A coalition of climate and labor groups says New York just missed a chance to strengthen its power grid and cut pollution.
Public Power NY (PPNY) criticized Thursday’s decision by the Public Service Commission (PSC) to deny the New York Power Authority’s request to designate its Clean Path transmission project as a priority.
Coalition says decision will hurt New Yorkers
“This Hochul-endorsed decision will mean higher bills, more blackouts, and worse pollution,” the group said in a statement.
PPNY argues that Clean Path would have allowed renewable energy to reach parts of the state where demand is rising, helping prevent outages and reduce costs. The coalition says the project had support from labor, environmental advocates, and elected officials.
Instead, they say, the ruling favors fossil fuel companies and private utilities “that stand to get richer off the crisis.”
Part of a bigger push for public renewables
Public Power NY is behind the Build Public Renewables Act, a 2023 law that requires the state to build 15 gigawatts of public renewable energy by 2030. The group says rejecting Clean Path undermines that mission and delays needed upgrades to New York’s energy infrastructure.
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