Why is battery storage important? Because the sun doesn’t always shine, and the wind doesn’t always blow, we need to store excess renewable energy and dispatch it as needed if we want to transition to wind and solar as our significant source of energy[1]....

Kingston, NY – Assemblymember Sarahana Shrestha and Senator Michelle Hinchey, who represent the Town of Ulster, the Town of Hurley, and the City of Kingston, provide the following comment and answers to some of the commonly asked questions regarding...

Why is battery storage important? Because the sun doesn’t always shine, and the wind doesn’t always blow, we need to store excess renewable energy and dispatch it as needed if we want to transition to wind and solar as our significant source of energy[1]....

Kingston, NY – On the heels of the Public Service Commission's unanimous vote to approve Central Hudson’s rate increases for the next three years, Assemblymember Sarahana Shrestha wrapped up a series of six town halls on why and how to replace Central...

New York, NY – On Thursday, as Governor Hochul continues to fast-track two dirty, fracked gas pipelines at the Trump administration’s direction, elected officials, advocates, and health professionals from across the state will rally to demand the...

Kingston, NY – Earlier today, the PSC voted 7-0 in favor of Central Hudson’s Joint Proposal, following a discussion. Below is Assemblymember Shrestha’s comment. “Today’s PSC vote and discussion to approve rate increases for Central Hudson made...

Kingston, NY – Kingston, Assemblymember Sarahana Shrestha, County Executive Jen Metzger, alongside community allies and organizations, rallied in uptown Kingston yesterday morning to call for a special legislative session in Albany in response to the...

Kingston, NY – Earlier this month, the Trump administration enacted a $1.1 trillion cut to healthcare and raised the national debt by $3 trillion – all so that a $4.5 trillion tax cut that disproportionately benefits the wealthy can be funded. Left...

Kingston, NY – Earlier this month, the Trump administration enacted a $1.1 trillion cut to healthcare and raised the national debt by $3 trillion—all so that a $4.5 trillion tax cut that disproportionately benefits the wealthy can be funded. Left...

Kingston, NY – Earlier this month, the Trump administration enacted a $1.1 trillion cut to healthcare and raised the national debt by $3 trillion – all so that a $4.5 trillion tax cut that disproportionately benefits the wealthy can be funded. Left...

New York, NY – The tax and spending bill recently signed into law by President Trump has been rightly described by author Astra Taylor as the Debt, Deportation, and Death bill. It makes significant cuts to Medicaid, SNAP, climate investments, and other...

Kingston, NY – A storm on July 3rd disrupted Central Hudson’s power service for roughly 12% of its customers. Below is Assemblymember Shrestha’s comment: “First and foremost, I want to thank all the Central Hudson workers who’ve been working...

New York, NY – This morning, New York City comptroller and mayoral candidate, Brad Lander, was detained by masked ICE agents as Lander tried to escort a man from his court appearance in an immigration court building. The Governor joined NYC elected...

Kingston, NY – The Assembly unanimously passed AM Shrestha’s Public Renewables Transparency Act (S2462A/A7686) on Friday, which passed the Senate earlier in the week. The bill adds transparency and accountability measures to the New York Power Authority’s...

Albany, NY – A bill co-sponsored by AM Shrestha (A8888) that prohibits utilities from passing the cost of a new gas hook up to all the customers has passed in the Assembly following passage in the Senate. The bill is a narrow version of the much more...

Kingston, NY – Following the passage of the Medical Aid in Dying Act in the Assembly in late April, the bill has passed in the Senate today. It must next be signed by the Governor.Typically, this happens closer to the end of the year. “A little over...

Kingston, NY – The Office of Assemblymember Sarahana Shrestha announced today that she will not be signing onto the joint proposal reached through months of closed-door settlement negotiation between the Department of Public Service staff, intervening...

Kingston, NY – Despite initial reporting that the Housing Access Voucher Program was dead in state budget negotiations for the fourth year in a row under Governor Hochul, a push from the Assembly has succeeded in creating a four-year pilot program that...

Albany, NY – After weeks of delays in negotiations, AM Shrestha along with colleagues and housing advocates, celebrated the inclusion of the Housing Access Voucher program in the State’s 2025-26 budget proposal. “I am thrilled that the Governor...

Between 2020-2024, energy costs in New York increased by 30%, and housing costs by almost 20%, but it’s the housing cost that’s behind inflation in our state being higher than the national average. If the state were to invest $5 billion in increasing...