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State Engagement with Regional Transmission Processes: why grid design is key to sustainability!

The grid is the new ‘market place’ supporting everything we all do, every day.

Watch this 25Apr25 webinar to learn about our current grid, and how to help the grid evolve to meet our 21st century needs and goals.

 

WHY IS THIS IMPORTANT?

The grid is not just part of de-carbonization. It helps us structurally respond to dynamic changes!

Imagine

  • a 6 day massive cold spell in the midwest causing a brown out in the midwest.
  • Then imagine the east coast that doesn’t have this extreme condition and the east grid electricity can flood to assist the mid-west.

It’s not imaginary – this webinar shows how our current grid responded to this very event in 2022.

The grid allows for large scale cross-state COLLABORATION for local resiliency and well-being!

  • What a great patriotic objective!
  • By the people for the people!

 

Well designed transmissions provides

  • optionality
  • resilience
  • insurance.

It’s in all our best interest to make a comprehensive and distributed electric grid.
Let’s work together for next generation transmission!

 

see this case study of MISO – Midcontinent ISO”

“Multi-value Grid project” designed to move power generated in the west (wind in the midwest) to east (loads in Chicago etc), approved in 2011.

RTO= regional transmission organization

ISO = Independent system operators

TRANCHE 1 changes:

TRANCHE 2 Proposals!!!

Forest Adaptation Workbook

The Forest Adaptation Workbook will generate information about potential climate change impacts for your general region, and you’ll be asked to use your own judgment and expertise to consider how broad impacts might play out on your particular property. Then you’ll think critically about your property goals and objectives and decide if they are still robust to potential climate change. Next, the Workbook will help you brainstorm and evaluate a list of custom actions that can help adapt to expected conditions, and you’ll finish the process by developing a monitoring plan to determine if your actions were effective.

These resources were designed for the Midwest and Northeast U.S.

  • It is a joint product of USDA Northern Forests Climate Hub and the Northern Institute of Applied Climate Science
  • https://adaptationworkbook.org/about

Browse Menus of Adaptation Strategies and Approaches, by topic:

Forest Strategies and Approaches

Developed for forested ecosystems, with focus on forest management and planning.

Urban Forest Health Strategies and Approaches

Developed for communities working in urban ecosystems. This version is supplemental to the 2016 version of the Urban Forest Strategies and Approaches menu, found here.

Forested Watershed Strategies and Approaches 

Developed for water resources management; with focus on hydrology, vegetation management, landscape planning, and infrastructure.

Forest carbon Management Strategies and Approaches 

Designed to help natural resource professionals devise actions that can maintain existing carbon stocks or enhance sequestration capacity while providing co-benefits for other sustainable resource management objectives.

Non-forested Wetland Conservation and Management Strategies and Approaches

Developed for non-forested wetland conservation and management.

Recreation Strategies and Approaches 

Developed to help managers manage recreation experiences, and the infrastructure that supports it in a number of ways.

Agriculture Strategies and Approaches

Developed to assist agricultural producers, specialists, and technical service providers.

Wildlife Management Strategies and Approaches

Developed to assist wildlife managers.

 

To Explore the Tool, Go here: https://adaptationworkbook.org/

Considering taking a 7-week guided online trainings using your own real-world project!

To find supporting publications visit the Climate Change Response Framework (forestadaptation.org).

See real-world examples of how natural resources professionals, land managers, and landowners have used the Adaptation Workbook to consider climate change in their management at ForestAdaptation.org/demos.

Find real-world examples of how farmers and producers have used the Agriculture Adaptation Workbook on the USDA Climate Hubs website.

March 2025, Fossil Fuels account for less than 50% of electricity generation! Go Team!

I am beyond excited to share the following graph.

(To note, after posting I realize this includes nuclear).

https://ember-energy.org/latest-updates/fossil-fuels-fall-below-50-of-us-electricity-for-the-first-month-on-record/

Note, March is a special month and called a ‘shoulder season‘. The following bullets are taken directly from this Canary website:

  • Milder temperatures mean people use less energy to heat and cool their homes, so power demand tends to contract.
  • That has historically made shoulder seasons — the fall version runs from September to November — a good time to take fossil-fuel and nuclear power plants offline for maintenance.
  • Meanwhile, wind production peaks in the spring, and solar production comes more alive with the longer days of stronger sun. Last month, solar and wind alone met over 24% of overall U.S. power demand.

But the signs point to our shared success of generating our own local, contemporary electricity and not relying on a trust fund of fossilized energy!

