State needs to increase renewable power efforts to meet climate goals, study says

ALBANY — New York State must increase electricity from renewable generators, including hydro, solar and wind power, by more than 200% to reach its goals to address climate change, according to a study released Tuesday.

State Comptroller Thomas DiNapoli said that means the state needs to produce an additional 78,073 gigawatt hours through renewable sources over 2022 levels. The goal of the Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act is to provide 70% of the state’s electricity needs through renewable sources by 2030. The goals seek to end dependence on electricity from generators powered by fossil fuels and reduce air pollution.

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

The report urged the state to catch up fast if it is to meet those goals.

There was no immediate comment from Gov. Kathy Hochul, Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie (D-Bronx) or Senate Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins (D-Yonkers).

The state’s goal is to eliminate generation of electricity using fossil fuels by 2040.

The report said 29% of electricity generated in the state now comes from renewable sources, three-quarters of it from hydroelectric plants. The remainder is split between solar and wind generators.

And ratepayers are covering most of the cost of the transition. The report said the incentives to create more renewable transmission lines approved by the state Public Service Commission “are borne almost exclusively by New York’s utility customers.

“The state should make every effort to clearly identify how these costs will affect consumer electric bills and must hold down these costs to the state’s electric customers,” the report said.

DiNapoli’s report cites many obstacles that hinder progress, including the fact that some upstate regions are curtailing electric generation because transmission lines aren't adequate to handle the load. The report states “significant” new electric transmission systems are needed to better connect the state with renewable energy and to connect offshore wind projects from Long Island.

In addition, DiNapoli said the state’s “inconsistent” funding of renewable generation caused it to miss its goal of having 30% of electricity generated from renewable sources by 2015. DiNapoli urged a more committed effort to expand generation and transmission.

On Long Island, Propel NY Energy has received approval from the board of the New York Independent System Operator to begin the groundwork needed for seven high-voltage cables from Melville, Island Park and Syosset to Uniondale, Glenwood Landing and Queens. The lines would extend under Long Island Sound to the Bronx and Westchester County and address a bottleneck in transmitting power.

There is, however, local opposition to the sprawling project.

In addition, wind project developers are seeking “flexibility” in their contracts to cover rising costs, which could further increase the cost on ratepayers. At least four projects slated for the New York City and Long Island power grids are asking for changes in the arrangements by which the mostly overseas companies get compensated for energy they deliver to the grids. One of the companies cited the “unanticipated, extraordinary economic events” around the COVID-19 pandemic, the Russian invasion of Ukraine and inflation.

The state budget adopted in April included the nation’s first zero-emission requirements for new building construction by banning new natural gas hookups in coming years, and expanding the New York Power Authority's ability to support New York's climate goals. Environmental groups said the budget measures were solid steps in addressing the need to meet the goals of the climate change law, but urged a greater effort to increase generation of renewable power and to expand transmission systems.

By Michael Gormley

michael.gormley@newsday.com@GormleyAlbany

Michael Gormley has worked for Newsday since 2013, covering state government, politics and issues. He has covered Albany since 2001.