What's happening
This bill requires the New York State Energy Planning Board to study and report on the technical and economic feasibility of achieving 100% renewable energy and significant greenhouse gas emission reductions.
Why it matters
Comprehensive Economic and Technical Analysis. The mandated study will rigorously examine not just if 100% renewable energy and major emissions cuts are possible, but also what it would cost, who would bear those costs, and what the economic ripple effects would be for businesses, jobs, and residents under different scenarios (including if other states are less ambitious).
Sector-by-Sector Roadmap. The law requires assessment of feasible actions across every major sector—electricity, transportation, industry, agriculture, and buildings—detailing both immediate and long-term steps, their emission impacts, and the broader economic and social consequences of each action.
Focus on Practical Challenges. The study must address technical hurdles like maintaining grid reliability (e.g., backup power, storage), infrastructure transformation (such as net-zero buildings and electric vehicles), and the deployment of new technologies, providing a grounded look at what changes would be needed in practice.
Holistic Benefit Assessment. Beyond direct costs, the study must weigh public health, environmental justice, and broader societal benefits (like cleaner air and a diversified energy mix), factoring in not just dollars and cents but also the federal social cost of carbon and other non-economic gains.
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Who cares
State Energy Planning Board
The board would publish a feasibility study by September 1, 2020, update it every four years and report findings to the governor and legislative leaders.
Electric utilities and power generators
The study would assess grid reliability, backup power and storage needs under 100 percent renewable electricity scenarios, with industry consultation required.
Automakers and building developers
The study would examine an emissions-free requirement for new vehicle sales, proposals for net-zero new buildings and a transition to renewable heating and cooling.
Environmental justice groups
They would be consulted on a study assessing emissions-reduction pathways and their economic, environmental and public health benefits.
Headline styles
Study 100% Renewable Energy
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
History
- Referred to ways and means
- Reported referred to ways and means
- Print number 2720b
- Amend and recommit to energy
- Print number 2720a
- Amend and recommit to energy
- Referred to energy
Companion bill
The same bill in the other chamber. A bill becomes law when one version passes both houses and the governor signs it, so either number can carry it.
Study 100% Renewable Energy
In Senate Committee · Energy And Telecommunications · Sponsor Kevin S. Parker
Full text
3 pagesUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
2720--B
2019-2020 Regular Sessions
IN ASSEMBLY
January 25, 2019
Introduced by M. of A. CUSICK, LIFTON, ORTIZ, PAULIN, STERN, CRESPO, WALLACE, HUNTER, SIMOTAS, ROZIC, SAYEGH, L. ROSENTHAL, PALMESANO, WALCZYK, BLANKENBUSH -- read once and referred to the Committee on Energy -- committee discharged, bill amended, ordered reprinted as amended and recommitted to said committee -- again reported from said committee with amendments, ordered reprinted as amended and recommitted to said committee
AN ACT to amend the energy law, in relation to directing the state energy planning board to conduct a study of the technical and economic feasibility of a one hundred percent renewable energy system and a reduction in greenhouse gas emissions
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. The energy law is amended by adding a new section 6-110 to read as follows:
§ 6-110. Supplemental study on the technical and economic feasibility of a one hundred percent renewable energy system and a reduction in greenhouse gas emissions. 1. On or before September first, two thousand twenty, and every four years thereafter, the board shall publish and update a comprehensive study to determine the technical and economic feasibility of meeting the following goals:
(a) one hundred percent of the electricity consumed in the state generated by renewable energy resources by the year two thousand thirty, and, alternatively, the year two thousand fifty.
(b) reducing greenhouse gas emissions from all anthropogenic sources one hundred percent below the levels of greenhouse gas emissions in the year nineteen hundred ninety by the year two thousand fifty, with an incremental target of at least a fifty percent reduction in greenhouse gas emissions below the levels of greenhouse gas emissions in the year nineteen hundred ninety by the year two thousand thirty.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD06924-10-9
A. 2720--B 2
2. Such study shall include, at a minimum, an assessment of each of the following:
(a) the timing, costs, economic impacts, and feasibility associated with pathways to meet these goals. In terms of the evaluation of costs, the study shall:
(i) evaluate, using the best available economic models, emission estimation techniques and other scientific methods, the total potential costs and potential economic and non-economic benefits of meeting these goals;
(ii) evaluate the economic impact of meeting the goals on the state's businesses, jobs, ratepayers and residents assuming:
(A) the renewable and greenhouse gas emissions goals of other states and regions in the United States are at least fifty percent lower than New York state's goals;
(B) the renewable and greenhouse gas emissions goals of other states and regions in the United States are as those in place as of the date of the study;
(C) the existence of technology in place as of the date of the study.
(b) the technical and cost impact on maintaining electric system reliability, including but not limited to, the need for and type of back-up power supplies and of energy storage systems to maintain electric system reliability.
(c) the short-term and long-term actions to feasibly meet the goals across all economic sectors, including industry, transportation, agriculture, building construction and energy production, including:
(i) an analysis of the anticipated emission reductions, and the economic implications thereof, as a result of each action.
(ii) identification of the anticipated life-cycle implications, consequences, benefits and costs of implementing each action, including implications, consequences, benefits and costs to New York state, local governments, businesses, ratepayers and residents from implementation of each action.
(d) estimated timelines for considering and implementing such actions.
(e) exploration of various renewable technology and energy efficiency deployment scenarios.
(f) a requirement for any new vehicles sold in the state to be powered by electricity generated by renewable energy resources or otherwise to be free of emissions.
(g) proposals for new structures constructed in the state to be net zero emission structures.
(h) transition to renewable heating and cooling provided by heat pumps powered by renewable energy resources or other means resulting in net zero emissions.
(i) the economic and social benefits of greenhouse gas emissions reductions, taking into account the federal social cost of carbon, any other tools that the board deems useful and pertinent for this analysis, and any environmental, economic and public health co-benefits (such as the reduction of co-pollutants and the diversification of energy sources).
3. Such study shall build upon relevant expertise already at the board's disposal.
4. The board may contract with an independent and competitively selected contractor to undertake such study.
5. The board, and any contractors it may retain for such purposes, shall consult with entities that have resources and expertise to assist in such study, including, but not limited to, academic partners, elec-
A. 2720--B 3
tric corporations, electricity generating companies, trade organizations, environmental justice groups, and other stakeholders.
6. The board shall prepare a report on such study's findings. The board shall transmit such report along with the study to the governor, the speaker of the assembly, the temporary president of the senate, the chair of the assembly energy committee, and the chair of the senate energy and telecommunications committee no later than thirty days after the study's completion.
7. The Long Island power authority and the power authority of the state of New York are authorized, as deemed feasible and advisable by their respective boards, to make a voluntary contribution toward the study.
§ 2. This act shall take effect immediately.
Reflowed for reading: line numbers and page breaks removed. Cite the official text.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.