Taken directly from the EMBER website:

  • The milestone is the result of a long term decline of fossil generation in the US power sector, with wind and solar growing substantially over the last decade. Ten years ago, in March 2015, fossil generation still provided 65% of US electricity generation. Wind and solar generation stood at just 5.7%. Since then, the share of wind and solar power has more than quadrupled.
  • Solar power is set to account for more than half of new generating capacity installed in the US in 2025, with more than a third of new solar panels going to Texas. Solar’s rise has been extraordinary. Ten years ago, in March 2015, solar power accounted for just 1% of US electricity generation. By March 2025, this had grown to 9.2%.
  • Last month Ember published a special report, US Electricity 2025, on the changes and trends in the US power sector last year. It found that solar was the fastest and largest growing source of electricity in the US in 2024. Wind and solar power combined rose to a record 17% of the US electricity mix in 2024, overtaking coal for the first time which accounted for 15%.

 

 

 

NE Climate Hub: Graduate Student Climate Adaptation and Mitigation Partners (GradCAMP), Applications due Jan 20

Graduate Student Climate Adaptation and Mitigation Partners (GradCAMP)

Seeking Masters/PhD students studying climate adaptation or mitigation related to working lands and/or waters with relevance to the Northeast interested in incorporating climate equity and justice into their research.

GradCAMP is a virtual two-semester program in which scholars will learn from climate professionals in the equity and justice fields and present their research to local or regional stakeholders. The program follows a monthly virtual meeting schedule with an in-person workshop in June 2025, during which scholars will co-create equity fact sheets on related topics as a team. Travel funding provided to 2025 Scholars for the workshop.

Apply by January 20.

https://www.climatehubs.usda.gov/hubs/northeast/project/gradcamp

Part-time building K-12 lesson plans, Greenland ice sheet, Columbia Climate School

Are you passionate about climate science and interested in bringing cutting-edge research to your students? Columbia Climate School’s NSF-funded Research Experiences for Teachers program, “Beyond Basic Science: Connecting Climate to Communities,” is seeking a K12 educator to join our GRate project team!

Position Overview:
As part of the GRate project, we’re reconstructing the history of Greenland’s Ice Sheet during the Holocene, a warming period of Earth’s recent ice age. By analyzing diverse proxy data like ocean plankton, lake sediment samples, mosses, and more, the project brings new insights into Greenland’s ice dynamics, climate change, and sea-level rise.
We’re looking for a teacher to collaborate with our science team to:

  1. Finalize existing lessons on proxy data and climate science.
  2. Develop a comprehensive lesson linking proxies to provide a complete picture of the Greenland Ice Sheet’s history.

Position Details:

  • Duration: 8-10 hours/week over 12 weeks, with a flexible schedule, aiming to complete by February 7, 2025.
  • Total Hours: Approximately 150
  • Stipend: $6,000 provided in two installments across time on the project
  • Prerequisites: Background in Earth or Environmental Science and comfort with New York State Science Learning Standards or Next-Gen Science Standards is preferred.

This is a fantastic chance to bring climate science into the classroom and gain professional experience in climate education! We strongly encourage applications from educators in Title 1 schools and those from underrepresented groups.

Mentor:
Margie Turrin, Director of Educational Field Programs, Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory (mkt@ldeo.columbia.edu)

Apply:
Please send your resume and cover letter to Laurel Zaima-Sheehy (lzaima@climate.columbia.edu), Assistant Director of K12 & Continuing Education, Columbia Climate School. A full position description will be shared with interested applicants.

Application Deadline: November 12, 2024.

Read more about the GRate project here and join us in advancing climate literacy!

Farmers+EXT+TA: Free Soil Health Training August 27-28 in Canandaigua, NY

American Farmland Trust (via Aaron Ristow) has a lovely invitation:
“We are seeking applicants for the New York regional Advanced Soil Health Training (ASHT). The applications will be due June 21st. The first session begins August 27-28 in Canandaigua, New York.  Participants will be expected to attend (4) in-person 2-day trainings in the region between August 2024 and April 2025. The applications are now open. Please click on this link to access the application, and this link to review application guidelines. We’re hoping to attract a diverse applicant pool; please share the information about this training with anyone who you think might be a good fit!

The Advanced Soil Health Training (ASHT) is designed for corn, soybean, wheat, and dairy farmers and farm advisors who share an interest in improving soil health and who will share their knowledge and expertise with their clients, communities, and the next generation of farmers. We will prioritize these farms types, but all farm types/sizes should apply as we aim to fill all available spots. This hands-on curriculum combines classroom time with half-day visits to innovative local farms to see soil health practices in action.

This training will be led by soil health experts Barry Fisher, Brandon Smith, and Dennis Chessman, who have each had long careers in NRCS’ Soil Health Division, in addition to regional experts from Cornell University, Cornell Cooperative Extension, Soil and Water Conservation Districts, American Farmland Trust, and more. The training will address practical management challenges such as cropping systems for improved soil health; how to conduct a soil health assessment; cover crop management, (including selection, planting, termination, equipment, and more); new technologies, assessments, and products for soil health; and economic considerations. In addition to a certificate of completion, participants will also graduate with a completed Soil Health Impact Plan and guidance/resources for mentoring others in soil health practices.

