To deliver a recap of 2020, a year without measure, is a daunting task. 2020 will be most notable for the horror of a once-in-a-lifetime pandemic (hopefully!) with New York the initial epicenter.. There was the surfacing of brutal racial injustices. At the same time, our democracy came under question, apocalyptic fires burned throughout the West, and all the while, the global climate change clock ticked-down louder and faster.

While we can’t yet be sure what the Biden/Harris administration’s chief priorities will be, addressing climate change and environmental justice will likely be high among them. Renewables like solar and wind are at the heart of combating climate change, and New York is setting a strong example for the rest of the country on how to use these resources.

Last week, ACE NY joined leading voices in health, transportation, environment, business, and clean energy to launch NY for TCI, an exciting new coalition to support the multi-state Transportation Climate Initiative. Meanwhile, one of the most controversial questions about TCI is how it could support equity and environmental justice. In response, on September 29, the Transportation and Climate Initiative held a public webinar tackling the issues of ensuring environmental justice and equity.

A new study released on August 4th by international energy consultants Wood Mackenzie took a look at the economic benefits, including job-creation, of offshore wind development in the United States. The study was commissioned by the New York Offshore Wind Alliance (NYOWA), American Wind Energy Association, the National Ocean Industry Association and the University of Delaware, Special Initiative on Offshore Wind.

Achieving New York’s ambitions clean energy goals will new require upgrades to the state’s electric power transmission grid. This was the theme of ACE NY’s recent virtual event: Clean Energy and Transmission Town Hall. The June 25th webinar featured a new video, welcoming introduction by Senate Energy and Telecommunications Committee Chair Kevin Parker, and a keynote by newly appointed Deputy Secretary for Energy and Environment Ali Zaidi. A panel discussion moderated by ACE NY Executive Director Anne Reynolds followed, with an active question and answer session.

Last week, in case 15-E-0302 (Our favorite case!), NY’s Public Service Commission released the CES White Paper as well as a supporting analysis (CES White Paper Appendix A). Also in this case you will see recent filings of the Draft Generic Environmental Impact Statement on the electricity portions of New York’s climate law, as well the RES Program Impact Evaluation/CES Triennial Review.

Recent events have left our nation reeling. On top of a pandemic that has taken more than 100,000 lives and left millions jobless, the senseless killing of George Floyd and the subsequent protests and demonstrations have left us all searching for answers. Both tragedies have disproportionately impacted people of color and have put a spotlight on our country’s racism. We believe Black Lives Matter and policing and a host of other institutions in America need fundamental reforms. No matter where we live or work, we should all be asking ourselves what we are doing, as individuals, as communities, as businesses, and as organizations to address longstanding social and racial injustices.

A new Michael Moore-backed documentary has been released that examines the climate crisis and the lack of progress made so far in combating the problem. Unfortunately, and somewhat strangely, the filmmakers chose to focus much of their attention erroneously critiquing a leading climate solution—renewable energy.

On behalf of all of us at the Alliance for Clean Energy New York, I hope you are safe and well. It is hard to imagine how much life has changed for so many of us in these past weeks. It’s a time to respect and admire those on the front lines of the coronavirus crisis, their courage and their humanity. And for us, a chance to say “thank you” for your efforts on behalf of a greener, cleaner, safer and renewable power generating system.