New York State Senate Republicans unveiled a legislative proposal to push back the state's major emissions reduction deadlines by a decade.
The state's 2019 Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act (CLCPA) mandates that New York generate 70% of its electricity from renewable sources by 2030, 100% carbon-free electricity by 2040 and net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050. In an Aug. 23 statement, the GOP lawmakers argued that delaying the mandates by a decade would give state agencies more time to plan for the energy transition.
"The evidence keeps mounting that CLCPA mandates are not only unworkable and unaffordable, but a very real threat to the reliability of our energy supply," state Sen. George Borrello said in an Aug. 23 news release. "If Democrats keep blindly pushing forward with this disastrous plan, even as experts raise numerous red flags, it will be a catastrophe for our economy, businesses, municipalities and already over-burdened New Yorkers."
The proposed legislation comes after a New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) report in July assessed that the state is not on track to achieve its goal of generating 70% of power from renewables by 2030. Also in July, the New York State Comptroller released a report criticizing utility regulators and the state's energy authority for not planning properly.
"There was no cost-benefit analysis, other than a 'the sky is falling' proclamation," state Sen. Tom O'Mara said of New York's strategy to reach the climate law's goals. "It lacks critical foresight, and it unreasonably risks energy grid reliability and affordability. The forthcoming reassessment and reexamination at least opens a long-overdue and desperately needed public discussion on the realities of the current strategy."
The comptroller's audit also questioned calculations by NYSERDA in its report, casting doubt on the feasibility of the state's 70% renewable-sourced generation goal.
The GOP legislation does include measures designed to boost the state's renewable energy buildout, including the expansion of tax credits for homeowners who install solar panels and for communities that opt to install small to mid-size solar arrays.
The proposal seeks to identify the cost of the CLCPA mandates and to reimburse that amount to the state's ratepayers. Republicans also recommended the state seek out new energy sources to meet its climate goals.
The legislation requires the state to establish a New York state hydrogen vehicle task force to explore the fuels' viability. Additionally, the proposal requires lawmakers to study the feasibility of bringing the Indian Point nuclear power plant back online. The nuclear power plant was retired in 2021.
Democrats hold a 42-21 majority in the New York State Senate.