New York may miss 70% renewable electricity goal of 2030: draft report

ALBANY, N.Y. (NEXSTAR) — A draft report on the status of renewable energy in New York casts doubt on whether limiting fossil fuels to no more than 30% of consumption by 2030 is possible. And delaying that deadline could be "unavoidable," according to the June 1 report from the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) and the Department of Public Service (DPS), which appears at the bottom of this story.

The Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act (CLCPA) passed in 2019, setting goals for renewable energy and zero emissions by 2030. Chief among them, obtaining 70% of the state's electricity from wind, solar, hydroelectric, nuclear, and other sources by 2030. The NYSERDA report assessed how much work remains to achieve those goals, reviewed policy proposals, and accounts for how many renewable projects have been built going back at least a decade.

Although the report proposed legislative reform, infrastructure investments, and workforce development, it also carefully noted that the 70% goal could be overambitious enough to push the 2030 deadline backward. "Base case analysis indicates the 70% goal may be achievable in 2033," it said.

"This long overdue concession should give policymakers ample reason to press pause and reassess the ambitious timeline and goals of the CLCPA," said Justin Wilcox, Executive Director of Upstate United. "This report presents a critical opportunity to ask important questions, like why targets will be missed?"

The report highlights several obstacles facing the renewables industry. For example, it calls out problems with solar technology alongside the supply chain with China. The wind power industry, meanwhile, will likely see intense competition, with insufficient training and a potentially robust job market outside of state borders.

"The apparent divergence between the pace of renewable resource development and the State’s decarbonization goals suggests that new approaches should be tested," the report added. In addition to requiring 70% renewable electricity by 2030, New York law also requires 100% carbon-free electricity from nuclear and renewables by 2040.

"We have a long way to go to reach zero emissions. As with any massive societal shifts, it’s important to reflect on what is working and what can be improved," said a spokesperson from the Alliance for Clean Energy New York (ACE NY). "State permitting remains the main roadblock to renewable energy projects getting built in a timely efficient manner."

New York already committed significant resources to reduce pollution from the energy sector. And the fuel sources examined in the NYSERDA report include wind, solar, hydroelectric, and nuclear. Even so, legislators like State Sen. Mario Mattera, ranking member of the standing committee on Energy and Telecommunications, argued for other alternative energy sources. The state should study the feasibility of technology like carbon capture, green hydrogen, geothermal, and sewage heat recovery, he said.

"If we continue business as usual, we will not meet our legally binding climate goals," said Michael Paulson in response to the report. He's the Associate Director of the Sane Energy Project and Co-chair of Public Power NY, a grassroots climate advocacy group that backed the Build Public Renewables Act (BPRA). "Relying solely on the private market has failed us."

According to data from the U.S. Energy Information Administration:

• In 2022, renewable and nuclear power supplied 51% of New York's in-state electricity generation
• Nuclear powered 21% of New York in 2022, down from 34% in 2019 after shutting down Indian Point in 2021
• Hydroelectric powered 11% of New York in 2022

Take a look at NYSERDA's report below: