Readers sound off on NYC energy storage, ACS lawsuit and today’s young people

Long Island City: Con Edison argued that NYC is deploying too much energy storage too quickly (“Improving battery storage & affordability,” op-ed, May 17). Customers paying rising bills should ask: Too quickly for who? Community-scale batteries are one of the fastest, most practical tools we have to lower utility bills. Batteries charge when demand is low and discharge during peaks, reducing wholesale electricity rates and preventing “surge pricing” during heat waves and cold snaps. They can also reduce the need for expensive ratepayer-funded infrastructure built to serve just a few peak hours each year. In NYC, reliability margins are tightening and aging fossil fuel plants remain a public health burden. Air pollution contributes to thousands of premature deaths and emergency room visits each year. Batteries help keep the lights on while protecting New Yorkers’ lungs.

Despite Con Ed’s claims, battery deployment in its territory is just getting started, with 117 megawatts operating today, less than 1% of the utility’s 13-gigawatt peak. So why seek to slow deployment? Incentives. Utilities earn guaranteed profits on capital projects. Customer-owned batteries can reduce the need for those projects. The state Public Service Commission has tools to address this issue. It can direct Con Ed to restore a fair interconnection process, update rates to accurately value distributed energy resources, and adopt performance-based ratemaking so utilities profit when bills go down, reliability improves and our energy mix is cleaner.

Brooklyn: Re “Lawsuit claims ACS abuses emergency powers to take kids away from parents” (May 29): This new lawsuit by so-called advocates will further add to the deaths of children in our city. It was bad enough that they passed laws saying complaints to the child abuse hotline can no longer be anonymous and Administration for Children’s Services workers can’t enter a home or apartment without a court order. The new wrinkle is they’re challenging the agency’s ability to remove children in serious trouble. When will advocates learn to save children’s lives instead of win lawsuits?

Whitestone: A $269 billion budget for New York State. If that’s not the icing on the cake on the destruction of New York by Gov. Hochul, I don’t know what is. It’s pretty apparent that she can’t run the state as governor, and come November, New Yorkers — all New Yorkers — must vote her out of office.

West Windsor, Vt.: So now President Trump’s mega-MAGA sycophant Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent wants to put our illustrious president’s mug on a new $250 bill. How much more of our tax money do we need to spend to feed the ego of our insecure, childish president? Billions for a Cinderella ballroom, along with who knows how much for an Arch de Trump monument and wrestling extravaganza to be held in front of the White House to celebrate the 250th anniversary of our once-great before-Trump nation, which will have our Founding Fathers spinning out of their graves. When will the spineless Republican cowards in Congress, who are supposed to represent the American people, say enough is enough and get back to their elected job of representing us and not the self-aggrandizing interests of Trump?

Stockholm, N.J.: Well, now Trump wants his name on money. If he must have it, bring back the penny and put his name on the back.

Rockville Centre, L.I.: Re “Trump: I’m coming to Knicks’ NBA Finals game” (May 28): As a 1970s Knicks fan (champs of ’70 and ’73), I’m looking forward to the Finals. However, I’m disappointed that team owner James Dolan invited Trump and his entourage to The Mecca. It would be a logistical nightmare for the NYPD and Garden and federal security, and a total disregard for the fans who’d have to endure time-consuming security checks that have plagued other sporting events attended by the president. Do you really want to lock down Midtown traffic, along with the amount of fans who’ll be hanging out around the perimeter of the arena? TV networks and media outlets also don’t need the additional distraction that would be a production headache. We’ve come too far to disrupt our “orange and blue skies” Knickerbockers with outside political moves. We haven’t been here since 1999.

Manhattan: Re “Cole shines, Yanks beat KC” (May 27): Aaron Judge may appear larger than life, but recently he’s been overshadowed by Gerrit Cole’s healthy return to the mound, as well as predictions from the other coast that the Dodgers’ Shohei Ohtani might add a Cy Young Award to his resume. Judge effortlessly threw out the Royals’ Michael Massey at home on Wednesday (the replay is worth watching if you missed it). He’s been taking away the extra base from opposing baserunners all season. I like the Yankees’ much-improved defense in the outfield, and Judge definitely belongs in the conversation for a possible Gold Glove, his first.

Kingston, L.I.: I was so disappointed on Tuesday morning when I couldn’t find the Crossword II, the reason I buy this paper every day. When I saw it on Wednesday, I was relieved, and chalked Tuesday up to a fluke — until Thursday. Once again, no second puzzle. Please tell me this is not going to be the new normal, where we only get the Crossword II a few times per week. I won’t have a reason to buy the Daily News anymore. Say it ain’t so!

Davis, Calif.: If Iran’s regime can claim that it stood up to the Great Satan and Little Satan and survived, it will be dangerously emboldened. Many of our putative Gulf allies may rethink their ally-ship. We must remove this threat to America’s security and our (and the West’s) vital interests. Unfortunately, this means people will struggle with high gas prices. In World War II, people survived rationing. Even food was rationed. We’re facing equally serious times and an equally malignant enemy, one that has not hesitated to lie, cheat and murder thousands of its unarmed populace. If this regime survives, the West will eventually face terrible consequences.

Ledyard, Conn.: To Voicer Steve Howe: I felt compelled to write when you wrote that the “me first” generation of today will sadly be remembered as the worst generation. Generalizations like that really get to me. What about the kids and young adults in the current generation who take care of their siblings, play on a team, volunteer, work in the health profession, or sign up to be in the armed services? And if, as you wrote, the current generation is exceedingly selfish, we only have to look at what the generation before (and not just the parents) taught them.…Read more by Voice of the People