New York continues to fall behind schedule in building out renewable energy resources to be able to meet the goals outlined in the Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act (CLCPA). State officials have acknowledged they may miss the CLCPA mandate requiring 70 percent of the state’s power be generated by renewable sources by 2030. What began as an unrealistic plan has been further complicated by numerous factors, including high inflation rates and supply chain issues for renewable energy projects like offshore wind.
I was pleased to see Gov. Hochul recognize the value of nuclear energy, including her support of plans by Constellation Energy in Oswego to explore a small modular reactor project. New nuclear is a critical component of a sensible energy future, but so too must be the proven, reliable energy options available right now that can be used to ensure consumer costs don’t spiral out of control and that we have sufficient time to grow the energy grid.
Rapidly increasing demand for electricity – through the adoption of heat pumps, EVs and the projected growth of data centers and other large-scale economic development projects – has led to the state’s grid operator to flag serious reliability concerns. NYISO – the independent group in charge of monitoring the performance and reliability of the state’s energy grid – reported in its September 2024 Reliability Needs Assessment that New York is facing a projected capacity shortfall by 2034 driven by increasing demand, large loads, and assumed gas unavailability.
New York City could experience a 446-megawatt power supply shortfall as early as this summer due to increasing demand paired with the removal of power-producing plants from the system.
The state’s response is to tell New Yorkers to turn down their thermostats and avoid using large appliances to prevent rolling blackouts during both recent heat waves and cold snaps. It’s reminiscent of California’s plea for residents to limit the amount of time spent charging electric vehicles. On both coasts, overzealous energy policy threatens the viability of energy availability.
Building out an all-of-the-above energy system that engages multiple power sources can and should include upgrades to the electric grid, including across upstate New York, where significant jobs and tax revenues will be driven by billions in investments from utility companies.
Upstate Upgrade projects in Central New York and the North Country alone will increase system capacity by 2,400 megawatts, enough to power almost 10% of the state’s peak power needs. More than 1,000 miles of transmission lines will be rebuilt across upstate New York – including 28.6 miles in Oswego County.
We still need other forms of energy as this work happens. The natural gas system must remain a critical component of the energy mix both for our short-term growing needs and also to ensure our long-term ability to deploy clean fuels. Ignoring its essential role in both our energy present and future could have significant unintended consequences that jeopardize both reliability and affordability of energy.
Job creation and investment that will help lift New Yorkers out of the affordability crisis is dependent on reliable, cost-effective energy. It would be irresponsible for Albany to continue to let environmental idealism over-rule balanced energy policy that actually works best for New Yorkers.
Will Barclay is the New York State Assembly Republican Leader representing the 120th Assembly District.
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