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For Immediate Release: September 17, 2020 John B. Rhodes, Chair
Contact: James Denn | James.Denn@dps.ny.gov | (518) 474-7080
20076 / 15-E-0302
September 17, 2020
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PSC Concludes CLCPA Environmental Impact Statement Review |
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ALBANY — The New York State Public Service Commission (Commission) concluded its review of anticipated environmental impacts of the Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act (CLCPA) to help New York State attain the clean energy goals set forth in the Act mandating several ambitious Green New Deal clean energy targets set forth by Governor Andrew M. Cuomo. The CLCPA will create an orderly and just transition to clean energy, create jobs, and spur a green economy.
“Governor Cuomo and the CLCPA have established ambitious and impactful clean energy and climate goals,” said Commission Chair John B. Rhodes. “Today’s action confirming the CLCPA’s renewable energy procurement targets is a vital step in combating climate change, while spurring the growth of renewable energy in New York, creating clean energy jobs, and improving the overall health of our environment.”
On June 12, 2020, the Commission issued a draft Supplemental Generic Environmental Impact Statement regarding the anticipated environmental impacts from the expanded renewable energy goals in the CLCPA, a necessary step before implementation of the statute’s renewable energy procurement targets can move forward. In making its final determination regarding the draft, the Commission reviewed over 140 comments submitted by the public and interested stakeholders.
The CLCPA strengthened the State’s existing clean energy targets by directing the Commission to establish a program requiring utilities and other energy providers to procure 70 percent of their electricity from renewable energy resources by 2030, up from 50 percent previously, with the ultimate goal of zero net carbon emissions from the grid by 2040. The CLCPA also sets technology-specific requirements, including the deployment of at least 9,000 MW of offshore wind by 2035, 6,000 MW of photovoltaic solar by 2025, and 3,000 MW of energy storage resources by 2030.
In making its final determination, the Commission was required to identify the potential environmental impacts of these renewable energy targets and the means available to minimize any that are adverse, as required by the State Environmental Quality Review Act (SEQRA).
The CLCPA complements New York State initiatives over the past several years that have aimed at substantially increasing the use of renewable energy and reducing greenhouse gas emissions, including:
On June 18, 2020, NYSERDA and Department of Public Service staff filed a whitepaper with the Commission detailing recommendations on how the expanded renewable energy mandates of the CLCPA could be accomplished, primarily through various program modifications to the CES to reflect the new clean energy targets. The comment period for the whitepaper recently expired, and the Commission is expected to address the whitepaper in the near future.
New York State's Nation-Leading Climate Plan
Governor Cuomo's nation-leading climate agenda is the most aggressive climate and clean energy initiative in the nation, calling for an orderly and just transition to clean energy that creates jobs and continues fostering a green economy as New York State recovers from the COVID-19 pandemic. Enshrined into law through the Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act, New York is on a path to reach its mandated goals of economy wide carbon neutrality and achieving a zero-carbon emissions electricity sector by 2040, including 70 percent renewable energy generation by 2030, faster than any other state. It builds on New York's unprecedented ramp-up of clean energy including a $3.9 billion investment in 67 large-scale renewable projects across the state, the creation of more than 150,000 jobs in New York's clean energy sector, a commitment to develop 9,000 megawatts of offshore wind by 2035, and 1,800 percent growth in the distributed solar sector since 2011. Under Governor Cuomo’s leadership, New York will build on this progress and reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 85 percent from 1990 levels by 2050, while ensuring that at least 35 percent with a goal of 40 percent of the benefits of clean energy investments benefit disadvantaged communities, and advancing progress towards the state's 2025 energy efficiency target of reducing on-site energy consumption by 185 TBtus.
Today’s decision may be obtained by going to the Commission Documents section of the Commission’s Web site at www.dps.ny.gov and entering Case Number15-E-0302 in the input box labeled "Search for Case/Matter Number". Commission documents may also be obtained from the Commission’s Files Office, 14th floor, Three Empire State Plaza, Albany, NY 12223 (518-474-2500). If you have difficulty understanding English, please call us at 1-800-342-3377 for free language assistance services regarding this press release.
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