New York Announces 10 Year Transition Plan To A Clean Energy Economy
Plan will help make energy more affordable, reliable & secure for New Yorkers.
Governor David A. Paterson today accepted the final 2009 State Energy Plan from the New York State Energy Planning Board.
The Energy Plan provides a comprehensive blueprint for New York to continue to transition to a clean energy economy over a 10-year planning horizon, and is the first State energy plan since 2002.
The transition to a clean energy economy is a core component of Governor Paterson’s New Economy Jobs Plan, and is expected to create tens of thousands of jobs in New York.
Additionally, the recommendations and more specific action items in the Plan will make energy more reliable, secure and affordable for New Yorkers, address the threat of climate change and result in a cleaner environment.
“New York will lead the nation in the clean energy economy, and this State Energy Plan will help us get there,” Governor Paterson said. “By adopting the recommendations of this plan, we will ensure that New Yorkers get energy that is more affordable and more reliable, and we will do it in a way that recognizes that the environment needs to be protected.”
Modeling performed for the Plan indicates that the New York economy would benefit by $2.60 for every dollar invested in electric efficiency investments, and that achieving the Governor’s goal of increasing energy efficiency 15 percent by 2015 would help reduce electric prices and provide aggregate retail bill savings of as much as $1.4 billion in 2015.
The Plan identifies a number of specific policy initiatives that set forth a vision for a robust and innovative clean energy economy that will stimulate investment, create jobs and meet the energy needs of residents and businesses over the next ten years.
The policy initiatives are organized by five overarching strategies:
- Continue to expand opportunities to improve energy efficiency – the cleanest, cheapest energy resource.
- Support the development of in-State energy supplies.
- Encourage investment in, and identify future needs for, energy infrastructure.
- Stimulate innovation in the clean energy economy and help the existing manufacturing base transition to low-carbon future.
- Improve coordination between the State, other governments, and communities.
Among the specific initiatives that Governor Paterson will propose in 2010 include:
- Improving coordination and expanding energy efficiency and renewable energy programs across the State in support of the Governor’s ‘45 by 15’ clean energy goal.
- Submitting legislation that will establish a power plant siting process that will provide greater certainty to developers and greater opportunities for public involvement.
- Submitting legislation to establish a long-term Power for Jobs program and developing new selection criteria that encourage energy efficiency.
- Submitting legislation to “green” the State’s energy code and removing loopholes that have limited the code’s effectiveness.
- Developing procedures to assess and consider disproportionate environmental burdens from energy facilities in potential environmental justice areas.
- Submitting legislation to require disclosure of energy characteristics of buildings at the time of sale.
- Working with the New York Power Authority to procure another 100 megawatts of solar energy statewide.
- Work with NYPA to bring to fruition an offshore wind project in the Great Lakes following the issuance of its RFP in December 2009.
- Work with LIPA to bring to fruition its utility-scale solar projects following its successful 50 MW solar RFP in 2009.
- Working with the Long Island Power Authority and the Long Island-New York City Offshore Wind Collaborative to issue a request for proposals for an offshore wind project off the coast of the Rockaways.
- Ensuring stringent environmental safeguards are in place for natural gas drilling in the Marcellus Shale gas reserves.
- Releasing a Climate Action Plan that will identify strategies to achieve an 80 percent reduction in greenhouse gas pollution by 2050.
- Establishing incentives to repower existing power plants to reduce emissions and increase power output.
The complete 2009 State Energy Plan, which includes a detailed implementation table and 16 in-depth issue briefs and assessments, is available at http://www.nysenergyplan.com.
The Plan was prepared pursuant to Executive Order No. 2 issued by Governor Paterson in April 2008, and follows a 60-day public comment period and series of 9 hearings across the State to gain input on the draft Energy Plan that was released in August of this year. Significant feedback was provided by stakeholders; in total nearly 600 comments were received.
During the development of the Plan, the Governor signed legislation that statutorily establishes the State Energy Planning Board and calls on that Board to complete a new energy plan on or before March 15, 2013. However, the State Energy Planning Board that was created by Executive Order No. 2 shall exist until such time as the statutorily created Energy Planning Board begins its planning process for the 2013 energy plan.
Thomas Congdon, Governor Paterson’s Deputy Secretary for Energy and Chair of the State Energy Planning Board, said: “The 20-month planning process was as important as the Plan itself. The process was open and transparent and afforded hundreds of New Yorkers, organizations and businesses the opportunity to help shape the Plan.I wish to thank the members of the Board and their agencies, and all those that provided comments for their role in developing such a comprehensive and balanced piece of work. The result of this tremendous effort will benefit all New Yorkers.”
Topics: 2009 State Energy Plan, affordable energy, clean energy, clean energy economy, climate change, conservation, employment, energy, energy efficiency, Energy Security, environment, Governance, green, green economcy, jobs, legislation, New Economy Jobs Plan, New York, New York State Energy Planning Board, planning horizon, policy, politics, pollution, reliable energy, renewable energy, security, transition, U.S., United States
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