Capitol Hill Republicans are about to confront a staggering price tag for Trump’s Middle East war. Some GOP lawmakers are hearing estimates that the Pentagon is spending as much as $2 billion a day.

Having faced no consequences for anything, Trump has noticed that he has the world’s largest military at his command, and believes he has found a brilliant solution for solving problems that no one before him was smart enough to discover: just kill everyone in your way, until they obey you.

“the states with the highest increase in renewable generation share from 2019-2024, such as Iowa, New Mexico, and South Dakota, have seen some of the largest decreases in electricity rates”

A bill introduced by Assemblymember Anna Kelles aims to harness home batteries, electric vehicles, and other clean tech to meet reliability needs. nysfocus.com/2026/03/04/n...

👀 New letter from 29 NYS Senators (>2/3 of the Dem caucus) to Hochul this morning: “We categorically oppose any effort to rollback New York’s nation-leading climate law… and urge you to stand strong in the face of misinformation that seeks to blame the CLCPA for the energy affordability crisis”

Past fossil-fuel price spikes left import-dependent countries with two options: pay up or cut fuel use. Now there is an alternative in solar and batteries. I looked at recent examples in Europe, Pakistan, Cuba to glean what might happen with the war on Iran. 🎁🔗 www.bloomberg.com/news/article...

A large immigration detention camp in Texas has been closed to visitors and attorneys due to a measles outbreak, a lawmaker said.

Mercury poisoning is back on the menu. Here’s @jeva.bsky.social with the story of how the Trump administration’s rollback of coal plant emissions regulations could wind up in your tuna: heatmap.news/climate/trum...

Grid investment is rising fast. BloombergNEF reports record spending in 2025 of 470 to 483 billion US dollars, up 17 percent on 2024. That is the second year of double digit growth. This reflects structural change: more renewables, electrified transport & heating + rising demand from data centres.

Following Virginia, Illinois, and other states, New York now has legislation on the table to ramp up “virtual power plants.” It would give utilities six months to develop programs and boost incentives for customers to participate. Here’s a first look at the new bill from Assemblymember Anna Kelles:

Mamdani is so far avoiding stepping into the fray over New York’s climate law. From City Hall spox Jeremy Edwards, when I asked about Hochul’s push to amend the CLCPA: “The Mamdani Administration is laser-focused on addressing both the affordability and climate crises…”

European natural gas price up by another 35% today to 60 €/MWh; now almost double last Friday's level!

Trump: "Finally, we honor one more American soldier, a fallen warria of world. Of wars. And really, terra.”

LI Assemblymember Keith Brown, earning up to $600K at his law firm, said leaving office was a “difficult” decision, “but it is time.” “Brown didn’t offer any more about whether the upcoming enforcement of the outside income cap contributed to his thought that now is the right time to leave office.”

NEW: Here's what the crisis in the Middle East and turmoil in energy markets mean for renewable energy and the clean transition Story w @akshatrathi.bsky.social @sharonchenhm.bsky.social via @bloomberg.com FREE read: www.bloomberg.com/news/article...

It was great talking to @jigarshahdc.bsky.social as part of our look at what’s holding back “virtual power plants” in NY. “There’s no architect for change in New York state.… And as a result, [utilities] continue to get the ability to raise rates.” nysfocus.com/2026/02/28/v...

"In Iran, the destruction and general illegality is the point: This administration wants to drop a shitload of bombs, to kill a foreign leader, to destabilize a foreign nation, if not an entire region simply because it can—and because no one can stop them." newrepublic.com/article/2071...

Senior expert on Iran at @crisisgroup.org Ali Vaez.

You can just say things.

NEW: An overdue update to New York’s benefit cards that could prevent food stamp theft could launch as early as next February.

This is such a well done piece that reports out, with hard data and interviews, something profound about what's gone wrong in this country. www.wsj.com/us-news/amer...

Hochul's push to change New York's climate mandates is "a public policy mistake," a key lawmakers says as NYSERDA releases a memo purporting increased cost concerns www.capitolconfidential.com/p/hochuls-zy... - ZYN tax opponents make their case - We're getting a state revenue update tomorrow

"Wait, why don't we put power lines underground?" www.wbur.org/news/2026/02... @wbur.org

NEW: Congressional leaders & others are calling for investigations into Border Patrol following the death of Nurul Shah Alam, a refugee left by agents at a coffee shop. Shah Alam, nearly-blind, was left to wander the city. He died Tuesday. www.investigativepost.org/2026/02/26/c...

Hochul seems to be waffling on whether/how to roll back New York’s flagship climate law, the CLCPA, but her budget director strongly suggested yesterday that it is still on the agenda for the coming weeks. www.cityandstateny.com/policy/2026/...

