Source: Grist

Excerpt:

On Tuesday, New York lawmakers passed a law that, for the first time, authorizes the New York Power Authority — the largest state public power authority in the U.S. — to build renewable energy projects to help reach the state’s climate goals. 

The new Build Public Renewables Act, passed as part of New York’s annual budget, is a culmination of four years of organizingby climate and community organizations, and has been heralded as a major win by energy democracy, environmental justice, and labor groups. 

“This will enable us to build renewable energy projects with gold-standard labor language, ensuring that the transition to renewable energy benefits working people and their families,” Patrick Robbins, an organizer with the grassroots Public Power NY Coalition, told Grist. 

Read more: After a four-year campaign, New York says yes to publicly owned renewables