skip to main content
skip to newscasts

Tuesday, April 1, 2025

Public News Service Logo
facebook instagram linkedin reddit youtube twitter
view newscast page
play newscast audioPlay

Trump has dubbed April 2 'Liberation Day' for his tariffs; Report: Arkansas labor costs attract companies hoping to reshore operations; Indiana loses millions as health funding dries up; Discrimination shields some Black farmers from USDA funding freezes.

view newscast page
play newscast audioPlay

Elon Musk takes center stage in Wisconsin's Supreme Court race. Some observers say WI voters are deciding between democracy, and Donald Trump and Florida GOP candidates face a maelstrom from Trump's executive orders and poor campaign strategies in a special election.

view newscast page
play newscast audioPlay

Air and water pollution is a greater risk for rural folks due to EPA cutbacks, Montana's media landscape gets a deep dive, and policymakers are putting wheels on the road to expand rural health.

NYS bill makes Long Island power grid publicly controlled

play audio
Play

Friday, March 15, 2024   

New York's state lawmakers are considering a measure that would shake up the way Long Island's power grid operates.

The Long Island Power Authority Public Power Act would make LIPA the sole operator of the grid, ending the long-standing public-private model. Residents feel this model has made communication between ratepayers and their power company inefficient.

Ryan Madden, climate and energy campaigns director for the Long Island Progressive Coalition, said the status quo creates something akin to "a game of unnecessary telephone."

"For example, an issue is raised, and it's brought either from the LIPA board or LIPA staff brings it to the LIPA board," Madden explained. "It then has to be passed along to PSE&G. PSE&G takes weeks, months in order to come back. Then they have to bring in the Department of Public Service of Long Island."

In 2023, numerous groups from Long Island and the Rockaways called for an end to this model, and customers have expressed concerns over how Long Island power responds to bad weather. After Superstorm Sandy, PSE&G replaced National Grid as the third-party manager because people felt the company mishandled power restoration to the area.

Residents have a similar feeling for how PSE&G dealt with the aftermath of Tropical Storm Isaias.

The bill is under review by the Assembly's Corporations, Authorities and Commissions Committee.

Supporters have contended that replacing the public-private model would put more money back in ratepayers' pockets. A 2023 study found that a fully public Long Island grid could save ratepayers around $500 million over the next decade.

Madden said terminating PSE&G's contract would create some of the initial savings.

"There's been some ranges depending on conservative estimates," he noted. "Anywhere from $60 million to $80 million saved in the functioning of the utility, right? So we're getting rid of $80 million in management fees for PSE&G."

Madden said LIPA could use some of the savings to make improvements in the grid, expand programs and increase stakeholder input. He also said he thinks this will help make the grid more climate-efficient in a way that doesn't further disadvantage certain communities.


get more stories like this via email

more stories
Thousands of datasets from federal agency websites have been scrubbed since the new administration took office. (Adobe Stock)

Environment

play sound

As U.S. government website purges continue, one nonprofit is racing to track and save as much data as possible. The Open Environmental Data Project …


Environment

play sound

President Donald Trump is set to impose sweeping global tariffs this week, a move expected to spark retaliation against a range of American products …

Health and Wellness

play sound

About 1.3 million Missourians are currently enrolled in Medicaid and nonprofits around the state have warned proposed federal cuts would be devastatin…


In 2024, according to American Clean Power, the renewable-energy industry in South Dakota had a workforce of 2,700 people. (Adobe Stock)

Social Issues

play sound

South Dakota's new governor is making an active pitch regarding economic opportunities for the state. The renewable-energy sector said it continues …

Social Issues

play sound

The Jackson-based group Native American Jump Start has been providing grants to Native students, interns and young workers for decades and this year…

Social Issues

play sound

More jobs could be coming to Arkansas as companies interested in bringing manufacturing jobs back to the U.S. consider the Natural State, according …

play sound

Minnesota officials have launched a new portal, asking parents, students and others to share how they are affected by the Trump administration's …

 

Phone: 303.448.9105 Toll Free: 888.891.9416 Fax: 208.247.1830 Your trusted member- and audience-supported news source since 1996 Copyright © 2021