TIL that the chief investment officer at Trump’s Office of “Energy Dominance Financing” (formerly the Loan Programs Office) is named... Hernan Cortes

Manhattan snow clearing is different

What's more shocking than ICE's plan to cram as many 8,500 humans into massive, soul-crushing warehouses? Seeing the actual DHS floor plan that echoes slavery ships and history's worst gulags with no rec space but a gun range for guards My new column on the camps www.inquirer.com/opinion/ice-...

Virtual power plants could absorb a fifth of New York’s peak energy demand by 2040, saving customers >$2 billion/year. But in the decade-plus that NY has puzzled over this approach, other states have vaulted ahead. With Jack Carroll:

✨Mini scoop for this Friday afternoon: In January, energy company NRG bought the biggest power plant in New York State — the Ravenswood Generating Station. Plans to convert the site into a renewable energy hub have been hanging by a thread. heatmap.news/energy/nrg-r...

MISO was one step away from load shedding (aka forced blackouts) at the height of the January storm. Thermal outages were an issue. 🔌💡 www.rtoinsider.com/126100-miso-...

Virtual power plants could absorb a fifth of New York’s peak energy demand by 2040, saving customers >$2 billion/year. But in the decade-plus that NY has puzzled over this approach, other states have vaulted ahead. With Jack Carroll:

NEW: The concept of virtual power plants is gaining traction among energy experts, who say such programs could be instrumental as the state grapples with rising energy demand and soaring energy bills. New York was early to embrace the idea, but efforts to implement it at scale have faltered.

“I don’t want to be in this place I want to go to my school.” - 7 year old imprisoned by ICE for 70 days in a concentration camp in Texas. Today, after @propublica.org published this story, the camp was raided to confiscate letters from the children. www.propublica.org/article/ice-...

Updated climate indicators graphics, now including 2025 ed-hawkins.github.io/climate-visu...

NEW: The Amawalk Reservoir, which provides drinking water to three northern Westchester County towns and New York City, has become the center of a battle over who pays for environmental cleanups in the state.

Investigative journalism with a moral force is a public service that we take seriously, and we need a strong contract to do our jobs effectively. That’s why we are ready to strike! Our GoFundMe will help offset the cost of missed pay: www.gofundme.com/f/support-pr...

👀 Bill alert: Data center moratorium 👀 S9144, from Liz Krueger and Anna Kelles, would block new data center construction for three years in NY while the state crafts rules for the industry. Food & Water Watch appears to be leading the organizing, with broad support from enviro/progressive groups

NEW: Mayor Mamdani is set to endorse Gov. Hochul’s reelection run this week, providing her a critical inroad with progressive voters, per four sources. It deals a near fatal blow to Antonio Delgado's campaign. www.politico.com/news/2026/02...

"State lawmakers want gas companies to give New Yorkers more notice when they’re planning to dig up a gas line — and a chance to consider cheaper or cleaner alternatives," reports @colinreports.bsky.social: nysfocus.com/2026/02/04/l... 🔌💡

This is worth a re-up following Mamdani’s comments today but does anyone have the numbers handy on how many NYC homes still rely on heating oil to stay warm?

At a press conference this morning, Mayor Mamdani said that sea ice was preventing heating fuel from getting to the city by boat, which may contribute to the record number of heat complaints last week. Many buildings like 155 Linden, which I profile herein, have old oil boilers

Inbox: The NYS Senate is voting today to once again pass a package of 10 utility reform bills, including one designed to rein in the companies’ return on equity (i.e. profit). All of these bills passed the Senate last year too but died in the Assembly.

Details from the mayor’s office: - $38.4 million - 712 apartments at NYCHA’s Beach 41st Street Houses - heat pumps “will replace an aging gas boiler system that has exceeded its useful life”

New York utilities spend upwards of $1 billion a year replacing old gas pipes. A new bill from Asm. Emily Gallagher and Sen. Kristen Gonzalez would force them to reveal where that money is going — and give residents more of a chance to consider alternatives

NYC @mayor.nyc.gov and officials announce expansion of electric heat pump program at NYCHA development in Far Rockaway. The pilot program started at NYCHA’s Woodside Houses with promising results, as we reported. www.thecity.nyc/2025/02/27/n...

“New York’s buried powerlines were good news during last week’s massive storm… But the 116 million pounds of salt that the city’s sanitation department said it has dumped [since] is taking its toll on the lines.” 24+ hours without power in this weather is… not great gothamist.com/news/con-ed-...

Judge says Sunrise Wind can resume construction, ”ending Trump’s offshore wind ban — for now.” via @canarymedia.com: www.canarymedia.com/articles/off...

Hochul, speaking to @danclarkreports.bsky.social just now, makes clear that she wants to change NY’s emissions accounting standards and maybe revisit other CLCPA deadlines. “We’re held to a very different standard… we’re always gonna look like we’re coming up short despite our best efforts”