R.E.A.C.T. by PECC Newsletter
Volume 1, Issue 3 - December 22, 2025
As we publish the third and final issue of Renewable Energy and Climate Talk or R.E.A.C.T. by PECC for the Fall 2025 semester, I am proud of how far this platform has come in such a short time and energized by what it signals for the future of the Pace Energy and Climate Center. This semester has marked a period of momentum and renewal under Michael Hamersky’s first months as Executive Director, particularly in reaffirming PECC’s commitment to student-centered scholarship and meaningful engagement with the broader energy and climate law community. The launch of the PECC Energy and Climate Scholars Program is a key step in that effort, creating new pathways to support the publication of student research while expanding how we highlight and disseminate the work of PECC staff and practitioners.
None of this would be possible without the extraordinary efforts of our students. I want to especially recognize the members of our Executive Board, Frances Gothard, Carington Lowe, and Kenneth Sumter, whose leadership and dedication have made both the R.E.A.C.T. Newsletter and Podcast a reality. In just one semester, they have helped build a platform that reflects the breadth of issues shaping today’s energy and climate landscape. Across our first three issues and podcast episodes, R.E.A.C.T. has explored topics ranging from New York energy regulation and federal policy shifts to international climate governance, climate justice, emerging technologies, and global legal frameworks. This third issue intentionally brings together the domestic and international perspectives introduced in our first two editions, continuing our core goal of blending original student scholarship, institutional updates, public comment activity, global engagement, and event coverage in a way that positions PECC as a thought leader and an active participant in shaping climate and energy governance.
As 2025 comes to a close, we are looking ahead to an exciting Spring 2026. Future R.E.A.C.T. newsletter issues and podcast episodes will build upon this foundational work, expanding its scope while offering deeper insights and highlights of PECC’s new and ongoing projects across New York State and beyond. I am deeply grateful to our students, alumni, practitioners, and partners for their engagement and support, and I look forward to what we will build together in the year ahead.
PECC Energy and Climate Law Scholar's Articles
Rethinking Battery Energy Storage Systems with an Energy Storage Road Map
- Explores New York's Battery Energy Storage Systems, which are increasingly being deployed to support New York's ambitious climate and clean energy goals by providing resilient, affordable, and low-emission power while helping phase out fossil fuel.
Community-Centered Just Transition from Fossil Fuels to Renewable Energy
- Highlights the Rust Belt's transition from fossil fuels to renewable energy, emphasizing the importance of a "just transition" framework that prioritizes community empowerment and local engagement.
The U.S.-China Divide in Solar Policy & Deployment
- Provides an insightful examination of the U.S. solar energy challenge, using the cancellation of Esmeralda 7 to illustrate how regulatory uncertainty and reduced tax incentives have slowed domestic renewable deployment, while contrasting China's coordinated industrial strategy and consistent policy support, highlighting the urgent need for streamlined permitting in the United States.
New York State's Energy Blueprint
- Examines New York Governor Kathy Hochul's plans for an advanced nuclear energy plant in Upstate New York, aiming to add at least on gigawatt of power to the state's existing 3.4 gigawatt nuclear mix as part of her Nuclear Energy Master Plan.
Announcing PECC's newest group of Energy & Climate Law Scholars
The Pace Energy and Climate Center (“PECC") is thrilled to announce the 2025–26 Energy and Climate Law Scholars: Ayman Irfan, Jack Finn, Laila Greene, Joann Lenart, Kaden Bosquez, and Stephen Badea.
R.E.A.C.T. by PECC Podcast
Newest Episode: A Conversation with Emma Lagle & Clara Cusanelli ‘27 Over Energy Fairness for New York Residents
Pace Energy & Climate Center's Energy & Policy Advisor, Emma Lagle, and her extern, Clara Cusanelli (Pace Haub Law '27), conference over energy fairness for New York residents and how PECC addresses current New York State Energy Plans that can drive down energy costs.
Highlights from PECC Events
Stay updated on the latest developments shaping the future of energy and environmental law by reading about the takeaways from various events PECC has been attending.
