{
	"type": "rich",
	"version": "1.0",
	"provider_name": "Action Network",
	"provider_url": "https://actionnetwork.org",
	
	"html": "<link href='https://actionnetwork.org/css/style-embed-v3.css' rel='stylesheet' type='text/css' /><script src='https://actionnetwork.org/widgets/v6/petition/hvpa?format=js&source=widget'></script><div id='can-petition-area-hvpa' style='width: 100%'><!-- this div is the target for our HTML insertion --></div>",
	"author_name": "Hudson Valley Power Authority",
	"author_url": "https://actionnetwork.org/groups/hudson-valley-power-authority",
	"title": "In support of the Hudson Valley Power Authority Act",
	"thumbnail_url": "https://actionnetwork.org//images/generic_facebook.jpg",
	"description": "The Hudson Valley Power Authority Act replaces Central Hudson with a publicly-owned and democratically controlled utility: the Hudson Valley Power Authority (HVPA), whose goal is to be in the service of ratepayers by providing low rates, reliable service, easy to understand bills, clean energy, community benefits, labor protections, and environmental justice. How would the HVPA function? Central Hudson would be acquired from the Canadian holding company, Fortis, and be run as an independent state-owned public benefit corporation—all the powers of a corporation but without shareholders and a profit motive. It would be governed by a representative Board of Trustees, overseen by an Observatory, and operated by the same workers who operate it today, including those who come to fix power outages. What is an Observatory? An Observatory is an autonomous civil society organization designed to improve community participation, transparency, and benefit-sharing. Its Governing Board will include elected county representatives, labor representatives chosen by the local union, and members from one or more academic institutions that are partners to the Observatory. Who will pay for it? HVPA can issue low-interest bonds to purchase Central Hudson without costing taxpayers. Ratepayers will pay for the services just as we do now, except the rates will be lower because (1) utilities depend on debt-financing, and state authorities can finance debt at lower costs, and (2) the profit motive is removed. The first thing HVPA would do is refinance Central Hudson&#x27;s current debt at a lower interest rate—currently it has over a billion dollars in long-term debt, which is normal for utilities! Why pursue Public Power? The fight for Public Power is not new to New York or the United States. In 1931, the state legislature created the New York Power Authority (NYPA) as a counterweight to private utilities like ConEd. And without the federal government stepping in to create publicly-owned or cooperative utilities, most of rural America may still be without power. Today, cities like Los Angeles and Austin get their energy from publicly-owned utilities. The conflict between profit and public interest have always lied at the root of the multiple crises facing for-profit utilities, and Central Hudson is no exception. Why is HVPA the solution? The conflict between profit and public interest lies at the root of the multiple crises facing Central Hudson. Creating a democratically-run public authority that can take advantage of tax-free bond financing to purchase the company will reduce costs and increase accountability. One of the inherent problems with investor-owned utilities is they make profit by convincing regulators to approve expensive—and sometimes unnecessary—infrastructure projects that the rest of us have to pay for over time. Unfortunately, this financing model disincentivizes low-cost climate-friendly initiatives. Creating HVPA would deliver utility justice and ensure we transition our grid at the speed and scale that the climate crisis requires.",
	"url": "https://actionnetwork.org/petitions/hvpa"
}