Lissa Harris is a staff writer at The River and a volunteer firefighter. She was the founding editor of the Watershed Post, a site that covered local news in the rural Catskills from 2010 to 2017.
Hochul Math: The governor’s power grab to rewrite climate law
An explanation of the painfully nerdy, incredibly important methane math problem that roiled New York’s budget process this week.
Public Power Has Albany Rattled
The push for the Build Public Renewables Act in New York has become surprisingly muscular. Is it strong enough to break Albany’s climate gridlock?
A Green Firehouse for New Paltz, Despite the Odds
New Paltz's all-electric, solar-powered firehouse is one small step for a Hudson Valley community, one giant leap for New York's millions of dirty buildings.
Climate World Fractures Over an Extension Cord to Canada
State regulators just voted to greenlight a project that will cut New York City’s power emissions in half. But local environmentalists aren’t celebrating.
New York’s First-in-Nation Gas Ban ‘Officially Dead’—For Now
A proposal to ban fossil fuel heating in new buildings, touted by Governor Hochul, has been dropped during final budget negotiations.
The Future of Work Is Green
Climate action and the clean energy transition will bring a wave of new jobs to New York. Is the Hudson Valley workforce ready for them?
Hudson Valley Left Out of New York Climate Hearings
As a region, the Hudson Valley has more than its fair share of communities on the front lines of climate impact. Will their voices be heard on New York’s climate plan?
New York’s Heat Pump Program Is Drying Up
A new program is successfully helping New York homeowners wean their homes off fossil fuels. So why is it being scaled back?
The Little Schooner That Might
Sail freight is desperately romantic. True believers think it could help solve the climate crisis. Is it a real solution?
Is This the Moment for Passive House Design in New York?
How an idealistic, 70s-era building trend may help the state transition away from fossil fuels.
New York’s Climate Action Wish List
State lawmakers are weighing a slew of climate-related bills in 2022. Here’s what climate advocates are pushing for.
Overwhelmed by Omicron: Stories from the Pandemic’s Third Wave
We talked to people around the Hudson Valley and Catskills about their experiences with the latest COVID-19 surge.
Hochul’s Budget Charts a Middle Path on Climate
The $216 billion budget would ban gas in new construction, but otherwise offers few dramatic moves on climate. Advocates say it’s not enough.
Leading the Flock
New York State is poised for an agrivoltaics revolution. But to get there, we’re going to need a lot of collaboration between agriculture and energy—and a lot more sheep.
New York’s COVID Plan for Surviving January
Omicron has a lot of new tricks up its sleeve. New York is mostly betting that the old moves will work.
How to Weather Omicron: A Local Guide
Cases are poised to eclipse records, but there’s more to the picture. Here’s our local, practical guide to the variant that’s changing everything.
Failure of Build Back Better Casts Uncertainty over New York’s Climate Plans
Without significant federal funding, states are on their own to decarbonize their economies.
Climate Health Is Human Health
Making big progress on climate action will give us all longer and healthier lives—even if we don’t stop global warming.
In a World of Vague Climate Targets, New York Has a Plan—Almost
While Congress dithers on climate, New York is laying plans for “deep decarbonization” of the state’s $2 trillion annual economy.
Defeated With Prop 1: A Fix for New York’s Prisoner Counting Problem
The defeat of the Redistricting Changes Amendment keeps prison gerrymandering in place for the state’s Congressional maps.
