Press Releases

Impractical Climate Plan Should Have New Yorkers Concerned

Albany, NY – Today, the New York State Climate Action Council voted on the finalized Scoping Plan. The Plan is intended to be a roadmap for achieving New York’s climate goals and to inform the State’s residents and businesses about the measures necessary to meet the requirements of the Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act (“CLCPA”).

Gavin Donohue, a member of the Climate Action Council, voted against the Scoping Plan as it does not go far enough in terms of addressing reliability, along with associated public safety risks arising from disruption of electricity and heating services, and affordability. Donohue issued a written summary that outlines gaps in the Plan and his reasoning behind opposing it.

IPPNY President and CEO Gavin J. Donohue said: “A Scoping Plan should lay out the most cost-effective and technologically feasible path toward meeting our climate goals and this document does not do that. The ramifications of this Plan do not just impact the energy sector, they will affect the entire New York State economy. Reliability is paramount and is not adequately addressed. The State has missed opportunities to address zero emissions technologies needed to keep the lights on. We may achieve our 2030 goals, if absolutely everything goes as anticipated by the Plan. Getting from 2030 to 2040 is going to need magic, since the pathway and timetable for identifying and developing zero emission dispatchable resources, so that they are operating by 2040, is missing. Our 2021 joint petition with two unions to identify these technologies has not been acted upon by the State, and the Plan does not acknowledge it as a viable vehicle. We do not know how we will find this missing magic and that means the Council did not do its job because that is exactly what the law requires.”

Among other gaps in the Plan, there was no comprehensive ratepayer impact analysis included. A macroeconomic analysis was conducted; however, that is not enough for energy consumers to fully understand the impact the Plan will have on their energy bills and the economy. There are insufficient provisions within the Plan for how New Yorkers can afford to implement it without incurring upfront costs, as well as paying for future needed energy system upgrades.

“This is supposed to be a transition to our clean energy future, which is not something that will happen overnight and for which much technology innovation still needs to be accomplished. I fully support a clean energy transition, but we must be smart about how we do it and all solutions must be on the table. While I respect my colleagues on the Council and their efforts, I cannot endorse a plan that, in my estimation, does not achieve the CLCPA’s goals,” Donohue added.

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IPPNY is an Albany-based trade association representing companies in the competitive power supply industry in New York State. IPPNY Members generate the majority of New York's electricity using a wide variety of generating technologies and fuels including hydro, nuclear, wind, natural gas, solar, energy storage, biomass, oil, and waste-to-energy. For more information, please visit our website at www.ippny.org.