NY State Comptroller Weighs in on Progress Towards Renewable Electricity Goals

By Jie Ying, ACE NY intern

The New York State Comptroller's office recently released a report on the progress made since the implementation of the Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act (CLCPA) in 2019, which aims to drastically reduce the state’s greenhouse gas emissions and foster a clean energy future. 

The CLCPA sets interrelated goals, including generating 70% of the state's electricity from renewable sources by 2030, eliminating greenhouse gas emissions from electricity generation by 2040, and investing in various renewable energy projects such as solar and offshore wind.

“New York State has rightly pursued an aggressive campaign to reduce greenhouse gas emissions to limit the most dangerous impacts of climate change,” said Comptroller DiNapoli. “New York’s energy goals are attainable, but require careful attention and management to address challenges, meet ambitious deadlines and avoid future pitfalls.”

New York State ranked sixth in the nation in 2020 with an impressive 124,912 GWh generated. The main sources of renewable electricity were hydropower, wind power, and solar power, with hydropower accounting for nearly 75% of the renewable energy mix, followed by wind power at 13.1% and solar power, including behind-the-meter (BTM) solar, at 12.9%. 

Some progress has been made in transitioning from nearly-all hydroelectric power to a more diversified renewable energy portfolio, particularly with the integration of wind and customer-sited solar since 2017. However, according to the New York Independent System Operator (NYISO), achieving the CLCPA's target of 70% renewable energy by 2030 requires a tremendous surge in renewable electricity generation, necessitating an additional 78,073 GWh above 2022 levels, an increase of more than 200%. NYISO has also projected that the state must install an additional 20 GW of renewable capacity within the next eight years, tripling the current installed capacity of 6.5 GW.

According to the Comptroller’s report, the state has encountered challenges in its pursuit of renewable electricity goals, primarily revolving around inconsistent incentives, project cancellations, and protracted project timelines. 

To address these challenges, the report explains that the state has responded proactively by introducing the Clean Energy Standard (CES) to provide consistent funding for renewable projects. Additionally, the establishment of the Office of Renewable Energy Siting (ORES) has expedited the permitting process, resulting in the permitting of 13 facilities totaling 2.1 GW. However, further reforms are needed in the NYISO's interconnection process to expedite the implementation of renewable projects. The Alliance for Clean Energy New York particularly agrees with this last observation in the Comptroller’s report. (NOTE: ORES recently issued its fourteenth permit.)

In an article published by NetZero Insider, on August 2, Anne Reynolds, the Executive Director of Alliance for Clean Energy New York (ACE NY), lauded the report's release, appreciating its viewpoint as external to the Executive Branch. Anne stressed the importance of streamlining the review process and ensuring all state agencies align their efforts towards a shared goal. She remarked, “All of the state agencies have to be rowing in the same direction … it’s a good number of megawatts we need to get online.”

The Comptroller’s report also agrees that to ensure successful attainment of renewable energy goals, the state must invest in new electric transmission infrastructure to overcome current capacity limitations. Upstate renewable facilities face curtailments due to transmission constraints, necessitating planned utility investments and various transmission projects.

Financing the transition to renewable electricity is another critical consideration. The costs of incentivizing renewable electricity development and transmission upgrades are borne by all of New York's utility customers, contributing to higher electricity costs, particularly impacting low-income households. To mitigate this, programs such as the Solar for All Program and bill credits for low-income customers have been implemented. 

The Comptroller’s report summarizes that New York State's ongoing journey towards renewable electricity is a testament to its commitment to sustainability and combating climate change. With the CLCPA as its guiding force, the state has made remarkable strides in issuing contracts for new renewable energy generation, but still needs to get these projects to construction to make the real progress New York needs.

Read the full report here.