Common-sense energy and climate reforms
This op-ed, penned by our New York state Co-Chairs, Robert Duffy, former New York lieutenant governor and current CEO of the Greater Rochester Chamber of Commerce, and Ruben Diaz, former Bronx borough president, was originally published in the New York Daily News.
In the new New York State budget, Gov. Hochul worked with the Legislature to reform the 2019 Climate Leadership And Community Protection Act (CLCPA) that will help address skyrocketing electric bills. This was no small achievement, but one that will help all New Yorkers.
Hochul demonstrated true leadership in pushing an “all-of-the-above” approach to meet the state’s energy needs while keeping us on the path to a cleaner, more sustainable energy grid. Given President Trump’s war on renewable energy, the governor had to act. Trump has shut down projects and imposed tariffs that have increased costs and discouraged the investments necessary to meet the CLCPA’s goals of reducing emissions by 2030 and again by 2040.
The new budget pushes those goals to 2040 and 2050, giving us more time to reduce emissions in a more affordable way for ratepayers and still clean up our environment. These changes mean New York will measure emissions like 48 other states, puts affordability first when developing regulations required to meet the new dates, and increases the funds for disadvantaged communities.
These changes were desperately needed. Over the last six months, we have heard from many New Yorkers hammered by escalating electric bills. From small business owners to church pastors to everyday New Yorkers, everyone is feeling the pinch.
Hochul, Senate Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins and Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie stayed focused on the need to make electric bills more affordable. They all deserve praise.
While these modifications will help, this important first step must be coupled with regulatory adjustments in order to generate enough power to grow our economy, ensure reliability, and protect against excessive price hikes in the future.
Hochul must continue to keep all options on the table, including nuclear, natural gas and renewables, along with future development of zero emission sources. Until future technologies are identified and available at a commercial level, a diverse fuel mix will ensure that the lights stay on while keeping costs in check for consumers.
The state Public Service Commission is taking a sensible first step by working with Con Ed to assess the energy needs of the New York City region. That report, due this month, must trigger an honest conversation about how we keep the lights on and grow our economy without punishing ratepayers or the businesses — big and small — that provide quality jobs for New Yorkers.
In addition, we urge the administration to consider permitting reforms to allow the repowering of existing plants and development of new power plants. This process shouldn’t take years to implement or we risk losing some of the benefits of the new CLCPA dates. Few businesses will invest in projects with less than 20 years of life to realize a return on invests. The state needs to act in a thoughtful but timely manner.
These changes remain consistent with an “all-of-the-above” approach. Market signals and regulatory concepts must match in order to attract the necessary investment in New York’s cleaner energy future. There is no shortage of private developers that want to invest in our state, but New York must understand that it is competing with other states and countries to attract investments in new technologies.
As we bask in the hard-fought victory the governor and the Legislature delivered for working families, let’s also continue an honest conversation about what we must still do to secure an affordable, reliable, and cleaner energy grid for generations to come.
###
