NY Governor Wants Zero-Carbon Electricity by 2040

A “politically easy” move or an ambitious target?

New York Governor Andrew Cuomo announced Monday that he will push for New York to transition to 100 percent clean electricity by 2040, in a statement outlining his agenda for early 2019. 

The announcement places New York in a small but growing group of states, including neighboring New Jersey, as well as California, Hawaii and most recently Washington, that have announced goals or legally committed to 100 percent clean energy.

New York State to Lead New Offshore Wind Energy Research Effort

The new group will be known as the National Offshore Wind Research and Development Consortium. Officials say the group will be funded with an $18.5 million grant from the federal Department of Energy.

When launched, the group will bring together energy researchers, utility companies and other states to discuss ways to improve the development and utilization of offshore wind.

By 2030, the state plans to have 2.4 gigawatts of offshore wind, enough energy to power up to 1.2 million homes.

Democratic Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced the state's involvement on Friday.

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Cynthia Nixon Calls for New York to Fully Embrace Renewable Energy by 2050

In her first major environmental proposal, Cynthia Nixon, who is challenging Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo for the Democratic nomination, called on New York State to commit to 100 percent renewable energy sources by 2050, a benchmark that has been something of a Holy Grail for activists concerned about the warming of the planet as a result of the burning of fossil fuels.

Her announcement on Friday came just hours after the governor’s office had issued its own call for increased efficiency targets to right “the devastating effects of climate change.” Both moves seemed calculated to coincide with Earth Day on Sunday, but also as a means of upstaging the other’s initiatives.

From Residential to Utility-Scale, Solar Wins in Recent State-Level Actions

A series of recent state-level actions have been lauded by industry advocates as positive steps for driving deployments of residential, community-scale and utility-scale solar.

22 Solar Projects for New York

Gov. Andrew Cuomo on March 9 announced that New York has authorized competitive awards under the state’s Clean Energy Standard mandate for 22 utility-scale solar projects. The awards are part of $1.4 billion awarded for a total of 26 renewable energy projects in the state.

Columbia County, NY Joins State Clean-Energy Initiative

The Columbia County Board of Supervisors approved a local law to join the state’s energy development corporation to provide special financing options for commercial property owners to install energy-efficient and renewable energy technology.

The Board of Supervisors passed local law No. 2 of 2018 at its full board meeting Feb. 14. The second law of the year is a new version of local law No. 6 of 2017, which the board passed last November.

Stony Point, NY Passes New Law to Allow for Large Solar Panel Fields

The Stony Point Town Board passed a law at the end of January allowing for large-scale solar generating facilities.

"We're always looking for clean, safe, renewable energy sources," Stony Point Supervisor Jim Monaghan said. "Solar energy has been getting more and more popular."

Monaghan said many residents in Stony Point have already opted to use solar panels at their homes, but there were no laws in place to allow a large solar panel field within the township.

The Launch of a US Offshore Wind Industry

Leadership in the State of the State

A little over a year ago, U.S. offshore wind (OSW) history was made—thrice. The first U.S. offshore wind farm began spinning off the coast of Rhode Island; BOEM completed its most successful offshore wind lease auction to date, awarding Statoil a wind lease for over $42 million; and, New York Governor Cuomo announced a 2,400 MW offshore wind goal by 2030 in his State of the State. 

A New Law in Lansing, NY Will Regulate the Development of Wind and Solar Energy

After what's likely one more revision, the solar and wind energy law will be put to a vote in Lansing. 

This law will regulate the development of wind farms and solar panels, with the goals of minimizing impacts on neighboring properties, protecting public health, preserving natural areas and maintaining the aesthetics of the town.

The “Solar and Wind Energy Systems and Facilities Law,” now on its fifth and final revision, was drafted by Lansing’s Planning Board and is a part of the Town of Lansing Comprehensive Plan. The Town of Lansing has no law that addresses the development of renewable energy, and this law unpacks the pitfalls of creating avenues for sustainable energy.

Orleans, NY Adopts New Wind Law

The Orleans Town Council has adopted a new wind law after more than a year of determining new regulations and fine tuning.

The town’s attorney, James A. Burrows, said the board adopted the law at its Dec. 28 meeting and he sent the law to the state Department of State for its files less than a week later. The new law, which combines the 2011 version with dozens of amendments, takes effect when the department officially files it.

Creating and revising the town’s wind law has been an ongoing project for more than a decade, Mr. Burrows said. The board adopted the first version of its wind law in 2007.

Glenville, NY Adopts Solar Energy Law

Some types of residential arrays are prohibited by new legislation

A new solar energy law adopted by the Town Board sets limits on where large solar energy arrays can be built, while also setting standards for residential roof-mounted arrays.

Large commercial solar energy arrays — often called "solar farms" — would be kept out of residential zones but would be allowed in "highway commercial," "research and technology," "riverfront recreation/commercial" and "airport" zoning districts. Small-scale, ground-mounted panel arrays would also be allowed in those zones, but not in residential areas.

Officials Vote on Energy Loan Law in Fulton County, NY

Would loan funds for renewable energy systems to qualified applicants

 Fulton County supervisors on Monday passed a local law establishing a sustainable energy loan program in the county.

Action followed a public hearing at the County Office Building at which no one spoke.

The new law, which takes effect upon county filing with the state secretary of state, amends County Code to establish an Energize NY Benefit Financing Program in the county. The program would provide funds to qualified property owners in the county to finance the “acquisition, construction and installation” of renewable energy systems for those who promise to make energy efficiency improvements.

New York Moves to Establish Energy Storage Procurement Target for 2030

The New York State Legislature has sent to Gov. Andrew Cuomo companion bills that would lead to the development of an energy storage procurement target for the state.

