June 3, 2004
Natural Resources Defense Council; American Wind Energy Association; American Lung Association of New York State; Community Energy; Environmental Advocates of New York; Fuel Cell Energy, Inc., Hudson River Sloop Clearwater; Neighborhood Network; New York Lawyers for the Public Interest; New York League of Conservation Voters; New York Public Interest Research Group; New York Renewable Energy Coalition; New York Solar Energy Industries Association; Pace Energy Project; Plug Power; PowerLight; Public Utility Law Project; Renewable Energy Long Island; Riverkeeper; Scenic Hudson; Sierra Club Atlantic Chapter; Solar Energy Industries Association; Sustainable Energy Developments, Inc.; Union of Concerned Scientists

AGENCY DECISION MOVES NEW YORK CLOSER TO 25% RENEWABLE ENERGY REQUIREMENT: ENVIRONMENTAL GROUPS, RENEWABLE INDUSTRY LEADERS PRAISE DECISION, CALL FOR SWIFT APPROVAL

Today a New York State agency judge issued a decision that could make New York a national leader on renewable energy, provide a key tool to combat global warming and help secure energy independence for New York, if it is swiftly approved by the State’s Public Service Commission.

In January 2003, New York State Governor George Pataki, saying that he would “make New York a national leader in renewable energy usage,” announced his support for a requirement that 25% of the electricity sold in New York come from renewable energy resources, such as wind, solar and fuel cells, by 2013. This requirement is known as the Renewable Portfolio Standard (“RPS”).

Today’s decision by a New York State Department of Public Service judge provides the first details on the RPS since the Governor’s announcement eighteen months ago. The decision includes recommendations on key issues such as what energy resources will be included in the definition of “renewable.” The judge has offered other important recommendations on compliance milestones, and estimates of the likely costs and benefits expected to result from program implementation. The State Public Service Commission must approve the decision before the RPS moves forward.

“Today’s decision brings the environmental, global warming and economic benefits of clean, renewable energy one step closer to reality in New York,” said Katherine Kennedy, Senior Attorney, NRDC (Natural Resources Defense Council). “Chairman William Flynn and his staff at the Department of Public Service deserve great credit for their skillful handling of the RPS proceeding so far. But we won’t see cleaner air and better public health unless the Public Service Commission acts immediately to approve the renewable energy requirement.”

The RPS Will Help New York Fight Global Warming and Improve Air Quality

“Global warming is the number one environmental threat facing the United States and New York,” said Anne Reynolds, Air and Energy Project Director of Environmental Advocates of New York. “The RPS, if approved, will reduce carbon dioxide emissions in New York by nearly 8% by 2013, making real progress for New York and the other Northeastern states that are working together to combat global warming regionally.”

"The emissions from dirty, fossil fuel power plants make people sick and cut short lives," said Peter Iwanowicz, Director of Environmental Health for the American Lung Association of New York State. "We need the members of the Public Service Commission to ratify the judge's decision quickly to reduce New York's reliance on out-dated fossil fuel generation, providing all New Yorkers a healthier future."

“Today’s decision marks real progress toward meeting Governor Pataki’s vision of making New York a renewable energy leader,” said Marcia Bystryn, Executive Director of the New York League of Conservation Votes. “We hope that the Public Service Commission does not lag in making the Governor’s vision a reality.”

"By approving today's decision, New York will be the national leader in renewable energy markets outside of California," said Jeff Deyette, Energy Analyst for the Union of Concerned Scientists. "Fourteen states have already made similar commitments to today's clean energy technologies by adopting renewable energy standards."

“New York is blessed with some of the nation’s best renewable resources such as wind, solar energy, and low impact hydropower,” said Fred Zalcman, Executive Director of the Pace Law School Energy Project. “The RPS will enable us to tap this rich base of clean energy alternatives.”

The RPS Is a Sound Investment for New York

“The RPS is a good investment for New York,” said Nathanael Greene, Senior Energy Analyst for NRDC. “It will create jobs, help to reduce high natural gas prices and stabilize electric price spikes.”

"The RPS makes good sense for New York consumers," said Ben Wiles of the Public Utility Law Project, the Albany-based low-income energy consumer advocacy group. "The costs for residential customers from implementation of the RPS are modest, and even these costs decline significantly if future energy costs are even higher than now forecast. Moreover, when the RPS' potential benefits in environmental quality for communities burdened with poor air quality, and its support for the new technologies needed for energy independence are factored in, the RPS will be a clear winner for New York consumers."

Focusing only on electricity costs, the judge’s decision estimates that the cumulative net present value of the RPS from 2006 to 2013 is likely to range in cost from $178 to $328 million (using current fuel costs). Residential customers will see their electric bills change by between -1.2% to +1.8%. This means that if your monthly electric bill is $50, your bill will either decrease or increase by about 75 cents to a dollar.

“The RPS will bring thousands of jobs to New York while also improving the environment,” said John Stouffer, Legislative Director for the Sierra Club Atlantic Chapter. “By encouraging home-grown forms of renewable energy like wind, solar and fuel cells, the RPS will avoid the import of fossil fuels from out of state, as well as the import of power from large, environmentally damaging hydroelectric projects.”

"An RPS will allow New York to further develop its wind energy resources and capture the environmental and economic benefits from the pollution-free, domestic power the world's fastest growing energy technology can provide," says Valerie Strauss for the American Wind Energy Association.

"This standard would keep more of New York's energy dollars at home to support clean, high-tech development,” said Colin Murchie of the Solar Energy Industries Association.

“This decision recognizes that clean and renewable energy is no longer a dream; it is here,” said Roger Saillant, President and CEO of Plug Power. “With fuel cells and solar panels, wind turbines and other technologies, we now have real solutions to the problems of air pollution, grid congestion, energy security, and reliance on imported oil. I applaud the State of New York for taking a large step forward. We will work with utilities and other parties to make this work for everybody.”

Garbage Incineration Is Not Renewable

"The recommended decision does not include incineration, sometimes called waste-to-energy, as a renewable technology, and we encourage Chairman Flynn to keep it that way for the final decision,” said Jason K. Babbie, Environmental Policy Analyst for the New York Public Interest Research Group. “The regulatory process should not trash Governor Pataki’s green renewable energy initiative by including garbage burning.”

“We’re not fighting to replace dirty fossil fuel power plants with dirtier garbage burning plants,” said Eddie Bautista of New York Lawyers for the Public Interest. “New York’s cities need the benefits of real renewable energy, like solar and fuel cells.”

Regional Benefits of The RPS

"Bringing more clean and renewable energy to the state is a no-brainer but makes particular sense for pollution-plagued places like Long Island and New York City," said Gordian Raacke, Executive Director of Renewable Energy Long Island (RELI). "Replacing highly polluting electricity generation in the Hudson Valley and New York City with renewable energy will be especially beneficial for air quality on Long Island and in the City."

“Renewable energy will benefit the Hudson River and its fisheries by helping to replace old power plants that take in billions of gallons of Hudson River water and kill fish,” said Reed Super, Senior Attorney for Riverkeeper.

“Renewable energy is an important part of a sustainable future for the Hudson Valley,” said Ned Sullivan, Executive Director of Scenic Hudson. “Renewable energy will help our economy grow while protecting air quality and quality of life.”

“The RPS will help avoid the need for imported energy and protect energy security throughout New York State,” said Manna Jo Greene for the Hudson River Sloop Clearwater.

Click here to read a fact sheet on the New York Renewable Portfolio Standard