"Everyone Has Their Assignment": Third Act NYC on Solar Legislation

Our host Audrey is joined by Katherine Alford, Co‑facilitator of Third Act NYC — a member organization of folks aged 60+ dedicated to protecting our planet and our democracy. Third Act NYC has collaborated on major climate actions including the September 2023 Climate March, Summer of Heat, the Albany Teach‑in for the Superfund Act, and Sun Day.In this episode, Katherine explains why distributed solar is one of the most affordable and empowering climate solutions for New Yorkers, and walks us through the process of getting legislation passed in Albany. Along the way, she reflects on intergenerational organizing, the role of storytelling in policy work, and the personal experiences that fuel her commitment to climate justice.Katherine’s “second act” included a celebrated career in food — as a 4‑star chef, Greenmarket Manager, and Director of Peter Kump’s Cooking School (now the Institute of Culinary Education). She spent 20 years working at the Food Network and is the coauthor of the activist cookbook, "Rage Baking: The Transformative Power of Flour, Fury, and Women’s Voices".Third Act NYC Resources:Third Act NYC Website: https://thirdact.org/nyc/Webpage about Climate Policies: Third Act Advocates for New York State Climate PoliciesVideo Explainers about Solar Energy & the NY Power Grid: https://thirdact.org/upstate-ny/2026/02/17/solar-energy-the-ny-power-grid-with-prof-richard-perez/ASAP Act:Senate Bill S6570A: https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/bills/2025/S6570/amendment/AAssembly Bill A8758A: https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/bills/2025/A8758/amendment/AStudy on $1B savings by Synapse Energy Economics for the Coalition for Community Solar Access (CCSA): https://drive.google.com/file/d/1_7B7gHlzZ7QlEewtJ-X_QfRQtDyNvf-J/viewFrom Third Act NYC: NY’s ASAP Act – Accelerate Solar for Affordable PowerASAP One-Pager: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1em5EqCk6IW4wyTs0SQjUKuQCUevryMU7/viewSUNNY Act:Senate Bill S8512A: https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/bills/2025/S8512/amendment/AAssembly Bill A9111A: https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/bills/2025/A9111/amendment/AFrom Third Act NYC: Plug-in Solar – The SUNNY ActSUNNY Two-Pager: https://www.canva.com/design/DAHDjum5o30/r4FrP_GioEHEisFchfO0vw/editSolar Permitting:Senate Bill S5781A: https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/bills/2025/S5781/amendment/AAssembly Bill A6270A: https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/bills/2025/A6270/amendment/ANYS 2019 Climate Law: Climate Leadership & Community Protection Act (CLCPA): https://climate.ny.gov/Senate Bill S6599: https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/bills/2019/S6599