The bills would direct the New York Public Service Commission (PSC) to set proceedings to establish an energy storage deployment program, and, by Jan. 1, 2018, establish a target for the installation of qualified energy storage systems to be achieved by 2030, according to the companion bills. The PSC also would establish programs to help the state achieve that target.

How to Site Wind, Solar and Transmission Projects in the Land-constrained Northeast US

The Trump Administration’s pro-fossil, anti-climate agenda means states must lead renewable energy development in the near term, but will barriers to siting solar and wind in land-constrained regions impede growth?

Large-scale renewables are key to decarbonization, but siting projects is tricky even in leader states. For instance, New York and Massachusetts have ambitious renewables targets, but many potential locations for solar and wind in each are on private or preserved land — so where can developers build the generation required for clean energy goals?

New research, Siting Renewable Generation: The Northeast Perspective, seeks to solve the challenge of siting renewable energy and connecting it to the grid. Eleanor Stein, a former New York Public Service Commission (NY PSC) Administrative Law Judge and NY-REV Project Manager, led the effort for America’s Power Plan (APP).

Geothermal Heating Advocates Call on NY Governor Cuomo to Include Geothermal Tax Credit in Executive Budget

 On Dec. 15, New Yorkers for Clean Power and the NY Geothermal Energy Organization delivered a letter to Governor Cuomo calling on him to include a 25 percent tax credit for geothermal installations in his upcoming state budget. In November, the Governor had vetoed a geothermal tax credit bill which had been passed overwhelmingly by the Legislature in June. His veto message stated that, as a revenue impacting item, consideration of the tax credit belongs in the budget process.

New York is Bringing Solar Power to the Masses

Smart policies are driving the growth of community solar.

Americans love, love solar energy, but not everyone can wrangle a set of rooftop solar panels. Some roofs are too small or too shady, or they face the wrong direction. Some people are renters. Others own their home, but they can’t afford the up-front installation costs.

These barriers, say experts, don’t have to keep Americans from cashing in on solar. If rooftop panels aren’t right for you, you might try something called community shared solar. Band together with friends, neighbors or your church to set up a solar array. Everyone buys in. Everyone reaps the benefits.

New York Unveils Offshore Wind Blueprint

Gov. Andrew Cuomo last week announced the release of the New York State Offshore Wind Blueprint — a plan to advance the development of offshore wind along New York’s coastline.

According to the governor’s office, the blueprint creates a framework for wind energy generation development off the coast of New York in the form of an offshore wind master plan.

The blueprint defines a New York Offshore Study Area and identifies wind energy areas (WEA) outside of that study area that will be reviewed with respect to grid interconnection, costs, and benefits they may bring to New York.

Catskill, NY Passes Solar Regulations

A new local law regulating the use of solar energy in the town of Catskill will soon be going into effect.

The Town Board recently held a public hearing on the law authorizing adoption of zoning provisions that would allow solar farms in the town and permit the addition of solar energy systems on individual homes.

Catskill Town Supervisor Doreen Davis said the town has been gauging a lot of interest from individual homeowners and solar energy companies who want to know the requirements the town has for alternative energy systems.

Kauffman: Cuomo's Energy Overhaul 'Rev'ing Up in NY

Renewing Energy Vision, the Cuomo administration’s ambitious effort to transform the electricity distribution and generation system in New York, has been taking important steps forward, the state’s top energy official said.

“This is not just about talk,” Richard Kauffman, the state’s chairman of energy and finance, said at City & State’s On Energy conference. “We can point to a record of stuff that we have been doing to bring this vision about.”

Sustainable Energy Loan Program Becomes Law In Ulster County, NY

Ulster County Executive Mike Hein signed into law the Sustainable Energy Loan Program which will be known as the “Energize NY Benefit Financing Program” to advance Ulster County’s clean energy economy.  The County Executive was joined by Ulster County Legislator Tracey A. Bartels, Chairman of the Energy and Environment Committee and Ulster County Legislator Manna Jo Greene, member of the Energy and Environment Committee, both of whom sponsored the law.  The new program, available in Ulster County towns will make financing available to commercial property owners for the installation of renewable energy systems and energy efficiency measures.  It also allows the Energy Improvement Corporation (EIC), a local development corporation, to act on behalf of Ulster County and provide financing to qualified property owners.  The financing will be repaid by property owners who will see a charge on their real property tax bill.  The payment will be levied and collected at the same time and in the same manner as County taxes, although it will be listed separately on the tax bill.

NY legislators to discuss feed-in tariff at public forum

Members of the New York State Legislature and a panel of policy experts, financiers and clean energy investors from across the country will hold a public forum on February 4 to discuss the case for developing a feed-in tariff for New York State.

Supporters of the initiative say that a cutting-edge feed-in tariff has the potential to transform New York State into a leading center for renewable-energy investment and job creation. This incentive policy, widely adopted throughout Europe and emerging in parts of North America, was recently introduced in both houses of the state Legislature.

The feed-in tariff is an incentive policy that has been effective in attracting investment for clean power development. Feed-in tariffs enable small and large independent generators, using a variety of clean technologies such as wind and solar, to sell the power that they produce over the long-term at rates that guarantee attractive and predictable returns.

The public forum, entitled Empire State Feed-In Tariff: A Policy to Make New York a Clean Energy Capital, will bring together an expert panel of lawmakers, investors and policymakers that will discuss the feed-in tariff’s potential implications for New York’s clean-energy economy. The bills’ sponsors, State Senator Antoine Thompson of Buffalo and Assemblymember Andrew Hevesi of Queens, will deliver the forum’s opening remarks.

The event will take place on February 4, 2010, 6:30p.m. at The Cooper Union, 41 Cooper Square, NYC.  For more information, please click here.