New York’s Future Energy Goals remain the Subject of Fierce Debate, with Governor Kathy Hochul’s (D) Administration presenting a New Draft Energy Plan. Drawing Criticism from Environmentalists who Argue it Falls Short, the Draft from the State Energy Planning Board Maps, State Ppower demand through 2040, aiming to Balance Supply, Affordability, and Climate Concerns.
New York’s Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act (CLCPA), passed in 2019, Mandated Greenhouse Gas Reductions of 40% by 2030, and 85% by 2050. The CLCPA also calls for 70% of Electricity to come from Renewable sources by 2030 and a 100% Zero-Emission Electric System by 2040.
The State Energy Planning Board released the Draft Plan, which proposes ways to meet these Future Energy Demands, for Public Comment. Share your Thoughts until October 6th Online, by Email, by Mail, or at One of the Nine Public Hearings planned throughout August and September. These include Virtual Meetings and In-Person Meetings in Buffalo, Rochester, Albany, Hudson Valley, New York City, and Long Island.
The Final State Energy Plan is slated for Publication before 2026. Today, about Three-Quarters of New York’s Primary Energy comes from Fossil Fuels, mostly Natural Gas (39%) and Petroleum (36%). The Electric Power Sector uses the most Energy (35%), followed by Transportation (31%), Homes and Businesses (29%), and industry (5%). And We Lose most of that Energy (64%) when Converting to Heat or Electricity.
The Draft Plan Analyzes how the Energy system could Change through 2040, Projecting 35 more Gigawatts of Solar and 9 Gigawatts each of Energy Storage, Offshore Wind, and Onshore Wind. Existing Nuclear and Hydroelectric will continue to Generate Power, with Less overall from Burning Fuels, partly because of New Projects like the Champlain Hudson Power Express Transmission Line and New Energy Storage systems.
By 2040, the Plan predicts a 26% Increase in Annual Electricity Demand and a 23% Increase in Peak Demand, compared to 2025. It also expects Natural Gas in Homes and Businesses to Drop, because of State Policies, a Warming Climate, Buildings becoming more Efficient, and People choosing Greener Options. But if Renewable Projects Fall behind Schedule, Natural Gas Plants would need to Generate a Larger share come 2040, which would Release over 7 million Tons of Greenhouse Gas.
The Plan anticipates Massive Jumps in Electricity Consumption through 2040, a Change from the Past 10 years when Demand was mostly Flat. New Large Businesses and Factories, Electric Vehicles (EVs), and Heat Pumps drive much of that Projected Growth. And in a recent Op-Ed in USA Today, Hochul specifically cited the $100 Billion Computer Chip Factory near Syracuse, and a Large Artificial Intelligence (AI) Supercomputer in Buffalo, as Justifications for more Power.
Hochul has expressed Support for an All-of-the-Above Energy Strategy, talking-up the need for Diverse Power Sources to meet Rising Energy Demands while Creating Jobs. While Acknowledging the Importance of Renewable Energy, She stressed the need for, Always Available Baseload Power, for Industries of the Future. She Argued that Solar and Wind Power only Work in certain Conditions, while those Future Industries need a “Fully Dependable Electric Grid.” That’s why She plans for the New York Power Authority to build a Power Plant Upstate, a “clean, reliable, around-the-clock source of electricity” that does Not burn Fossil Fuels. But on Thursday, State Lawmakers, Local Officials, and Environmental Groups in Binghamton, pushed Hochul to Reject the Constitution and Northeast Energy Supply Enhancement Natural Gas Pipelines. That’s because the Draft Plan suggests Natural Gas as a Major Component of the Supply to meet Energy Demand circa 2040.
The Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC), previously Denied both Pipelines in 2016 and 2019, due to Threats to Water Quality. The Constitution Pipeline’s Route could Pollute some 250 Waterways from Pennsylvania to New York, while NESE, which would Run for 24 miles beneath New York Harbor, as Rejected over concerns about Stirring-Up Toxic Materials that Damage Ecosystems.
The Wall Street Journal Reported that the Company Williams again seeks Approval for these Projects in the wake of Negotiations between the Governor and Trump (R). The White House said Hochul “caved” on the pipelines after Trump allowed a wind project to continue, though Hochul Denied any Deal. But Opponents maintain that those Pipelines pose the same Dangers Today as they did before. Frack Action Director Julia Walsh Offered, “New Yorkers want clean water, not Trump’s dirty pipelines.”
Dr. Kathleen Nolan, Co-Founder of Concerned Health Professionals of NY, explained that Studies Llink such Pipelines to “significant sources of hazardous air pollutants, including the carcinogens benzene and formaldehyde.” And Assembly Member Dr. Anna Kelles (D-NY, 125th District) Warned that the NESE Pipeline alone could raise Costs for National Grid Customers in New York City and Long Island, by 3.5% while Harming Industries like Agritourism in Central New York. State Senator Lea Webb (D-NY, 52nd District) Agreed, saying, “These pipelines threaten everything we hold dear, from our trout streams and family farms to our children’s health and our region’s economic future.”
Adding to the Energy Debate, the Public Power NY Coalition pointed out that the Draft identifies Renewables as the most Cost-Effective Option. They said that Hochul is “refusing to lead on climate, giving up on climate goals,” and “leaving the most powerful tool in the toolbox by not fully utilizing NYPA to build 15 gigawatts of public renewables.”
They Argued that the Draft Energy Plan barely mentions the Build Public Renewables Act (BPRA) passed in 2023. The BPRA lets NYPA Build and Own Renewable Energy Projects, Empowering the State to Build 15 gigawatts of Public Rrenewable Power by 2030, to meet CLCPA Goals. Instead, per the Coalition, She’s relying on “volatile fracked gas and costly nuclear” to Power “wasteful AI over keeping the lights on for New Yorkers.”
It’s True that New York faces High Costs for Energy Investments through 2040 Regardless of the Path it takes. One Minimal Plan in the Draft, the “No Action” Scenario, would still Cost $120 billion per year (in 2024 dollars) through 2040. That’s because just Maintaining or Updating Infrastructure, Replacing Old Equipment, and Acquiring Fuels to meet Demand, all Require ongoing Spending. The more Aggressive Scenario Incorporating Clean Energy Efforts raises Costs by 2% in 2030 and 9% in 2040 compared to “No Action”. The State could meet More than 90% of its Investment Needs each year by Shifting to Newer, Cleaner Renewables. And that Plan also foretells 13% Job Growth by 2040 in New York’s Energy Sectors: Electricity, Buildings, Transportation, and Fuels, Adding over 60,000 Jobs. Most of that Growth would be in Construction, an Industry that could Grow by about 60%, adding 45,000 Net jobs.
Beyond the Energy Plan, New York is working on other Environmental and Power, Related Initiatives. DEC adopted a New Rule on Wednesday, to create an Endangered and Threatened Species Mitigation Bank Fund, to Offset Damage to Endangered and Threatened Species caused by Renewable Energy or Energy Transmission. The DEC also wants Public Comments on Proposed Regulations for Closed-Loop Geothermal Drilling, which uses the Earth’s Heat to Warm and Cool Buildings. It would Reduce Reliance on Fossil Fuels and Help meet Decarbonization Goals. Public Comments are Accepted through August 22nd, with Virtual Public Meetings scheduled for July 29th and July 31st.
NYC Wins When Everyone Can Vote! Michael H. Drucker
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