A state climate group says Governor Kathy Hochul’s latest budget amendments fall short on energy affordability and renewable power investment.
Public Power NY criticized Hochul for not adding $200 million for public renewables to her executive budget proposal. The group said thousands of New Yorkers and several elected officials had called for the funding.
In her 30-day budget amendments, Hochul did not include expected rollbacks to New York’s Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act, known as the CLCPA. But advocates said she could still try to weaken the law during negotiations in the coming months.
The CLCPA requires New York to generate 70% of its electricity from renewable sources by 2030. Public Power NY said the state is falling behind on those legally mandated targets.
At a recent budget hearing, New York Power Authority CEO Justin Driscoll testified that “more funds, more equity” would result in “more projects” being built.
Alex Patterson, campaign coordinator for Public Power NY, said the governor’s approach does not meet the moment.
“Governor Hochul isn’t gutting New York’s climate law just yet, but she’s also not doing anything to reach the legally mandated targets of the CLCPA and deliver on her promise of energy affordability,” Patterson said. “Hochul’s energy plan doubling down on expensive fracked gas and nuclear power will only send unaffordable bills even higher. Building affordable, public renewables is the only way to lower energy bills, reduce pollution and ensure a liveable New York.”
Public Power NY said thousands of residents and elected officials, including Zohran Mamdani, have urged NYPA to build 15 gigawatts of public renewables to help meet climate targets and lower energy bills.
Instead, the group said NYPA recently reduced its renewable energy plans by approving a 1.5 gigawatt cut to the amount of power it plans to build under its strategic plan for the Build Public Renewables Act.
Lawmakers have also introduced the Public Power Democracy Act, sponsored by Senator Kristen Gonzalez and Assemblymember Sarahana Shrestha. The bill would expand the NYPA board of trustees to 17 members. Supporters say that expansion would give the board the expertise needed to carry out its expanded role under the Build Public Renewables Act.
Public Power NY describes itself as a statewide movement that helped write and pass the Build Public Renewables Act in 2023. The group says the law aims to build 15 gigawatts of public renewables by 2030 and position New York as a national climate leader.
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