New York sets new goals for 100% clean power, 70% renewables
January 18, 2019
BY Erin Krueger
On Jan. 17, New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced the Green New Deal, a clean energy and jobs agenda that calls for the state to achieve 100 percent clean power by 2040. It also aims to set new renewable energy mandates.
Information released by the governor indicates the Green New Deal will statutorily mandate New York’s power be 100 percent carbon free by 2040. The cornerstone of the new mandate is an increase in the state’s Clean Energy Standard from 50 percent to 70 percent renewable electricity by 2030.
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The proposal primarily focuses on increased wind, solar and energy storage deployment. However, the plan will also “maximize the contributions and potential of New York’s existing renewable resources.”
The Green New Deal also aims to create a Climate Action Council that will develop a comprehensive plan to make New York carbon neutral by reducing emissions from all major sources, including electricity, transportation, buildings, industry, commercial activity and agriculture.
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Information published by the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority indicates that the New York Renewable Portfolio Standard’s main tier currently has 81 active projects under contract totaling 2,421 MW of new renewable capacity. These projects include 10 landfill gas projects with a combined 60.1 MW of capacity, two biomass projects with a combined 69.3 MW of capacity, and three anaerobic digesters with a combined 11.8 MW of capacity.
Information published by the U.S. Energy Information Administration indicates New York consumed 132 trillion Btu of energy from biomass sources in 2016.
Additional information on the Green New Deal is available on the New York State government website.
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