- 30th Conference of the Parties ("COP30") to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change
- Samuel Carvalho, an environmental attorney from Belém, COP30 participant, and recent LL.M. graduate from Pace | Haub Law, offers a local perspective on COP30. He reflects on what hosting the conference meant for the city and its people and highlights key outcomes that emerged from the negotiations.
COP30: A local’s perspective on the Conference By: Samuel Carvalho
The 30th Conference of the Parties (COP30) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change was held this year in Belém, Brazil. As an environmental attorney from Belém and a participant in COP30, I would like to share in this newsletter what the Conference meant to the city and its people, as well as some of the relevant outcomes that emerged from the negotiations.
Belém: The capital of Brazil
As a Belém resident this year, I witnessed every step of the city’s preparation for the largest event it has ever hosted, as well as the expectations of its citizens. When it was first announced that Belém would be the host city of COP30, many were skeptical that the city’s preparation projects–into which the federal government invested more than R$4 billion, including new terminals, parks, and renovations of markets and museums–would be completed on time, given that public works in Brazil often fall behind schedule. Fortunately, most of these projects were successfully delivered before the start date of the Conference, transforming the city’s landscape and leaving a historic legacy for its people. This is especially true after President Lula signed into law a bill temporarily transferring Brazil’s capital to Belém during COP30. The general feeling I would hear locals share during the Conference was that Belém felt like “the best city in Brazil,” with many expressing excitement about the new public spaces they couldn’t wait to explore. In the end, I believe there was a shared sense of appreciation for the benefits COP30 brought to the city.
In addition to these projects, I was surprised by how eager people were to participate in COP events. The Green Zone, COP’s public-access area that hosted important climate and environmental discussions, was constantly full, with some days with limited access due to capacity constraints. It was incredible to see parents bringing their children to the Green Zone, and friends encouraging one another to attend COP activities. Indigenous Peoples were also highly present in the area, presenting panels, participating in small demonstrations, and even showcasing arts and paintings for sale. Having attended COP29 last year, I observed with great satisfaction the significant enhancement in public engagement in the Green Zone this year compared to the previous COP.
One moment was particularly meaningful to me. I presented a panel at a COP30 side event alongside Professor Hamersky, where we discussed what COP is, where and how it started, and how it relates to Brazil’s climate commitments and to people’s lives. The room was full, and at the end of the panel, a kind lady approached us to thank us very much, because she finally understood what that major event taking place in her city was all about. That small gesture meant the world to me, as I felt that I was giving back to my community a bit of what I’ve learned during my LL.M. at Pace.
COP30 outcomes
In the Blue Zone, COP’s area limited to official negotiations and accredited participants, there were mixed feelings regarding the direction discussions were taking, the decisions ultimately adopted at the Conference, and the occurrence of some unexpected events.
From the outset, there were discussions on the creation of a new forest fund, which was successfully launched during the Conference. The Tropical Forest Forever Facility (TFFF) was designed to reward tropical forest countries with funding for their tropical forest conservation efforts. Countries like Brazil, Indonesia, France, Germany, and Norway committed to contributing to the funding. Furthermore, other positive outcomes include the agreement to triple the $40 billion adaptation finance goal established at COP26 to a new $120 billion target, as well as the submission of updated nationally determined contributions (NDCs) by 119 countries, representing 74 percent of annual global emissions.
On the other hand, while many participants were hopeful and actively advocating for a commitment to a fossil fuel phase-out, these expectations were unfortunately frustrated as strong opposition from oil-rich countries prevented consensus on this critical issue. Additionally, further disappointment at COP was attributed to the absence of the US following its withdrawal from the Paris Agreement. This absence, nonetheless, was compensated to some extent by the participation of a few US state governors, such as Michelle Lujan Grisham (New Mexico) and Gavin Newsom (California), who reaffirmed their commitment to continuing to work to advance climate policy at the state level.
