A green victory
Fossil-fuel interests have tried to sell natural gas as a stopgap, a “bridge fuel” to keep the lights on as we build our way to a clean-energy future. We’re glad to see the state Department of Environmental Conservation isn’t buying it.
The DEC has denied proposals for two natural gas power plants, Danskammer Energy Center in Newburgh and Astoria Gas Turbine Power in Queens, calling them “inconsistent” with the goals of the state’s Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act. It’s a bold move that acknowledges a stark truth: We can’t simultaneously invest in fossil fuels and wean ourselves off of them.
New York must go big on renewable energy. There’s no other path forward. Good for the DEC for taking a step toward the future.
“Campus climate”? It’s hot all right.
Here’s a tip: When people are angry with your leadership, distorting or suppressing their voices doesn’t make them feel better about your leadership.
That’s what appears to have hapdoes
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pened at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, where a consultant reached out to some faculty members about a “campus climate” survey his company had conducted. University human resources personnel found the results “too negative” and wanted, according to the consultant, to somehow spin them into something positive.
The survey of faculty and staff described a “fear-based, unhealthy, stifling culture” at a university where employees’ distrust of the administration runs deep, a place beset with infrastructure problems and a lack of support for research. Kind of hard to put a smiley face on that.
The handling of the survey follows a pattern of autocratic actions from university leadership, which have led to protests from students, criticism from alumni, and friction with faculty — and put RPI on a list of 10 worst campuses for freedom of expression.
With Shirley Ann Jackson, RPI’S longtime president, leaving next summer, it’s an opportunity to press “reset” on the school’s management style, with an eye toward fostering relationships and communication. Because while quashing critical voices never works, it speak loud and clear — with a message that bodes ill for RPI’S future.
Stronger protections
“Everyone has the right to a workplace completely free of unlawful discrimination or harassment,” Gov. Kathy Hochul said last week.
It’s so fundamental it shouldn’t need said. But as the investigation of Gov. Andrew Cuomo emphasized, it does need to be said, loudly and often. And more than just saying it, Gov. Hochul is backing it up with new policies for the Executive Chamber.
The stronger guardrails she’s installing include hiring an independent law firm to investigate complaints of harassment or discrimination in the chamber, which is also getting a new human resources department. Executive Chamber employees must complete new workplace training, and it’ll be given in person — a good move, considering there’s reason to doubt Mr. Cuomo ever took his mandated online anti-harassment training; someone else signed his attestation for him.
Changing the culture starts with setting strict standards and having a clear plan for achieving them. Once again, Gov. Hochul appears to be doing what she pledged she was going to do.