand  Administration and our congres-
        ing investments to ensure contin-  ing heavier rainfall and coastal  usage through efficiency.  held a press conference at the  sional delegation for providing
        ued reliable service in the face of  storm surge. Hurricane Ida in 2021       The company makes clear in its  Central Park Arsenal announcing  critical funding for our city’s
        escalating climate change.”  brought more than seven inches  Clean Energy Commitment that it  $20 million in federal funding to  trees, some of the hardest working
             Con Edison’s latest study uses  of rainfall in Central Park and  supports the environmental goals  plant and maintain trees, combat  trees in the nation,” says Deputy
        climate change projections devel-  resulted in flooding across the city.  of New York City and State and is  extreme heat and climate change,  Mayor  for  Operations  Meera
        oped by Columbia University and       Hurricane Sandy, the worst  building a grid to carry 100 percent  and expand access to green spaces  Joshi. ”NYC trees are much more
        the New York State Energy Re-  storm in New York City’s recorded  clean energy by 2040.  in NYC. Senator Gillibrand helped  than pretty foliage for our public
        search and Development Author-  history, caused floodwaters to       Just in 2023, Con Edison has  secure this funding in the Infla-  spaces – they lower temperatures
        ity. The study, which Con Edison  overrun underground electric  announced the completion of an  tion Reduction Act (IRA), which  and absorb storm water in the
        produced with support from ICF  delivery equipment, knocking out  important transmission project in  included $1.5 billion over the  midst of increasingly oppressive
        International, updates the projec-  power on the East Side of Manhat-  Queens, enabling the retirement of  next 10 years for the U.S. Forest  heat and torrential rains, they
        tions in the company’s first-of-its-  tan from 40th Street south and on  an inefficient fossil fuel plant, and  Service’s Urban and Community  clean our air and they provide
        kind 2019 study.             the West Side from 30th Street  the start of construction of a Clean  Forestry program. The funding  home to our wildlife, and the
             Con Edison filed the study with  south.               Energy Hub in Brooklyn. Both  will be distributed to the NYC  essential work of planting and
        the New York State Public Service       But the most striking change in  these projects will carry offshore  Department of Parks and Recre-  maintenance provides good green
        Commission today. The company  the latest Con Edison study is in  wind power that the state is adding  ation and The Bronx is Blooming.  jobs for New Yorkers.”
        later this year will file a report  the predictions about heat.  to its portfolio.      Access to urban green spaces will       “The parks of New York
                                                                                                help increase quality of life in  are a jewel of our city,” said
         Attorney General James, FTC, And Multistate Coalition                                  New York by promoting clean air,  Assemblymember Tony Simone.
         Sue Amazon For Illegally Maintaining Monopoly Power                                    cool neighborhoods, and health  “New Yorkers rely on green
                                                                                                benefits. Senator Gillibrand was  spaces for a breath of fresh air and
                                                                                                joined by NYC Deputy Mayor  to get away from the hustle and
            (Continued from page 2)  perience by replacing relevant,  ers that currently have no choice  Meera Joshi, NYC Parks Commis-  bustle of the city. The funds that
                                     organic search results with paid  but to rely on Amazon to stay in  sioner Sue Donoghue, Executive  Senator Gillibrand is announcing
        Amazon.                      advertisements — and deliberate-  business. These fees range from  Director of New York Restoration  today are an incredible investment
             Amazon’s illegal, exclusion-  ly increasing junk ads that worsen  a monthly fee sellers must pay  Project Lynn Kelly, and Executive  in the park system and especially
        ary conduct makes it impossible  search quality and frustrate both  for each item sold, to advertising  Director of The Bronx is Bloom-  in the underserved communities
        for competitors to gain a foot-  shoppers seeking products and  fees that have become virtually  ing Jennifer Beaugrand.  who will be able to build careers
        hold. With its amassed power  sellers who are promised a return  necessary for sellers to do busi-       “Expanding access to trees  in forestry as a result. Investments
        across both the online superstore  on their advertising purchase.  ness. Combined, all of these fees  and green spaces in New York  like this will ensure New Yorkers
        market and online marketplace  •    Favoring Amazon’s search re-  force many sellers to pay close to  and historically disadvantaged  have access to green space in our
        services market, Amazon extracts  sults to preference Amazon’s own  50 percent of their total revenues  communities throughout Queens  city for years to come.”
        enormous monopoly rents from  products over ones that Amazon  to Amazon. These fees harm not  and the Bronx will give our com-       “Our urban forest is vital to
        everyone within its reach. This  knows are of better quality.  only sellers but also shoppers,  munities a higher quality of life.  New Yorkers, and we sincerely
        includes:                    •    Charging costly fees on the                           I’m so proud to deliver this $20
        •    Degrading the customer ex-  hundreds  of  thousands  of  sell-  (Continued on page 9)  million investment in Inflation   (Continued on page 10)
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