According to PSEG, a new high-voltage transmission line in the Glenwood Landing area would cost ratepayers around $30 million a year. Green-energy plans proposed as part of the bidding request would have cost $22 million to $42 million more each year. In Far Rockaway, the cost differences are even greater. 

Energy Policy New York

While nuclear power is left to sink or swim in New England's competitive power market, New York last week approved a clean energy standard that calls for 50 percent renewables by 2030 and financial subsidies to keep three Upstate nuclear power plants in business.

Taxes & Subsidies Energy Policy New York

New York just passed one of the nation’s strongest renewable energy policies, but the plan for building out the transmission lines it will need to implement those policies is more uncertain. On Monday, the state Public Service Commission passed the Clean Energy Standard, which mandates that renewables power half of New York’s power grid by 2030, and provides more than $1 billion in subsidies for financially challenged nuclear facilities that would otherwise close.

Energy Policy New York

While NYISO was careful to point out that it supports Cuomo's vision, the North Greenbush-based operation said New York would have to add a large amount of new transmission lines and would have to study more how to manage the added renewable electricity generation, which is naturally intermittent, that would be added to the grid. Transmission upgrades and new transmission lines are expensive to build and even more unpopular with residents who don't like to see the large structures near their neighborhoods.

Energy Policy New York

New York’s chairman of energy and finance will exclude himself from meetings with the world’s largest offshore wind-energy developer about a wind farm off Long Island because of an investment he has in a Goldman Sachs subsidiary that owns a large stake in the company.

Offshore Wind Energy Policy New York

With state lawmakers set to leave this month, the nation's strongest climate protection bill was expected to clear the Assembly, but remained without a sponsor in the Senate late Wednesday.

Energy Policy New York

“Such PPAs unnecessarily transfer the risk that certain resources may not be economically viable from private investors and developers to those that are unable to manage and mitigate such risk — consumers,” NYISO officials wrote. “Significantly, the [Department of Public Service] Staff White Paper does not address the reliability concerns that arise when resources are insulated from the financial consequences of their operation.”

Energy Policy New York

NYISO, the entity that manages New York's electric grid system provided important feedback on the Cuomo administration’s primary method of achieving its goal of doubling New York’s renewable energy. An excerpt of the comments is provided below where the NYISO challenges the intent to award long-term power purchase contracts to project owners at the expense of consumers. Under the plan presented by Cuomo, the NYISO the development of: (i) approximately 25,000 megawatts of solar capacity to meet the targets solely with solar resources; or (ii) approximately 15,000 megawatts of wind capacity to meet the targets solely with wind resources. The full paper can be accessed by clicking the links on this page.

Energy Policy New York

To reach Gov. Andrew Cuomo's clean power goals, which call for the state to get half its electricity from clean sources by 2030, utilities will have to ink binding long-term deals to buy power from large wind or solar farms, according to a recent report by the state Public Service Commission.

Energy Policy New York

A coalition of power plant owners and energy groups is opposing utility ownership of large-scale renewable energy projects such as wind farms that would help the state achieve its renewable energy goals.

Energy Policy New York

The state’s energy research authority is proposing to spend $1.5 billion over the next 10 years to spur further development in renewable energy projects, extending a program that began in 2004 through the state’s Renewable Portfolio Standard program.

Energy Policy New York

Anne Reynolds, executive director of the Alliance for Clean Energy New York, an Albany-based trade group, says many companies are getting involved in the process to help shape the state's policies. She said they worry that renewable energy companies could lose business if utilities are put in charge of installing solar panels and other forms of distributed generation. There are also questions about how large-scale wind projects will fit into the new policies.

Energy Policy New York

A recent Public Service Commission (PSC) Order instructed NYSERDA to issue at least one more RPS solicitation in 2015, and double the length of current contract terms to 20 years.

Energy Policy New York

The state Public Service Commission is considering the creation of a new Clean Energy Fund that would replace its Renewable Portfolio Standard, a program begun in 2004 to boost New York's renewable energy production to 30 percent of the state's total generation by 2015.

Energy Policy New York

This paper provides a pointed critique of a earlier study which concluded the State of New York could be powered entirely on renewable energy. The authors argue that the analysis performed to show renewables could power NYS was insufficient and failed to consider the economic, technical and social barriers to an all-renewable scenario. The introduction and conclusion of the paper are provided below. Click on the link(s) at the bottom of this page to access the full document.

Energy Policy New York

"It's too ambitious by 2030 to replace all the state's power with renewables," Angus McCrone, a senior analyst at Bloomberg New Energy Finance in London, said today. The projections, he said, look "unrealistic" for individual technologies. ...offshore wind turbines would cover an area of about 4,903 square miles, and onshore machines would cover a further 1,000 square miles.

Energy Policy Impact on Landscape Impact on Economy New York

Top Iberdrola executives seemed largely ignorant of American regulatory requirements. Auditors said they must "adjust more to business culture here, as opposed to expect U.S. stakeholders to accommodate themselves to Spanish custom and practice." Top executives wouldn't answer auditors' questions, wouldn't allow board members to be interviewed and argued against disclosing information, making arguments that auditors described as "invalid" and "very peculiar."

Energy Policy General Zoning/Planning New York

This informative letter with proposed resolution, compiled and signed by 166 citizens, residents and landowners of Wyoming County New York, was sent to the sixteen Wyoming County Supervisors as well as NY's congressional delegation. An excerpt of the letter appears below along with the resolution the signers were hoping to see adopted by the County. The full letter can be accessed by clicking on the link at the bottom of this page.

Impact on People Energy Policy New York

And as representatives from utility companies, the energy industry and the banks that fund them convene to discuss the future of the state's power grid, local officials and residents who fought NYRI say they are hopeful their plans won't hurt local communities.

Energy Policy Transmission New York

"This is in opposition to the state of New York being the last approving agency to decide which green energy projects go where in New York state, particularly in the towns and counties," said Chairman Douglas Berwanger.

Energy Policy New York