New York Lawmakers passed the "Public Renewables Transparency Act" as the Legislative Session wound down, which is supposed to make the State’s Process for Building Clean Energy Projects more Open to the Public. It would require the New York Power Authority (NYPA) to Share more Details about its Plans for Green Energy.
S2462B/A7686A Cleared the New York State Assembly Unanimously on June 13th, after making it through the State Senate earlier in the week. State Senate Deputy Leader Michael Gianaris (D-12th District) and Assemblymember Sarahana Shrestha (D-103rd District), Sponsored the Bill.
If Signed by Governor Kathy Hochul (D), the Bill would take effect immediately. It would Increase Oversight to properly Enact the Build Public Renewables Act, which Passed in 2023, to give NYPA the Power to Own and Build New Renewable Energy Projects, like Solar and Wind Farms.
The Public Renewables Transparency Act would require NYPA to Publish Three Reports a year on Developments for Renewable Energy Generation. They’d also have to Create an Online Dashboard showing its Progress in Reaching Energy Goals.
NYPA would also have to hold at least Three Public Hearings throughout the State, in Locations that are easily Accessible by Public Transportatio, on its Draft Energy Plan. The Law also requires NYPA’s Chief Executive Officer to join the State Energy Planning Board, which helps Plan Energy use Across the State and whose Members include Heads of other State Agencies. NYPA Staff would also have to provide Support for that Board’s Work.
Lawmakers and Public Advocacy Groups backed the "Public Renewables Transparency Act" because they said NYPA’s Early Work on the BPRA was not Enough. Their First Plan under the BPRA included just 3 Gigawatts of New Clean Energy Projects, according to Shrestha’s Office. Used to Measure the Output of Large Power Plants, a Gigawatt is One Billion Watts. Legislators backed by Groups like "Public Power NY" wanted at least 15 gigawatts of Public Renewable Energy by 2030, for 25,000 Green Union Jobs, Lowering Utility Bills, and Closing Peaker Plants.
Peaker Plants Run when Electricity Demand is Very High, causing Pollution. Many such Power Plants are in Low-Income Communities where Minority Residents face Negative Environmental Problems at Disproportionate Levels. After a Public Advocacy Campaign, NYPA updated its Plans with a New Total of 6 Gigawatts. Gianaris said the New Bill would “allow the public into NYPA’s decision-making process to guarantee the buildout of publicly owned renewable energy is occurring in a responsible and timely manner.”
Comptroller Flags concerns in Quarter-Trillion-dollar New York State Budget. Indeed, “public participation needs to be a serious priority,” said Shrestha, explaining that Public Authorities like NYPA require Transparency and Accountability because of their Unique Power.
Michael Paulson, Associate Director at the Sane Energy Project and Co-Chair of Public Power NY, has argued that NYPA Leadership “refused to follow the statewide call for 15 GW or fully explain the logic behind their limited strategic plan.” He said that the New Law would keep NYPA “open and accountable as it takes on a leadership role in our energy transition.”
NYC Wins When Everyone Can Vote! Michael H. Drucker
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