This training is free of charge for all accepted applicants and includes a travel stipend to cover all costs. Although many free-soil health resources exist online, this is a unique opportunity to ask all your management questions to national and local experts in a hands-on, intensive experience. Farmers and farm advisors who choose to continue working as Soil Health Advisors will also receive a stipend for their work.

Please don’t hesitate to ask questions. I can be reached at aristow@farmland.org or (315) 748-5029.

Kind regards,

Aaron

 

Dairy Farms: Thinking about converting from sand to separated solids bedding? April 3 workshop.

This meeting is intended for:

  • dairy farmers that currently bed with sand or
  • dairy farmers who might be interested in separating their manure for  solids bedding and/or cover+flare to destroy methane from their liquid manure storage; and
  • SWCD, CCE, NRCS, TSP, etc. agents interested in helping these farmers make management decisions for their farm.
  • Recordings of the Event, Found Here.
  • Farmer Funding Worksheet, pdf found here: Infrastructure_FundingOps_2024NY.

 

Jump to individual talks:

1:09 – Why a farm might transition away from sand bedding. Jenifer Wightman, Senior Extension Associate, School of Integrative Plant Science Soil and Crop Sciences Section, Cornell University

25:38 – Separators and farm infrastructure for solids + liquids. Ken Van Syke, Farmer/Pikeside Ag Machinery

1:13:46 – Cow Health (sand vs. solid bedding). Lindsay Ferlito, CCE North Country Regional Ag Team Farm Panel (sand vs solids bedding)

1:55:40 – Jon Patterson, Patterson Farm (Auburn, NY)

2:05:19 – Stein Farms, Dale Stein (LeRoy, NY) & NYS Soil & Water Conservation Committee

2:13:33 – Doug Shelmidine, Sheland Farms (Adams, NY)

2:44:43 – P-Index 2.0 & Comparing sand vs. solids bedding. Kirsten Workman, Pro-Dairy Funding Panel

3:30:40 – Mike Durant, Lewis County Soil & Water

3:49:20 – Thomas Pratt, USDA-NRCS

Final conversations redacted for sound quality.

This event is hosted by SWCD Jefferson and Lewis Counties in collaboration with Cornell University and Cooperative Extension.

Agenda:

We will post recordings here, if they are of sufficient quality and have speaker approval,  ~7 days after the event.

 

NY Climate Impacts Report, released

NYS Climate Impact report.

RE: the impacts of climate change to all levels of decision-makers and the diverse communities that shape the state of New York.

 

Summary Findings from the Assessment

More details in the link.

Finding 1: Climate change is affecting New York State now and is projected to continue to change and affect every region of the state.

Finding 2: Even under a lower-emissions scenario, climate change impacts across New York State will be substantial.

Finding 3: The frequency and intensity of extreme events such as heavy rainstorms, seasonal droughts, and heat waves are projected to increase.

Finding 4: Sea level along New York State’s coastline has risen almost 1 foot in the past century and is projected to increase by another 1 to 2 feet by midcentury. 

Finding 5: Climate hazards often do not occur in isolation, and impacts can be compounded when multiple events happen near each other in time or space.

Finding 6: New York State residents and communities that are marginalized or suffer from legacies of displacement or discrimination are more vulnerable to climate impacts.

Finding 7: Climate change will introduce new risks and opportunities into nearly every dimension of New York State’s economy.

  • Natural resource-based sectors, including forestry and fisheries, will need to contend with loss of some species and in-migration of new species adapted to warmer temperatures.
  • The loss of snow and ice cover will profoundly affect traditional winter recreational activities and the local economies that depend on them, though warmer temperatures could increase outdoor tourism during longer spring and fall seasons.
  • For agriculture, variable and extreme weather conditions could lead to more crop damage and livestock stress; however, warmer temperatures and longer growing seasons could increase some yields and offer new crop opportunities.
  • The state’s large finance, insurance, and real estate sectors are exposed to national and global climate change risks, including weather-related property damage claims and economic disruptions, yet there are also opportunities for businesses in New York State that incorporate climate risk into decision-making.

Finding 8: Climate change poses escalating health and safety risks for the people of New York State, including risks to mental health.

Finding 9: Infrastructure provides vital services across New York State but is vulnerable to climate-related impacts.

Finding 10: Every community and every sector in New York State has the potential to contribute to innovative climate solutions that reduce vulnerabilities, foster resilience, and enhance equity.

  • Climate solutions will need to consider those who will be disproportionately burdened by economic disruption, such as small businesses; fiscally constrained, small, and rural municipalities and cultural institutions; frontline workers; and essential public servants including police, firefighters, and teachers.
  • Local and state governments, schools and universities, nonprofits, museums and cultural institutions, and the private sector all play vital roles in raising climate change awareness, supporting educational and workforce training efforts, and identifying opportunities for innovation that will be necessary to prepare New York State for a changing climate.
  • Centering equity in adaptation and resilience actions and aligning these actions with greenhouse gas reduction strategies is crucial for a successful and sustainable climate change response.