ALBANY, N.Y. — Concerns continue to rise over the cost of achieving New York’s green energy goals. In a leaked memo to the Governor’s Director of Operations, the President of the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) indicated the new policies could cost upstate New York families more than $4,000 annually in additional energy costs.
The Climate Leadership and Protection Act (CLCPA) mandates 70% of the state’s electricity be generated from renewable sources and aims for a 40% reduction in emissions by 2030. Per the memo, absent any changes, by 2031, the impact of CLCPA on the price of gasoline could exceed $2.23/gallon on top of current prices and upstate oil and natural gas households could see costs “in excess of $4,000” a year. NYSERDA indicated only a portion of those costs could be offset by the current policy design and warned that businesses could see anywhere from a 13-46% rise in energy expenses.
In a statement, Bob Duffy, the President of the Rochester Chamber of Commerce says, “NYSERDA’s findings make it clear: New York State cannot reach both its CLCPA targets and pressing affordability needs. We urge partners in the legislature to pass common-sense reforms to CLCPA timelines and regulations to avoid these significant cost increases for New Yorkers. Implementing thoughtful policies and addressing unrealistic timelines is a necessity to ensuring that communities here can afford to heat their homes while we invest in advancements to support our long-term climate goals.”
News10NBC has previously reported on series grid and capacity issues across the area.
“It’s nice that they’re admitting the truth. We’ve heard for the past few years that everything was going swimmingly… to admit what we have been saying for years that the CLCPA achieving those goals is infeasible, is refreshing to hear, but what’s the next step,” wonders Assembly Member Josh Jensen, a republican from Greece.
Assembly member Harry Bronson, a democrat from Rochester, voted for the CLCPA and spoke with News10NBC Investigative Reporter Jennifer Lewke about how lawmakers will move forward with this new information.
Jennifer Lewke: “Where do you stand on the timeline here and the concerns that NYSERDA is bringing up about how much this might cost people?”
Assembly Member Bronson: “Well, first of all, let’s remember that the goals are truly goals.. they’re aspirational. The bill we passed a few years ago, we aspire to have certain percentages that are renewable energy so, that doesn’t mean they’re set in stone and we have to reach them by a certain time. Second, we always have to balance affordability and the cost to our rate payers and to our families with our transition to a green economy, so, we’re gonna take steps to try to make that happen.”
Jennifer Lewke: “Are you open to looking at the schedule and saying we really need to balance affordability with realistically what people can do and at what cost?”
Assembly Member Bronson: “As I said, the law we passed sets goals and aspirations…”
Jennifer Lewke: “There’s some pretty hard deadlines in there…”
Assembly Member Bronson: “The deadlines are still goals and aspirations and so we will be able to be flexible, but we need to make sure we keep our eye on where we need to go and that is to have a Green sustainable economy so that our children and our grandchildren have a quality of life and a safe planet to live on. That’s what we have to do.”
Jennifer Lewke: “We’ve seen the governor already put some delays into place, with the electric school bus mandate for example. Some local districts have voted down purchasing any at all so what happens if that continues?
Assembly Member Bronson: “My own school district voted down the purchase of an electric bus so, that’s something we’re going have to monitor and see. We’re controlled by the votes right so, if people in districts continue not to want to have those purchases the state can’t force it.”
The memo from NYSERDA outlines that the energy targets adopted in 2019 didn’t anticipate factors like “the federal policy landscape, the disruptive and lingering impacts of COVID-19 and the subsequent supply chain crisis, the return of an inflationary economy, and the influence of geopolitical events on energy costs generally.”
In a statement, Renewable Heat Now says, “The CLCPA offers New York the best chance to transition from the state’s current status quo that relies heavily on gas that has worsened a growing energy affordability crisis. The landmark climate law is meant to usher in investments in cost-saving energy efficiency upgrades to people’s homes, more affordable renewable energy sources such as wind and solar, and heat pumps that free customers from the volatility of fossil fuel prices.”
During an event in New York City this week, Governor Hochul indicated changes are likely coming, “the world has changed dramatically since 2019 – I wish it hadn’t,” she said. “I wish all the circumstances and metrics that were looked at back in 2019 had remained consistent.”
Lawmakers debate realistic timelines for New York’s green energy targets amid major cost concerns WHEC.com.
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