Colin Kinniburgh
@colinreports.bsky.social
Reporter covering climate and environment for New York Focus. Tips: [email protected], @colin.36 on Signal or DM for cell
^ “New York is the largest state where lawmakers have proposed a moratorium on data centers.” But similar bills are pending in Maryland, Georgia, Oklahoma, Virginia, Vermont; maybe Michigan soon too. And many local governments have already passed moratoriums of their own
February 6, 2026 at 7:29 PM
^ “New York is the largest state where lawmakers have proposed a moratorium on data centers.” But similar bills are pending in Maryland, Georgia, Oklahoma, Virginia, Vermont; maybe Michigan soon too. And many local governments have already passed moratoriums of their own
Marie French has the writeup: www.politico.com/news/2026/02...
New York Democrats propose sweeping pause on data center construction
Lawmakers have introduced a bill to prohibit new data centers until regulations can be crafted to address potential environmental and energy cost impacts.
www.politico.com
February 6, 2026 at 7:29 PM
Marie French has the writeup: www.politico.com/news/2026/02...
Update: This shows up to 30% in the Bronx (wow) and as little as 5% on Staten Island, but the numbers are now five years old. Curious if it’s changed much (maybe not?) www.empirecenter.org/publications...
![FIGURE 3: Fuel Oil/Kerosene Use by County
[Map zoomed in on NYC and surrounding area, showing Bronx highlighted with 30%]
Map: Empire Center for Public PolicySource: American Community Survey (2021, 5-Year Estimates)Created with Datawrapper](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:64drjustsrvsrcl2a2n2jnyf/bafkreiffzsj2ifrzrmrnjjmptiajyr7k7pbpy73pi2rfwrwr6vub2w3u2m@jpeg)
February 4, 2026 at 7:45 PM
Update: This shows up to 30% in the Bronx (wow) and as little as 5% on Staten Island, but the numbers are now five years old. Curious if it’s changed much (maybe not?) www.empirecenter.org/publications...
One of the bills, which seeks to tighten restrictions on utilities’ political spending, was introduced after my 2023 reporting on National Fuel’s aggressive lobbying efforts against New York’s climate law. nysfocus.com/2023/07/24/n...
New Bill Would Block Utilities From Lobbying at Customers’ Expense
The legislation follows New York Focus reporting that showed a major gas utility may have been siphoning off customers’ bills to fund an…
nysfocus.com
February 4, 2026 at 6:51 PM
One of the bills, which seeks to tighten restrictions on utilities’ political spending, was introduced after my 2023 reporting on National Fuel’s aggressive lobbying efforts against New York’s climate law. nysfocus.com/2023/07/24/n...
At this moment a National Grid crew is replacing a gas main in Kensington/Windsor Terrace, Brooklyn, near where I live. They’ve been in the neighborhood on and off for over a year.
“The jobs aren’t going to run out any time soon,” a worker told me. Says the company projects 30+ more years of this
“The jobs aren’t going to run out any time soon,” a worker told me. Says the company projects 30+ more years of this
February 4, 2026 at 4:52 PM
At this moment a National Grid crew is replacing a gas main in Kensington/Windsor Terrace, Brooklyn, near where I live. They’ve been in the neighborhood on and off for over a year.
“The jobs aren’t going to run out any time soon,” a worker told me. Says the company projects 30+ more years of this
“The jobs aren’t going to run out any time soon,” a worker told me. Says the company projects 30+ more years of this
Hochul on climate: “It’s always fun to be nation-leading. But…”
Video from yesterday: www.youtube.com/watch?v=HDTo...
Video from yesterday: www.youtube.com/watch?v=HDTo...
Governor Hochul Participates in a Times Union Fireside Chat with Dan Clark
YouTube video by Governor Kathy Hochul
www.youtube.com
February 3, 2026 at 3:26 PM
Hochul on climate: “It’s always fun to be nation-leading. But…”
Video from yesterday: www.youtube.com/watch?v=HDTo...
Video from yesterday: www.youtube.com/watch?v=HDTo...
Hochul reaction:
“The Trump administration tried to shut down this fully permitted project under a bogus claim of national security. But energy independence is national security.
“Under my administration, New York will remain a national clean energy leader”
“The Trump administration tried to shut down this fully permitted project under a bogus claim of national security. But energy independence is national security.
“Under my administration, New York will remain a national clean energy leader”
February 2, 2026 at 8:59 PM
Hochul reaction:
“The Trump administration tried to shut down this fully permitted project under a bogus claim of national security. But energy independence is national security.
“Under my administration, New York will remain a national clean energy leader”
“The Trump administration tried to shut down this fully permitted project under a bogus claim of national security. But energy independence is national security.
“Under my administration, New York will remain a national clean energy leader”
Hochul: “I just say to the legislature and others, where am I gonna go? I’m trying my best to meet these goals…. But change the calculation will look a lot better.”
See my recent story for context, and a rough preview of where this could go: nysfocus.com/2026/01/30/n...
See my recent story for context, and a rough preview of where this could go: nysfocus.com/2026/01/30/n...
Hochul Could Try to Change New York's Emissions Math Again. Here's…
State officials have voiced renewed interest in changing how New York counts its greenhouse gas emissions.
nysfocus.com
February 2, 2026 at 8:35 PM
Hochul: “I just say to the legislature and others, where am I gonna go? I’m trying my best to meet these goals…. But change the calculation will look a lot better.”
See my recent story for context, and a rough preview of where this could go: nysfocus.com/2026/01/30/n...
See my recent story for context, and a rough preview of where this could go: nysfocus.com/2026/01/30/n...