CAMPAIGNS

New York State Renewable Energy Policy

Net Metering Victory! The NYS Senate and Assembly advanced legislation to expand net metering for solar and wind generation up to 2MW for commercial customers. Click here to read the net metering victory press release.

Remove Barriers to Clean Energy Generation!

Net Metering for wind, solar and farm waste encourages home grown renewable energy!

Beginning in 1997, NYS required electric utilities to credit homeowners for the excess solar power produced from photovoltaic (PV) or solar panels. Since then, the legislature included farm and residential customers that generate energy from wind and agricultural waste. As a result of a coordinated coalition of environmental, renewable energy, business, faith, and consumer advocates the New York Legislature moved to significantly improve the NY’s net metering laws. State net metering laws were analyzed in “Freeing the Grid” report, and NY earned a “D”, while New Jersey and Pennsylvania earned an “A”. As a result of enacting 2 MW net metering wind and solar power for commercial, non-profit, and municipal customers, New York is expected to raise its net metering grade to an “A”. Click here to read “Freeing the Grid” or download the New York Summary here.

Benefits from 2 MW net metering include:

1. Improving water and air quality and reducing childhood asthma.
2. Green Collar Jobs from research, manufacturing, construction, installation, and maintenance
• Every 2MW installed solar energy supports 16 local jobs.
3. Investing New York energy dollars in New York
4. Protecting farmland by enabling New York farmers to produce on-the-farm electricity
5. Easing electric grid constraints by producing clean, renewable energy on-site.

Click here to read CCE’s memo in support of net metering legislation.

PURCHASING RENEWABLES: OVERCOMING THE PRICE BARRIER TO CHANGE

One recognized barrier to the change to renewable energy is price. Currently, one fossil fuel power plant can be put up more cheaply than numerous dispersed facilities using renewable energy like solar, wind or ocean power. This is largely a function of size and unrecognized costs. Conventional power's hidden costs to society, which renewable energy avoids, are not yet included in initial construction costs.

Let Government purchasing priorities encourage renewable energy markets

Buying renewable energy to power public offices, buildings, vehicles and operations is one way support increased renewable energy production. By re-directing consumer choice, every level of government can help increase market demand for renewable energy production. NY State government has already begun to practice this approach by committing to meeting 20% of state agency energy needs from renewables by 2010. New York State should clearly state that local governments are permitted to buy renewable energy. Dozens of village, town, city and county governments across the state already purchase renewable energy. Some municipalities have interpreted the NYS procurement law to limit governments to purchasing the lowest-priced energy supplier, even if that energy company uses unsustainable and polluting electricity generation. Legislation to clarify municipal ability to invest in clean, renewable energy has been introduced by Assemblywoman Sandy Galef and Senator Carl Marcellino. A2162/S3855 would allow all governments and schools to choose renewable energy.

Click here to download Clean, Secure Energy and Economic Growth: A Commitment to Renewable Energy and Enhanced Energy Independence, The First Report of the Renewable Energy Task Force to Lieutenant Governor David A. Paterson (February 2008)

Click here fror CCE's New York Solar Energy page.

Renewable Portfolio Standard (RPS)
Was adopted in by the Public Service Commission and requires that 25% of NY’s electricity to be generated from clean, renewable sources by 2013.

Click here to view comments on the Retail Renewable Portofio Standard, submitted by CCE to the New York State Public Service Commission (NYS PSC) on June 17, 2004

Click here for more information from the NYS PSC on the Retail Renewable Portfolio Standard

Updated by dglance 6/20/08