New York

October 7, 2009 -- New York Governor David A. Paterson today announced more than $10 million in Brownfield Opportunity Areas Program grants for 24 projects located in communities across the State. These grants support environmental remediation, community revitalization, job creation and the expansion of the tax base in neighborhoods that have been adversely affected by multiple brownfield sites or economic distress.    » read more »

October 6, 2009 -- New York Governor David A. Paterson today announced that the first shipments of the new H1N1 influenza vaccine have started to arrive in New York State.

“Some counties in New York received their first doses of the H1N1 vaccine yesterday,” Governor Paterson said. “More counties are receiving vaccine this week, and we expect to receive larger quantities of the H1N1 vaccine over the coming weeks. Eventually, there should be enough vaccine for every New Yorker who wants it.”    » read more »

State Seeking $11.6 Billion in Federal Economic Recovery Grants to Develop Empire Corridor

October 6, 2009 -- New York Governor David A. Paterson today announced that the New York State Department of Transportation (NYSDOT) has applied for $11.6 billion in American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) funding to improve high-speed rail service along the Empire Corridor between New York City and Niagara Falls.    » read more »

NJ Senator Is Author of Legislation To Require Background Checks At Gun Shows

October 7, 2009 -- WASHINGTON, DC - Senator Frank R. Lautenberg (D-NJ), the author of legislation to close the gun show loophole, today applauded a City of New York investigation that exposed overwhelming evidence that criminals and terrorists can easily access firearms at gun shows.    » read more »

Existing Colleges, Universities and Research Centers in New York Will Coordinate Efforts for Energy Policy

October 5 , 2009 -- New York Governor David A. Paterson today announced the creation of the New York Energy Policy Institute (NYEPI), a key initiative from the Governor’s State of the State address. NYEPI will coordinate the work of New York’s leading energy research centers, using their established expertise in the field to provide a resource for the state’s energy policymakers.

To facilitate this coordination, the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) released a request for proposals to establish the policy institute.    » read more »

Governor Delivers on State of the State Promise to Create Battery and Energy Storage Technology Consortium

October 5 , 2009 -- New York Governor David A. Paterson today announced the first round of requests for proposals under the New York Battery and Energy Storage Technology Consortium, known as NY-BEST. Governor Paterson called for the consortium in his State of the State address earlier this year, and announced the creation of NY-BEST and $25 million in dedicated funding in May.    » read more »

Green Innovation Projects Will Reduce Energy Costs, Conserve Water and Promote "Green Infrastructure"

October 1 , 2009 -- New York Governor David A. Paterson today announced $43 million for innovative water quality projects across New York through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA). The funds were awarded to 58 different projects through a new State initiative known as the Green Innovation Grant Program, which promotes sustainable, environmentally sensitive water infrastructure and technologies.    » read more »

Green Taxis Act Would Reduce Greenhouse Gas Emissions by More Than 296,000 Tons in NYC – the Equivalent of Taking 35,000 Cars off the Road

September 30, 2009 -- Washington, D.C. – After losing the battle in federal court in late 2008, New York City, Boston, San Francisco, Seattle and other major cities across the country would be able to create an all hybrid taxi cab fleet under legislation that will be introduced Thursday by U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY) in the Senate and Rep. Jerrold Nadler (D-NY) in the House of Representatives.    » read more »

$290 Million Will Be In Direct Payment To Farmers

September 30, 2009 -- Washington, DC - U.S. Senators Charles E. Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand today announced $350 million to the U.S. Department of Agriculture to help New York farmers struggling during the dairy crisis in the final Agriculture Appropriations Bill.

Senators Schumer and Gillibrand aggressively lobbied their colleagues in the House of Representatives and Senate to include the provision in the final legislation. Senator Bernie Sanders of Vermont authored the measure that was included in only the Senate version of the legislation. Senators Schumer and Gillibrand said that the $290 million in direct payments is a big win for New York's dairy farmers.    » read more »

September 30, 2009 -- “By investing in efficient and renewable energy resources, not only do we aid in New York's and the nation's transition to a clean energy economy, we will also create green jobs and help control energy costs.

“These are efforts that are already underway here in New York State, where I have set a goal to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 80 percent below the levels emitted in 1990 by the year 2050. New York is also a charter member of the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI), the first mandatory, market-based carbon dioxide emissions reduction program in the United States. We intend to utilize RGGI auction proceeds to further our clean energy goals.    » read more »

Focusing On Improving Child And Family Safety, Expanding Health Coverage And Promoting Hospital Accountability; Vetoes 18 Bills Representing $28 Million in Savings Over Next Two Years

September 17, 2009 -- New York Governor David A. Paterson today signed 60 bills that together will improve the safety of families and children; increase access to, and quality of, health care for New Yorkers; and increase accountability among government contractors. Additionally, he vetoed 18 bills that, if signed, would have cost State taxpayers $28 million dollars over the next two years.    » read more »

September 1, 2009 -- Following is a summary of key federal disaster aid programs that can be made available as needed and warranted under President Obama's major disaster declaration issued for New York.

Assistance for the State and Affected Local Governments Can Include as Required:

* Payment of not less than 75 percent of the eligible costs for repairing or replacing damaged public facilities, such as roads, bridges, utilities, buildings, schools, recreational areas and similar publicly owned property, as well as certain private non-profit organizations engaged in community service activities. (Source: FEMA funded, state administered.)    » read more »

September 1, 2009 -- WASHINGTON, D.C. -- The head of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security's Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) today announced that federal disaster aid has been made available for New York and ordered federal aid to supplement state and local recovery efforts in the area struck by severe storms and flooding during the period of August 8-10, 2009.

FEMA Administrator Craig Fugate said the president's action makes federal funding available to state and eligible local governments and certain private nonprofit organizations on a cost-sharing basis for emergency work and the repair or replacement of facilities damaged by the severe storms and flooding in Cattaraugus, Chautauqua, and Erie Counties.    » read more »

Grants Support Job Creation; Help to Reduce Petroleum Use and Greenhouse Gases

August 31, 2009 -- New York Governor David A. Paterson today announced the award of two U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) grants totaling more than $28 million for alternative fuel projects. The funds, available through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, will assist school districts, local governments, public universities, and private businesses in purchasing clean fuel and alternative fuel vehicles and associated infrastructure.    » read more »

August 28, 2009 -- New York Governor David A. Paterson today announced that approximately 700 school districts and charter schools across the State will receive more than $900 million through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA). The funding, administered by the New York State Education Department, will be used to support school improvement efforts that address both teaching and learning. The grants have been allocated to most school districts, particularly those in low-income communities where the need is great.    » read more »