A Southern Tier state senator is calling for a fresh review of New York’s sweeping climate mandates, arguing the state may be approaching a breaking point on energy affordability and reliability.
State Sen. Tom O’Mara is urging the Public Service Commission to hold hearings on whether to suspend or revise timelines tied to the Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act, while also encouraging residents to weigh in before a public comment deadline later this week.
The request centers on a petition filed by the Coalition for Safe and Reliable Energy, which includes business and industry groups from across the state. The coalition is asking regulators to evaluate whether current renewable energy requirements could jeopardize the state’s ability to maintain reliable electric service and balance costs for ratepayers.
O’Mara said the state needs “an honest, open” reassessment of its energy strategy, pointing to concerns that the timeline to reach 70% renewable energy by 2030 and zero emissions by 2040 is not achievable with current technology. He argued that hearings could provide a forum to examine the real-world impacts of those mandates, including rising energy costs and reliability risks.
The senator also cited recent findings from the New York Independent System Operator, which reported one of the lowest reliability margins in recent history heading into the summer season. He and others have long questioned whether the state fully accounted for the cost and feasibility of transitioning to clean energy at the pace outlined in the law.
The public comment period on the petition remains open through Friday. O’Mara is encouraging residents, businesses, and stakeholders to submit feedback to the Public Service Commission as it considers next steps.
He said any changes proposed in the state’s current budget discussions fall short of addressing what he described as underlying issues driving energy costs higher.
The Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act, enacted in 2019, established some of the nation’s most aggressive clean energy targets. Debate over how to meet those goals — and at what cost — has intensified in recent years as the state works to implement its long-term energy plan.
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