Vlad
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vladgutman.bsky.social
Vlad
@vladgutman.bsky.social
Policy & Analysis at NYSERDA. Fighting for a just clean energy future. Ex- @climatesolutions.bsky.social and WA AFL-CIO. A reporter once called me a knifefighter.

Opinions my own.
That's fine, but exit polls ARE generally relied upon for demo splits; not considered accurate for predicting results the day of.
November 5, 2025 at 1:49 AM
What would the voter file tell you? It doesn't say how people voted.
November 5, 2025 at 1:41 AM
So how much is this benefit worth? Using NYISO data, we can calculate that adding just 8 GW of renewable capacity, far short of deployment goals, reduces the cost of generating energy by $179 million in 2025, climbing to $3.7 billion by 2040.
September 22, 2025 at 8:27 PM
Let's look at one of these--the downward pressure that renewables put on electricity generation costs. Renewables, when built, become the cheapest resource, displacing much more expensive plants that run on gas or oil. These savings help offset the cost of building renewables in the first place.
September 22, 2025 at 8:27 PM
And there's also much more to say about the benefits that weren't quantified in this report: lower electricity generation spending, energy efficiency and its associated cost savings, substitution of expensive fuels like gasoline and heating oil, and much more.
September 22, 2025 at 8:27 PM
That is, the overwhelming majority of costs are being driven by core infrastructure investments and modernization, property taxes, and other expenses. Look--clean energy investment isn't free, but it's not the primary factor driving energy bill increases either.
September 22, 2025 at 8:27 PM
DPS asked utilities to forecast bills through 2029. Using this data we can understand what's driving increases over the time period. What the data showed is that of the hikes utilities project through 2029, an average of 84% of them are attributed to something other than these programs.
September 22, 2025 at 8:27 PM
Rest assured that the same set of rigorous policy and engineering thinking across State goverment and utilities that has delivered an extremely reliable grid today will ensure its continued reliability as it becomes even more central to our lives.

New York is ready for the energy transition.
September 4, 2025 at 3:06 PM
New York has among the most reliable grids in the country. Excluding major events, New Yorkers experienced the 2nd fewest outages (less than once a year on average) & 9th fewest outage minutes in 2023. We outperform the national average and every single one of our neighbors.
September 4, 2025 at 3:06 PM
We need to make New York more affordable. To do that, we need to focus on where the problem is truly lies.
September 2, 2025 at 6:31 PM
We should be intentional about energy policy in New York, but the simple reality is that our energy efficiency efforts mean that the substantial energy system investments we need to make into modernization and transition are not the prime driver of affordability burdens.
September 2, 2025 at 6:31 PM
All told, the energy picture is much better. Even though our rates are on the high end here, utility expenses are just 7% higher than average, a result in part of proactive energy efficiency efforts. On the other hand, we're saving about $500/year on gasoline living here than elsewhere.
September 2, 2025 at 6:31 PM
New Yorkers spend about $2600 less than their peers on transportation (-$660), healthcare (-$985), and household expenses (-$960 on things like laundry, furniture, appliances), but these savings are wiped out entirely because we have to spend an extra $3600 every year on mortgage and rent.
September 2, 2025 at 6:31 PM
By the way, it's nice I guess that the Trump Administration wants to step in to reduce suffering, but let's not forget that they have abetted Netanyahu's war policy to get to this place.
August 5, 2025 at 7:59 PM
NBD this is happening just as inflation ticks up.
August 1, 2025 at 3:01 PM
3. Energy efficiency is a core strategy. Rates are not bills. Solve for bills.
August 1, 2025 at 1:38 PM
...building cities that let people opt out of car trips, and cars entirely, is an AFFORDABILITY STRATEGY. Compact, walkable living is convenient--it's just cheaper too.

2. And that compact living? It lowers home energy bills. Radiant heat from neighbors + other factors lower costs for all.
August 1, 2025 at 1:38 PM