IPPNY Champions Innovative Power Generation Technologies
Today, the Independent Power Producers of New York, Inc. (IPPNY) delivered technical expertise identifying new, innovative solutions to support New York’s clean energy transition in a safe, reliable manner. The comments, provided by world-renowned engineering firm Sargent and Lundy, identified numerous clean, dispatchable technologies capable of “filling the gap” created by increased intermittent resources on New York’s electric grid and the retirement of existing fossil fueled resources.
In 2019, New York passed the Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act (CLCPA), which called for a transition away from fossil fuels, thus creating a need for new technologies. The CLCPA also obligates the Public Service Commission (PSC) to designate what technologies qualify as zero emissions. IPPNY will continue to work with the PSC to identify zero emissions resources capable of complying with the CLCPA while ensuring the “lights stay on” for New Yorkers.
On December 11 and 12, the PSC held a technical conference to examine zero emission technologies capable of delivering positive reliability attributes aimed at maintaining the resiliency of New York’s electric grid – a direct result of IPPNY’s 2021 joint petition with Labor Unions urging the PSC to identify technologies that comply with the CLCPA.
To transition away from fossil fuels while maintaining reliability, all solutions must be considered, including new and existing nuclear, hydrogen, renewable natural gas, and carbon capture and sequestration technologies. New York’s existing upstate nuclear facilities generated about 21% of the state’s energy in 2022 while emitting no greenhouse gases. While existing nuclear makes up about one-fifth of New York’s energy mix, new, advanced nuclear technologies also need to be explored for a clean energy transition. IPPNY’s Members represent all forms of energy generation and will continue to be key proponents as the PSC determines the technological solutions to achieve our climate goals.
IPPNY represents the largest fleet of clean energy generation in the State and its members have many active projects in various stages of development.
IPPNY President and CEO Gavin J. Donohue said: “This Technical Conference is a forum to get experts from all around the country at the same table, talking through the hard questions. Just last month, the State’s grid operator, the New York Independent System Operator (NYISO), had to retain peaker plants in New York City due to a reliability concern. IPPNY is committed to New York’s clean energy transition, but not at the cost of rolling blackouts. New York and the PSC must decide on what these zero emissions technologies are that will eventually replace the traditional peaker plants. New electricity generation is not as simple as plugging a cord into the wall. It takes years to build, especially given that these are newer technologies. If we have any chance at meeting these 2040 climate goals, we need the State to act expeditiously, or they will be looking into the mirror for who to blame as we miss our targets.”
New York State has set itself down a path to the most aggressive clean energy transition in the nation and it is imperative that it is done the right way while adhering to the numerous warnings provided by the NYISO. Determining what constitutes a zero emissions resource is the first step towards reaching the necessary benchmarks set by the NYISO. Furthermore, blackouts or adverse health effects have been predicted if a clean energy transition is not pursued in a responsible manner.
On the first day of the conference, Professor C. Lindsay Anderson from Cornell commented that, from her technical analysis of energy systems, there are virtually no scenarios in which the New York grid wouldn’t require these dispatchable, emissions free resources. This technical conference should serve as a driver of change to expeditiously decide what qualifies as a zero emissions resource to spur private sector investment while maintaining the strict reliability standards of our grid along New York’s path to a cleaner energy future.
IPPNY contracted with Sargent and Lundy to participate in the technical conference. They are a world-renowned engineering firm and will help provide real world expertise on existing zero emissions technologies. Their expert comments offered multiple paths the PSC should seriously consider as they determine what emissions free technologies will meet the future peak demand on New York’s electricity grid. IPPNY’s Members will provide the majority of investment in the technologies chosen and are patiently awaiting the green light.
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About IPPNY
IPPNY, established in 1986, is the premier trade association dedicated to the representation of the State’s electric generation fleet, which powers New York’s economy. IPPNY Members produce clean electricity generation in this state; our Members have been successfully awarded more than half of the renewable energy credit contract awards from the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority, are leading proponents of meeting the State’s energy goals, while maintaining reliability, and are operating the facilities and making investments in additional ones to achieve the Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act’s targets. IPPNY Members also produce more than 75 percent of the State’s power from a multitude of fuel sources, such as: wind, solar, hydro, energy storage, natural gas, low sulfur oil, waste-to-energy, biomass, and nuclear. In combination, these resources maintain electric system reliability and “keep the lights on” for more than 19 million New Yorkers every day. Additionally, IPPNY’s Members have invested more than $10 billion in capital improvements at their facilities, employ over 10,000 people across the State, and pay approximately $1.7 billion in local property taxes annually. IPPNY does not represent investor-owned utilities or power authorities.
