Conferral Input to Help Inform NYPA's Renewable Energy Development Approach and NYPA's First Renewable Strategic Plan to Publish in January 2025
The New York Power Authority (NYPA) today (Nov 30)published its first Conferral Report growing out of an annual stakeholder conferral process called for in legislation included in the 2023-24 Enacted State Budget. A copy of the report may be accessed here on the NYPA website. The Conferral Report discusses the State's progress toward meeting the targets established in the State's Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act (CLCPA or the Climate Act), and the timing impacts of the generator interconnection process of the New York Independent System Operator (NYISO). It also summarizes the views of stakeholders on these issues and NYPA's proposed role in developing new renewable generation gathered from conversations between NYPA and stakeholders.
"We heard tremendous support for achieving the state's climate goals as we talked with key stakeholders from around the state during this stakeholder conferral process," said NYPA President and CEO Justin E. Driscoll. "Though challenges were raised, the key takeaways from our conversations were a unified commitment to working together to come to solutions that will benefit all New Yorkers and a broad consensus around an expanded role for NYPA in building renewables."
In preparing the report, NYPA consulted with multiple state and federal agencies, and conferred with approximately 50 stakeholder groups representing a variety of interests, including state agencies, local government representatives, climate and resiliency experts, labor organizations, and environmental justice and community organizations.
Although not required by the new law, the Power Authority also sought stakeholder input on ideas for training and retraining of the state's workforce to support the state's shift to a clean energy economy.
Key themes growing out of the conferral process include:
- Helping communities better understand the goals of the CLCPA and benefits and impacts to communities;
- Support for NYPA development of new renewable generation to advance New York's climate action goals, and leadership on workforce training;
- Providing meaningful benefits to disadvantaged communities as the state transitions to a clean energy economy;
- Maintaining grid reliability while providing affordable electricity to residents and businesses;
- Protecting the environment, especially agricultural resources;
- Providing for a trained and adequate workforce to support development and maintenance of renewables and
- Improving the pace at which renewable energy projects move through the NYISO interconnection process.
The observations and conclusions are fleshed out in more detail at the end of the report and a full list of those conferred with is also included in the report.
NYPA will use the report and stakeholder comments when developing its strategic plan that will, among other things, identify projects and other actions NYPA will undertake to support the state's renewable energy goals. NYPA will publish its first biennial strategic plan in January 2025.
In May 2023, the 2023-24 Enacted State Budget provided NYPA with new authority to develop, own, and operate renewable energy generating projects either alone or in collaboration with other entities to support the state's renewable energy goals in the CLCPA, maintain an adequate and reliable supply of electric power and energy in the state, and support the new Renewable Energy Access and Community Help ("REACH") program which will enable low-income and moderate-income electricity customers to receive bill credits through the production of renewable energy by NYPA.
The Power Authority will conduct the conferral process annually and will hold public hearings on its biennial Strategic Plans to solicit public comment before finalizing the plans, providing multiple ongoing opportunities for stakeholder input on these matters of vital public importance.
NYSERDA President and CEO Doreen M. Harris said, "Understanding the voices and needs of communities across New York is critical to informing the State's strategic approach to advancing of renewable energy development. This report underscores the public support for the important role the New York Power Authority can play in enhancing and complementing our collective ability to achieve our nation-leading Climate Act goals."
New York State Public Service Commission Chair Rory M. Christian said, "We were happy to participate in this important study along with NYPA and its other partners. Achieving the State's climate goals while maintaining reliability is of paramount importance to the State, and NYPA will play a key role in making that happen."
New York State's Nation-Leading Climate Plan
New York State's nation-leading climate agenda calls for an orderly and just transition that creates family-sustaining jobs, continues to foster a green economy across all sectors and ensures that at least 35 percent, with a goal of 40 percent, of the benefits of clean energy investments are directed to disadvantaged communities. Guided by some of the nation's most aggressive climate and clean energy initiatives, New York is on a path to achieving a zero-emission electricity sector by 2040, including 70 percent renewable energy generation by 2030, and economywide carbon neutrality by mid-century. A cornerstone of this transition is New York's unprecedented clean energy investments, including more than $55 billion in 145 large-scale renewable and transmission projects across the state, $6.8 billion to reduce building emissions, $3.3 billion to scale up solar, more than $2.7 billion for clean transportation initiatives, and over $2 billion in NY Green Bank commitments. These and other investments are supporting more than 165,000 jobs in New York's clean energy sector in 2021 and over 3,000 percent growth in the distributed solar sector since 2011. To reduce greenhouse gas emissions and improve air quality, New York also adopted zero-emission vehicle regulations, including requiring all new passenger cars and light-duty trucks sold in the State be zero emission by 2035. Partnerships are continuing to advance New York's climate action with nearly 400 registered and more than 100 certified Climate Smart Communities, nearly 500 Clean Energy Communities, and the State's largest community air monitoring initiative in 10 disadvantaged communities across the state to help target air pollution and combat climate change.
About NYPA
NYPA is the largest state public power organization in the nation, operating 16 generating facilities and more than 1,400 circuit-miles of transmission lines. More than 80 percent of the electricity NYPA produces is clean renewable hydropower. NYPA uses no tax money or state credit. It finances its operations through the sale of bonds and revenues earned in large part through sales of electricity. For more information visit www.nypa.gov and follow us on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, Tumblr and LinkedIn.
Contact: Susan Craig | susan.craig@nypa.gov | (914) 287-3691
