Albany \u2014 New York State unveiling their 2025 Draft State Energy Plan this week, and with it, a 15-year outlook of the State’s energy direction through 2040. <\/p>\n
That outlook has changed the goals compared to what’s mandated from the 2019 Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act. <\/p>\n
The 2019 CLCPA Law says the State needs to achieve 70 percent of its electricity from renewable energy by 2030, the Draft Plan now says it’s on pace for 2033. The State also is mandated to reduce emissions by 40 percent by 2030, the Draft Plan now says it’s on pace for 2038. <\/p>\n
Recently, New York Governor Kathy Hochul has addressed this issue, saying the State would be looking to slow down its move towards these goals, while also proposing nuclear energy as a fix. <\/p>\n
“Nuclear is just more expensive,” Eunice Ko, Deputy Director, of the NYC Environmental Justice Alliance. “It’s going to take way more time to build than, let’s say, solar, for example. So we don’t think this is a smart path, given we know the urgency of the climate crisis today, knowing how energy pills are skyrocketing.” <\/p>\n
Environmental groups have maintained that sticking to the CLCPA mandates will make long-term costs more affordable. The State says a variety of factors has impacted the implementation of the law. <\/p>\n
“What makes tonight and this effort unique, is that we’re in a federal landscape that’s shifting in previously unimaginable ways,” officials said the recent NYS Energy Board meeting. “Ukraine in the Middle East, the COVID pandemic, the supply chain breakdown and inflation and uncertainties and challenges from the federal government which we’re, you know, we’re all still reeling from.”<\/p>\n