Mark Walczyk

New York State's official bird! The Eastern Bluebird is a migratory thrush found in open woodlands, farmlands, and orchards of North America, pretty much anywhere East of the Rockies.

Down South, they'll gather in large flocks but we live in their breeding grounds and they're pretty territorial during the breeding season (spring/summer). They love bugs - grasshoppers, crickets, katydids, and beetles are favorites but you might also see them on the ground grabbing earthworms, spiders, millipedes, centipedes, and snails.

Beautiful and popular, the State of Missouri also took the Bluebird for theirs, and it's even on the $2 bill of Bermuda.

“This act shall be known and may be cited as the "New York State grid reliability and energy affordability transition (GREAT) act." Who came up with that name?

I’d call it: “The we’ll control your thermostat for your own good act”

It’s definitely not GREAT. They’re creating in New York State something they call a "virtual power plant." What the heck is that? A lie. There’s no “virtual” power being produced. The proposed change in state law creates a coordinated network through “smart” devices in your home appliances, batteries, electric vehicles, thermostats, etc. They want to control your home’s power usage. The proposed bill, S9005A, (which passed the NY Senate 39 to 21, with all democrats voting YES) states in the text:

“During periods of peak demand for electricity, virtual power plants can reduce demand, supply electricity, and provide other essential grid services, preventing blackouts and lessening the need for costly upgrades to utility infrastructure.”

Don’t believe me? Read the bill here: https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/bills/2025/S9500/amendment/A

Instead of fixing their mistakes, they want control of your home.
The state shut down Indian Point nuclear facility, then tried for 7 years to make up the power shortage in solar, wind, and Canadian hydro while subsidizing and incentivizing “electrify everything” - they still don’t have close to enough power.

This is why the supply charge on your bill is so high and a big part of the reason NY’s energy prices are 70% higher than the national average.
It’s also why Governor Kathy Hochul is asking people to set their air conditioning to 78º.

And amazingly, instead of promoting nuclear power, upgrading natural gas peaker plants (NYC’s now surviving on diesel generators), repowering biomass, bringing new plants online, or turning away from heavily-subsidized-low-production-high-land-use “green” energy – instead, they want control of your tesla battery, to force your smart dryer on a time-delay, and to set the temperature of your thermostat.

No.

New Yorkers – wake up.

The Governor, all the NY Senate, and NY Assembly are up for election this year. Look at their voting records, set partisan views aside, and make a plan to cast your vote in November.