Innovation Trail

Governor Andrew Cuomo has set out an ambitious agenda for energy in New York state and he needs to.

Extreme weather events such as Superstorm Sandy have exposed the fragility of the state’s aging energy grid, new EPA regulations on greenhouse gases are driving fast-track conversions of former coal-fired plants, over 40 percent of New York’s power stations are more than four decades old and the Governor is caught in a major political vice over fracking.

Cuomo’s 2013-14 budget proposal also outlines some major investments in the renewable energy sector.

The Innovation Trail will focus its reporting on the state's energy planning and investment in the week of March 18-22. All the reports will be posted here.

There was a larger crowd than usual at a DEC public meeting in Springwater last night, with standing room only as the draft forest management plan for the Hemlock and Canadice lakes was presented.

The draft has spurred controversy over the past few weeks because it includes language about possible permits for hydraulic fracturing and drilling on the state forest land.

Regional director of the DEC, Paul D'Amato says the state has no intention of allowing drilling, but anti-fracking groups remain wary.

Department of Health Commissioner Nirav Shah sent a letter to Department of Environmental Conservation Commissioner Joe Martens today, asking for more time to complete a review of the public health impacts of fracking.

This means that the DEC will miss tomorrow's deadline to complete its overall environmental review of fracking (known as the SGEIS), and the regulations it's written to govern the industry will expire at the end of the month.

This development could stall a final decision on fracking for months, but in a statement Martens says his agency will still be able to issue well permits if the health review concludes that the SGEIS is adequate.

Winds from Hurricane Sandy were stronger coming off Lake Ontario than in other parts of central New York. WRVO’s Ryan Delaney spent the morning along the lake in Cayuga County and reports folks are dealing with only minor damage.

Bob and Allyson Malo were out checking their neighbor’s cottages along Little Sodus Bay in Fair Haven.

Allyson, who spent the night in their home on the opposite side of the road, says the winds were strong for most of the night.

Legal firms across New York State are preparing for a decision from Albany regarding hydraulic fracturing in the Marcellus Shale formation.   Need to Know Rochester spoke with two attorneys from Nixon Peabody in Rochester.