Governor Announces Proposed Regulations to Make New York Power Plants Coal-Free by 2020

 

State Will Require All Power Plants to Meet Stringent CO2 Limits – See Proposed Regulations Here

Supports Governor’s Nation-Leading Clean Energy Program Including the Goal to Reduce Statewide Greenhouse Gas Emissions 40 Percent by 2030 

Three Public Hearings Scheduled for July Provide Opportunities to Comment on Regulations

Governor Andrew M. Cuomo today announced that at his direction, the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation released proposed regulations to require all power plants in New York to meet new emissions limits for carbon dioxide (CO2), a potent greenhouse gas that contributes to climate change. The regulations, a first in the nation approach to regulating carbon emissions, will achieve the Governor’s goal to end the use of coal in New York State power plants by 2020.

“While Washington continues an open assault on our environment, New York is leading the charge with bold climate action to protect our future,” Governor Cuomo said. “Coal is a relic of the past, and it’s time to step up, take action, and put an end to our need for fossil fuels and focus on cleaner, more green energy solutions for the survival of our planet and future generations.”

“New York is a leader in the fight against climate change with significant investments to protect our environment,” said Lieutenant Governor Kathy Hochul. “We’re enhancing our infrastructure across the state and pursuing projects that promote cleaner and greener energy options for our communities and residents.”

Coal-Free New York

Delivering on the Governor’s 2016 State of the State pledge to go coal-free by 2020 and his 2018 State of the State directive to DEC to develop the rules to fulfill it, the proposed regulations will tighten the state’s CO2 Performance Standards for Major Electric Generating Facilities by establishing CO2 emission rate requirements for existing major electric generating facilities. This will ensure the state’s remaining coal-fired power plants transition to cleaner, alternative sources of energy or shut down by 2020. The state stands ready to help workers and communities transition to a clean energy future through the Governor’s Clean Climate Careers initiative and the Electric Generation Facility Cessation Mitigation Fund created to address the needs of the local communities affected by any closures, as well as a host of clean energy programs to support transitioning these plants away from coal.

The proposal appeared in the state register on May 16, and comments will be accepted through July 29, 2018. In addition, three public hearings have been scheduled to provide additional opportunities to comment on the regulations:

July 16, 2018 – 11:00AM

NYSDEC

625 Broadway

Public Assembly Room 129A/B

Albany, NY 12233

 

July 18, 2018 – 11:00AM

NYSDOT

1 Hunter’s Point Plaza

47-40 21st Street

Room 834

Long Island City, NY 11101

 

July 24, 2018 – 11:00AM

NYSDEC

6274 Avon-Lima Rd. (Rtes. 5 and 20)

Conference Room

Avon, NY 14414-9516

 

DEC Commissioner Basil Seggos said, “Climate change demands real action, and that is exactly what we are doing here in New York with our new coal regulations. Through these regulations, Governor Cuomo is solidifying his role as the nation’s leading environmental champion and helping all New Yorkers realize the economic potential of environmental funding and climate action.”

Department of Labor Commissioner Roberta Reardon said, “We are very excited to be a part of these efforts to transition workers from the fossil fuel industry and helping to lead the creation of the workforce of tomorrow.”

New York’s Climate Leadership

Today’s announcement is another component of the Governor’s comprehensive agenda to combat climate change by reducing greenhouse gas emissions and growing the clean energy economy. Through the Governor’s leadership, the 2018 Clean Energy Jobs and Climate Agenda is continuing its progress in slashing emissions from existing fossil fuel power plants and advancing clean energy technologies through unprecedented investments in offshore wind, solar, energy storage, and energy efficiency, while spurring market development and creating jobs across the state. The Governor’s nation-leading track record of climate accomplishments includes:

  • United States Climate Alliance: Co-founded the bipartisan U.S. Climate Alliance to uphold the emissions reduction goals of the Paris Agreement on climate change at the state level. The U.S. Climate Alliance now includes 16 states and Puerto Rico and accounts for $9 trillion in GDP, enough to be the world’s third-largest economy.
  • Environmental Protection Fund: Since 2016, secured a record $300 million Environmental Protection Fund, supporting projects in every county to protect land, improve water and air quality,and fight climate change.
  • Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI):  Led the effort to reduce RGGI’s carbon emission cap by 45 percent in 2014, and recently called for an additional cap reduction of at least 30 percent between 2020 and 2030 for this successful cap and trade program among northeast and mid-Atlantic states.
  • Reforming the Energy Vision: Established a comprehensive energy strategy to make the vision for a clean, resilient, and affordable energy system a reality, while actively spurring energy innovation, attracting new jobs, and improving consumer choice.
  • Clean Energy Standard: Created the most comprehensive and ambitious clean energy mandate in the state’s history, requiring that 50 percent of electricity in New York come from renewable energy sources like wind and solar by 2030. The Clean Energy Standard is driving unprecedented investment in renewable energy including $1.4 billion for 26 large-scale projects in March 2018.
  • Clean Energy Fund: Established a $5 billion fund that is jump-starting clean-tech innovation, mobilizing private investment and helping eliminate market barriers to make clean energy scalable and affordable for all New Yorkers.
  • NY Green Bank: Created the nation’s largest Green Bank, which has driven $1.6 billion in public and private investment in clean energy projects across New York State since its launch in 2014. Based on this success, the Green Bank is now raising at least an additional $1 billion in private sector funds to “go national.”
  • NY-Sun: The NY-Sun solar program has helped foster 1,000 percent growth in solar power across New York State since 2012, leveraging $2.8 billion in private investment and fueling 12,000 jobs.
  • Clean Climate Careers: Partnering with the labor community to help create 40,000 new good-paying clean energy jobs across the state by 2020.
  • Offshore Wind: Issued the nation’s most comprehensive master plan for offshore wind in 2018, including an unprecedented commitment to develope up to 2.4 gigawatts of offshore wind power by 2030, enough to power 1.2 million New York households. The plan includes procuring 800 megawatts of offshore wind across two solicitations in 2018 and 2019.
  • Energy Storage: Established in the 2018 State of the State an energy storage target of 1,500 megawatts by 2025 to help integrate renewable energy into the electric grid.
  • Energy Efficiency: Announced on Earth Day 2018 an ambitious new energy efficiency target to reduce energy consumption equivalent to 1.8 million New York households by 2025.
Author: Harlem Valley News