Uptown Chats

It's a podcast takeover! Join Tali Natter, WE ACT's Research Coordinator and former Cecil Corbin-Mark Environmental Justice Research Fellow, to get a peak into the Environmental Justice Leadership Forum Annual Convening that WE ACT help coordinate back in June of this year in Chicago along with several environmental justice organizations across the country. Some of the interviews were conducted during the annual convening, and may not have the same audio quality as the rest of the episode - our apologies! Learn more about the Environmental Justice Leadership Forum! You can also listen to this episode on YouTube. Got questions? Email us at [email protected]  Connect with the show: Follow us on Instagram Follow us on Facebook Donate to WE ACT for Environmental Justice

Battery energy storage systems are coming to NYC! Join Jaron and Lonnie to learn how this technology can help lower energy bills and improve local air quality with help from Alia Soomro, Deputy Director of New York City Policy at the New York League of Conservation Voters. This episode builds on our conversation about Peaker Plants with Yuwa Vosper, WE ACT’s Senior Policy Advisor. Check out the episode here: Episode 72 - Peaker Plants Extra Resources: Look for local energy storage projects on NYSERDA's online tool Learn more about battery energy storage systems with NYLCV's BESS Fact Sheets RSVP for an upcoming BESS site tour in the Bronx!  You can also listen to this episode on YouTube. Got questions? Email us at [email protected]  Connect with the show: Follow us on Instagram Follow us on Facebook Donate to WE ACT for Environmental Justice 

Have you ever struggled to pay your utility bill? Join Jaron and Lonnie to learn about one of the twelve Clean Energy Hubs across New York State that help New Yorkers access programs to lower their energy bills and participate in the clean energy transition. Our special guest for this episode is Sachaly De Leon from the Association for Neighborhood and Housing Development (ANHD). Want to learn more? Visit manhattancleanenergyhub.org and sign up for free support from the Manhattan Clean Energy Hub! You can also listen to this episode on YouTube. Got questions? Email us at [email protected]  Connect with the show: Follow us on Instagram Follow us on Facebook Donate to WE ACT for Environmental Justice

Ever wonder why your utility bill is higher in the summer? Join Jaron and Lonnie to learn how peak demand and peaker plants affect both the cost of electricity and the air quality in NYC communities. Our special guest this week is WE ACT’s Senior Policy Advisor, Yuwa Vosper. Check out one of our previous episodes to learn more about energy justice and how our electricity grid works  Episode 4: Energy Democracy – Power to the People Extra Resources: What is Peak Demand? (Energy Sage) You can also listen to this episode on YouTube. Got questions? Email us at [email protected]  Connect with the show: Follow us on Instagram Follow us on Facebook Donate to WE ACT for Environmental Justice

Summer is here and it is HOT! Join Jaron and Lonnie to learn about a new project to measure the impact of extreme heat inside the homes of everyday New Yorkers led by WE ACT’s Environmental Health Manager, Valentina Rojas. Relevant Resources: Read the NYC DOHMH 2026 Heat Mortality Report to learn more about the impact of extreme heat in NYC. Check out one of our previous episodes featuring Valentina, where we talked about her work measuring outdoor air quality in Northern Manhattan: Episode 53: Air Quality Monitoring: Congesting Pricing & Other Sources of Air Pollution You can also listen to this episode on YouTube. Got questions? Email us at [email protected]  Connect with the show: Follow us on Instagram Follow us on Facebook Donate to WE ACT for Environmental Justice