Among the unexpected events at COP30, the Indigenous Peoples’ protests stood out as a powerful call for stronger participation in COP’s negotiations and for an end to projects and extractive activities that threaten Indigenous territories. The Friday protest during the first week was especially impactful, considering that demonstrators blockaded the main entrance to the Blue Zone for several hours and demanded to speak directly with Brazil’s president. The manifestations were followed by a significant outcome, the recognition of 10 new Indigenous territories by the Brazilian government during the second week of COP, advancing their historical and long-awaited demarcation process.
Conclusion
COP30 left a positive legacy for the city of Belém and its people, as the city’s landscape improved with new public spaces, better infrastructure, and renewed historical and cultural attractions. Additionally, people’s understanding of climate change and environmental issues deepened as they actively engaged in COP events, which highlights not only their interest in climate change but also their desire to participate in its solution process.
With regard to COP30 decisions, there was certainly an improvement in funding pledges, finance goals, national climate commitments, and Indigenous Peoples’ participation. Yet, there was also a disappointment with the lack of ambition in some of these commitments and the absence of a fossil fuel phase-out roadmap. Within this context, there is still much work to be done looking ahead to COP31, as our world needs stronger commitments and implementation actions to successfully address the urgent climate crisis we face today.
Upcoming Events:
- 01/14: Danish Consulate x SUNY | Thermal Energy Networks Workshop. PECC will sponsor a private, invitation only workshop from 9:00 am–3:00 pm focused on application driven strategies for deploying thermal energy networks across SUNY campuses. The session builds on ongoing Denmark x New York collaboration and recent SUNY capacity building initiatives.
- 01/28: The Empire State of Energy. PECC and the Environmental Law Society of Elisabeth Haub School of Law at Pace University will cohost a panel discussion, moderated by Michael Hamersky, with representatives from New York State regulatory agencies and WeAct for Environmental Justice to discuss the challenges that the energy grid, and the customers it serves, will face in 2026.
- 02/07: New Directions in Environmental Law Conference. Frances Gothard, PECC Executive Board member, and fellow Energy and Climate Law Scholars will join student leaders from Haub Law, Yale Law School, and Yale School of the Environment to host the annual environmental law and policy conference at Yale Law School.
- 02/09: NYS CO₂ Budget Trading Program Amendments Public Hearings—Virtual. DEC and NYSERDA will hold public hearings at 2:00 pm and 6:00 pm on proposed updates to New York’s CO₂ Budget Trading Program, including implementation of the new RGGI cap through 2037 and related program changes.
- 02/19–21: 2026 Jeffrey G. Miller National Environmental Law Moot Court Competition—Elisabeth Haub School of Law at Pace University, White Plains, New York
Recently Submitted Public Comments
- Submitted a Comment to the Consolidate Edison UTEN Stage 2 Design Study.
Upcoming Public Comment Filings
- 12/22: Comments due on NYSERDA’s Bulk Energy Storage 12+ Hour Methodology Proposal in Case 18-E-0131, addressing proposed approaches for estimating long-duration storage revenues for bulk procurements.
- 12/29: Comments due on NYSERDA’s Build-Ready Program Five-Year Review and proposed termination in Case 15-E-0302, including a request to discontinue the program as ratepayer funded and continue it through 2030 using economic development funds.
- 02/08: Comments due on NYSEG's Ithaca UTEN Stage 2 filing in Case 22-M-0429, addressing proposed design and implementation details for the UTEN pilot.
- 02/17: Comments due on DEC and NYSERDA’s proposed amendments to New York’s CO₂ Budget Trading Program, implementing the new RGGI cap through 2037 and related programmatic changes.
As part of PECC's ongoing engagement with the Haub Law community, the Practitioners' Corner highlights alumni and affiliates whose work advances the legal field. This issue features Pianpian Wang (Haub Law SJD ‘24 LL.M ‘13), who has officially joined the PECC team as an Institute for Energy and Democracy Fellow.
R.E.A.C.T. by PECC Newsletter Curators:
Frances Gothard J.D. '26 | Carington Lowe J.D. '26