April Book of the Month: Natural Power by Rock Brynner

Celebrate Earth Day this April with our Book of the Month, Natural Power by Rock Brynner!

Natural Power: The New York Power Authority's Origins and Path to Clean Energy tells the story of the history, mission, and values of the Power Authority of the State of New York. Beginning with the birth of generated electricity in New York State, Natural Power emphasizes the role of inventors like Edison, Tesla, and Westinghouse; investors like J. P. Morgan; and government figures like Franklin D. Roosevelt and Dwight Eisenhower played in helping to spread electricity from a luxury to a necessity in America.

At its core, the Power Authority played an essential role in establishing public power over the private sector and greatly influenced the development of power from natural resources. It created affordable, sustainable alternatives for citizens across the state with the construction of the Niagara Falls and St. Lawrence River power plants, and provided a template for the rest of the country to establish public power services. Today, this essential public service provides almost a quarter of New York State's power, dedicates much research and development to environmentally-friendly power sources, and consistently leads the vanguard of utilities in sustainability and modernization in the 21st century. This book includes a Foreword by New York Governor Andrew Cuomo, evidence of the importance of this matter to New York and national policymakers.

Natural Power is a fascinating read for readers, historians, environmentalists, journalists, and policymakers interested in the birth of electrification, the founding of the New York Power Authority, its role as a public entity and the importance of clean energy when the threats of climate change are obvious to New Yorkers.

About the Author 
Rock Brynner is a writer and historian who lives in Pawling, New York. He earned an M.A. in Philosophy at Trinity College, Dublin, and a Ph.D. in U.S. History at Columbia University and has taught US history at Marist College and Western Connecticut State University. This is his tenth book.

About New York Power Authority
New York Power Authority  is the country's largest state public power organization, producing some of the cheapest electricity in North America. NYPA is a leader in promoting energy efficiency and the use of renewable-fuel technologies.

April Book of the Month: Natural Power by Rock Brynner

Due to its historic and current importance, we are once again nominating Natural Power by Rock Brynner as our April Book of the Month.

The Power Authority made its debut in Natural Power recently here at Cosimo, but is back in the headlines with the National Geographic documentary Edison vs Tesla, which documents some of the history of natural power in New York. Also, with Governor Andrew Cuomo's recent speech on the State of the State (of New York) where he stressed the importance of renewable energy as well as the goal of 50 percent of New York's electricity come from renewable energy sources by 2030. And not to mention April is when Earth Day is celebrated, and the first ever March for Science!

Natural Power: The New York Power Authority's Origins and Path to Clean Energy tells the story of the history, mission, and values of the Power Authority of the State of New York. Beginning with the birth of generated electricity in New York State, Natural Power emphasizes the role of inventors like Edison, Tesla, and Westinghouse; investors like J. P. Morgan; and government figures like Franklin D. Roosevelt and Dwight Eisenhower played in helping to spread electricity from a luxury to a necessity in America.

At its core, the Power Authority played an essential role in establishing public power over the private sector and greatly influenced the development of power from natural resources. It created affordable, sustainable alternatives for citizens across the state with the construction of the Niagara Falls and St. Lawrence River power plants, and provided a template for the rest of the country to establish public power services. Today, this essential public service provides almost a quarter of New York State's power, dedicates much research and development to environmentally-friendly power sources, and consistently leads the vanguard of utilities in sustainability and modernization in the 21st century.

Natural Power is a fascinating read for readers, historians, environmentalists, journalists, and policymakers interested in the birth of electrification, the founding of the New York Power Authority, its role as a public entity and the importance of clean energy when the threats of climate change are obvious to New Yorkers.

About the Author 
Rock Brynner is a writer and historian who lives in Pawling, New York. He earned an M.A. in Philosophy at Trinity College, Dublin, and a Ph.D. in U.S. History at Columbia University and has taught US history at Marist College and Western Connecticut State University. This is his tenth book.

About New York Power Authority
New York Power Authority  is the country's largest state public power organization, producing some of the cheapest electricity in North America. NYPA is a leader in promoting energy efficiency and the use of renewable-fuel technologies.

Bombing in Cosimo's Chelsea Neighborhood

Chelsea neigborhood in Manhattan

Last Saturday no one  from Cosimo's staff was in Chelsea, the New York neighborhood where our office is located. Luckily no one of us had been wandering around either on 23rd Street, while a self-made bomb exploded on that same street at 8:30pm, a bomb that injured 29 people.

Almost before anything was officially announced, Presidential hopeful Donald Trump already called it a "bombing". He was initially admonished by Hillary Clinton for mentioning the "b" word, but later on she too used it. Later that evening New York Mayor Bill de Blasio referred to it as "an intentional act" and Governor Andrew Cuomo said it was "obviously an act of terrorism." Bottom line was that a senseless bomb exploded in a nice quiet area in Manhattan, known for its restaurants and cafes, its small businesses, its galleries and its gay community. The damage was obviously bad for the injured and, fortunately, not that terrible for the neigborhood. Still, the shock was great.

View of 23rd Street towards 6th Ave.

Governor Cuomo and Mayor de Blasio reviewing the damage

That same evening another bomb was found on 27th Street. Whoever was behind it seemed to have a grudge against the neighborhood or what?  Due to some good police work and not a very smart "terrorist", the latter was arrested two days later in New Jersey: Ahmad Rahami, American citizen and born in Afghanistan.

Thanks to all who expressed their concern and interest in us. Fortunately, we all are fine.

Damage at Orangetheory Fitness
close to our office

Damage at La Maison du Macaron
next to our office