Citizens Campaign for the Environment

CAMPAIGNS

New York State Energy Plan

An Energy Plan for New York’s Future: Demand Clean Energy, Jobs & Energy Independence

Image of wind turbines. On April 9, 2008, Governor Paterson issued Executive Order No. 2, to create and implement a state energy plan to guide NY’s energy choices for the next 10 years. The planning process has begun, and a draft plan is projected for release in March 2009. Now is the time for the public to encourage the State to invest in energy efficiency, energy conservation, and clean, non-polluting renewable energy. NY should not shackle our energy future to more dirty coal and expensive nuclear energy.

Energy efficiency and renewable energy creates jobs, grows the economy, and protects the environment. In 2006 alone, the United States saw 8.6 million new jobs created from the energy efficiency and renewable energy sector. The efficiency and renewable energy industry’s 2006 revenues topped $970 billion—exceeding the top 3 U.S. corporations combined (Wal-Mart, Exxon Mobil, & General Motors)!(1) An estimated 47,930 New York new jobs are anticipated from investing in renewable energy and increased energy efficiency.(2)

Solar Energy
Solar power is uniquely able to meet peak energy demand locally since the sun shines brightest in the peak demand months of summer, thereby averting the need for additional power plants. In the summer of 2008, the Long Island Power Authority (LIPA) promised to invest in 50 megawatts of solar energy. Yet, experts cite the potential to generate 500-700 megawatts of solar energy on Long Island. Long Island needs large-scale solar projects.

Wind: On and Offshore
New York and Long Island Electricity Mix. New York has great wind resources, both upstate and offshore. Wind and large-scale solar power will diversify the fuel mix and stabilize volatile energy markets. Wind power provides a fixed cost to the energy grid, as opposed to fossil fuels that widely fluctuate. While many onshore wind projects are moving forward in upstate NY, there is potential for far more wind capacity, as well as potentially generating wind power offshore in the Great Lakes. Despite good offshore wind potential and public support for clean renewable energy, LIPA is not currently pursuing offshore wind power for Long Island.

In 2008 Delaware announced the first power-purchase agreement for offshore wind in the country. Shortly after this, Rhode Island and New Jersey announced plans to aggressively pursue offshore wind. New York is woefully lagging behind. LIPA needs to set its customers free from the costly, damaging addiction to fossil fuels, which are causing their rates to sky rocket. Long Island is on the front lines of experiencing the devastating effects of climate change including increased flooding, sea level rise, and intensified storm events. We must lead the way to diversify our nation’s energy sources and invest in large-scale renewable projects.

No Additional Coal or Nuclear: Enough is Enough!
Thirty-nine percent of New York energy comes from coal and nuclear power. Now is the time to shift reliance from large centralized polluting power plants to clean, localized renewable generation. Generating local power for local demand increases efficiency, improves reliability, and promotes fuel diversity. Increased reliance on fossil and nuclear-fueled centralized plants threatens public health and the environment. New York’s energy choices are exemplified in Jamestown, NY, where the Board of Public Utilities is proposing to build a new 43MW coal plant. Rather than shackling ourselves to fossil fuel addiction for another 50 years, the energy needs of Jamestown could easily be met with energy efficiency and renewable energy production.

Grow the Economy: Create Local Jobs with Clean Energy
New York is perfectly poised with abundant natural resources, financial markets, academic institutions, and 19.6 million citizens to accelerate the renewable energy revolution.

To achieve increased energy independence, grow renewable energy production, and create local jobs, New York’s energy plan must adopt the following priorities:

Energy efficiency and conservation—the cheapest, cleanest energy is the energy never used. Energy conserved through efficiency improvements like weatherization and retrofits are critical to reducing energy costs, displacing fossil fuel pollution and promoting job growth in the efficiency sector.
Unleash New York’s Renewable Energy potential—from biomass, hydro, solar, and wind—New York’s natural resources should be maximized responsibly to generate clean energy and local jobs. More renewable projects will result in more energy dollars staying in our state, instead of being sent across the country or overseas.
No New Coal or Nuclear Energy—Power generation from polluting, non-renewable resources has serious impacts on human health and the natural environment, including: acid rain, urban smog, higher rates of lung diseases and heart failure, mercury contamination, mining impacts, global climate change, nuclear waste storage and disposal, and depletion of finite energy sources.
Local energy for local demand—long distance transmission can result in up to 15% energy loss, which means that the shorter the distance electricity travels, the more energy is delivered to consumers. The New York State Energy plan should encourage the production of energy in proximity to demand.

The comment period for NYS Energy Plan closed October 19, 2009.

Learn more about the development of the NYS energy policy at http://www.nysenergyplan.com/

Click here to read CCE’s comments on the NYS Energy Plan

Click here to read CCE’s comments on the draft scope of the energy plan

Footnotes:

1) Management Information Services, Inc for American Solar Energy Society, 2007
2) Renewable Energy Policy Project , November 2007, Prepared by BlueGreen Alliance, MN

Updated by seckel 10/19/09