What's happening
This bill requires the New York State Energy Planning Board to regularly study and report on the feasibility of achieving 100% renewable energy and major greenhouse gas reductions.
Why it matters
Comprehensive Analysis of Transition Pathways. The bill requires an in-depth study not just of the technical possibility of achieving 100% renewable electricity and net-zero emissions, but also of the timing, costs, and economic impacts—including scenarios where New York’s goals are much more ambitious than those of other states. This means New York will have a detailed understanding of challenges and trade-offs before making massive infrastructure or policy shifts.
Holistic Sector Coverage. The study must cover all economic sectors—industry, transportation, agriculture, buildings, and energy production—identifying both short- and long-term actions. This is important because it ensures that the roadmap to 100% renewables and net-zero emissions is not limited to power generation but addresses emissions sources and solutions across the entire economy.
Focus on Real-World Implications. By requiring analysis of impacts on businesses, jobs, ratepayers, residents, local governments, and public health, the law ensures that decision makers and the public are informed about the practical effects—both positive and negative—of aggressive climate action, which is critical for public buy-in and successful implementation.
Regular, Transparent Updates with Stakeholder Input. With the study to be conducted every four years, and requiring input from a diverse set of stakeholders (utilities, academic experts, environmental justice groups, etc.), the bill creates a mechanism for regularly updating New York’s climate strategy based on the latest science, technology, and economic realities. This ongoing process helps ensure that policy remains responsive and grounded in current data.
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Study 100% Renewable Energy
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
History
- Referred to energy and telecommunications
- Committed to rules
- Amended on third reading 2352b
- Advanced to third reading
- 2nd report cal.
- 1st report cal.170
- Print number 2352a
- Amend and recommit to energy and telecommunications
- Referred to energy and telecommunications
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 Assembly Committee · Ways And Means · Sponsor Michael Cusick
Full text
3 pagesUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
2352--B Cal. No. 170
2019-2020 Regular Sessions
IN SENATE
January 24, 2019
Introduced by Sens. PARKER, BIAGGI, BRESLIN, COMRIE, FUNKE, HARCKHAM, SAVINO, THOMAS -- read twice and ordered printed, and when printed to be committed to the Committee on Energy and Telecommunications -committee discharged, bill amended, ordered reprinted as amended and recommitted to said committee -- reported favorably from said committee, ordered to first and second report, ordered to a third reading, amended and ordered reprinted, retaining its place in the order of third reading
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.
LBD06924-11-9
S. 2352--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-
S. 2352--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.
Sponsor's memo
Title of bill
An act to amend the energy law, in relation to direct- ing 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
Purpose or general idea of bill
This bill would include a supplemental study to be conducted as part of the New York State Energy Plan to determine the technical and economic feasibility of meeting a 100 percent renewable energy goal and a 100 percent greenhouse gas (GHG) emission reduction goal, along with associ- ated impacts to electric system reliability.
Summary of provisions
This bill would add a requirement for a supplemental study to be conducted as part of the New York State Energy Plan. The study would determine the technical and economic feasibility of meeting the follow- ing goals:
Read the full memo (1,028 words)
- Having 100 percent of the electricity consumed in New York State be generated by renewable energy resources by 2030, or, in the alternative, by 2050.
- Reducing GHG emissions by 100 percent below the levels in the year 1990 by 2050, with an incremental target of a 50 percent reduction from 1990 levels by 2030.
The study would assess factors such as the timing, costs, economic, and health impacts, and feasibility associated with pathways to meet these goals. The evaluation of costs would consider parameters such as the total potential costs and potential economic and non-economic benefits of meeting these goals, in addition to the technical and cost impact on maintaining electric system reliability, including but not limited to, the need for and type of backup power supplies and of energy storage systems to maintain electric system reliability.
The study also would assess 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, and the estimated timelines for considering and implementing such actions.
The New York State Energy Planning Board would prepare a report on such study's findings and would transmit the report and the study to the Governor, the Legislative Leaders, and the chairs of the Energy Commit- tees in the New York State Assembly and the Senate.
The Long Island Power Authority and the New York Power Authority (NYPA) are authorized to make a voluntary contribution toward the study.
Justification
The Clean Energy Standard (CES) already requires that 50 percent of all electricity used in the State be generated from renewable energy resources by 2030. The New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) and NYPA already have awarded Requests for Proposals (RFP) to begin to implement the CES.
Yet, some have called for a requirement that the State accelerate its current CES goal to have 100 percent of the electricity consumed in New York State to be generated by renewable energy resources by 2030, or, in the alternative, by 2050. The electric system reliability impacts of meeting a goal of a 100 percent renewable energy system need to be determined, along with an evaluation of the technical and economic feasibility of meeting such a goal.
In his 2017 State of the State Address Book, Governor Andrew M. Cuomo directed the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) and NYSERDA "to undertake a comprehensive study to determine the timing, costs, and feasibility associated with pathways to reach 100 percent renewables statewide. This landmark study will explore various renewable technology and energy efficiency deployment scenarios, emis- sions reductions pathways, and economic considerations for New York businesses, residents, and consumers. DEC and NYSERDA will engage academic partners to draw upon existing clean energy research and seek input from other key stakeholders. The study will build upon relevant expertise already at the State's disposal, including analyses completed for the Clean Energy Standard, the New York State Greenhouse Gas Inven- tory and Pathways Analysis, and other renewable energy and energy effi- ciency potential studies conducted by NYSERDA." This study that was called for by the Governor in 2017 still is pending, and this legis- lation is consistent with the intent of that study.
Similarly, some have called for a goal of reducing GHG emissions by 100 percent below the levels in the year 1990 by 2050, with an incremental target of a 50 percent reduction from 1990 levels by 2030. This 100 percent emissions reduction goal would be more aggressive than the one established by Executive Order 24 of 2009, which requires that GHG emis- sions be reduced by 80 percent across the economy from 1990 levels by 2050. Also, this 50 percent incremental emissions reduction goal is more aggressive than the goal established by the most recent State Energy Plan, which has established a goal to reduce GHG emissions statewide by 40 percent from 1990 levels by 2030.
The technical and economic feasibility of these GHG emission reduction goals needs to be determined, and their corresponding impact on electric system reliability needs to be evaluated, especially in combination with the 100 percent renewable energy goal discussed above. Executive Order 24 required the DEC to develop a Climate Action Plan, and, on November 9, 2010, the DEC issued a draft Climate Action Plan Interim Report, which was developed through an extensive stakeholder process, for how to reduce emissions from each sector of the State's economy; however, this draft report was not finalized. This bill would ensure that draft report would be updated and completed.
The State Energy Planning process is required to be conducted every four years. This legislation would require a comprehensive study to be conducted and updated every four years on the technical and economic feasibility of meeting the goals discussed above, in addition to a determination of their associated impact on electric system reliability. The planning process includes a public hearing and comment process, and the legislation would require specific input from affected and inter- ested stakeholders. The study produced in conjunction with the State Energy Plan would determine whether and how these goals can be met in a responsible and cost-effective manner.
Fiscal implications for state and local governments
None.
Effective date
This act shall take effect immediately.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.