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Renewable Energy Post - The CLCPA’s Scoping Plan: Fueling Action for Effective Implementation

The final Scoping Plan (Plan) for New York State’s Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act (“CLCPA” or the “Act”) was passed overwhelmingly by the Climate Action Council (“Council” or “CAC”) on December 19, 2022. The vote was 19 to 3. The Scoping Plan provides recommendations to meet the Act’s mandates, including significantly reducing greenhouse gas emissions, accelerating building and transportation electrification, and securing climate justice.Continue Reading The CLCPA’s Scoping Plan: Fueling Action for Effective Implementation

Renewable Energy Post - NYSCA Opportunities

New York State passed one of the most sweeping and comprehensive climate action laws with the 2019 Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act (Climate Act). The Act set aggressive goals for the State to reduce its carbon footprint and eliminate its reliance on fossil fuels.Continue Reading New York State Climate Act Creates Opportunities in Public and Private Sector

Hydrogen Filling StationOn March 24, 2022, New York State Governor Kathy Hochul announced that New York, New Jersey, Connecticut and Massachusetts plan to submit a joint proposal to the United States Department of Energy (DOE) to secure a portion of the $8 billion set aside for regional hydrogen hubs when applications open in May. This alignment represents a critical step in advancing New York’s Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act (CLCPA) goal to reduce greenhouse gas emissions 85 percent by 2050.
Continue Reading New York Leads Four-State Consortium for Portion of $8B Regional Hydrogen Hub Funds

On the evening of December 21, 2020, Congress provided a last-minute boost for clean energy projects and technology by passing a $1.4 trillion federal spending bill together with a $900 billion COVID-19 relief package. According to Senator Lisa Murkowski, Chair of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, “[the bill] represents the first modernization of our nation’s energy policies in well over a decade.” In particular, the bill’s clean energy provisions include:
Continue Reading A Big Day for Clean Energy: $1.4 Trillion Federal Spending Package Extends Tax Credits and Provides Research Funding for Clean Energy Projects and Technology

The Accelerated Renewable Energy Growth and Community Benefit Act (“Accelerator Act”) was enacted to speed up the siting and construction of major renewable energy projects in New York State. One of the key components of the Accelerator Act was the creation of the Office of Renewable Energy Siting (ORES) within the New York State Department of State to address, in large part, many of the shortcomings of New York State’s existing Article 10 siting process. At the statutory level, ORES is intended to improve and streamline the process for cost-effective siting of large-scale renewable energy in a timely fashion in order to achieve the State’s aggressive renewable energy targets. Of course, the details would be fleshed out in regulations required to be promulgated within a year of the Act’s passage.
Continue Reading New York State’s Office of Renewable Energy Siting Draft Regulations Out for Public Comment

The waning hours of the 2019 New York State legislative session saw both houses pass an extraordinary piece of legislation. The Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act (“Act”) requires the State to achieve a carbon-free electricity system by 2040 and reduce greenhouse gas emissions 85% below 1990 levels by 2050. The Act creates and empowers

On August 21, 2018, the Environmental Protection Agency (“EPA”) proposed a new rule which would replace the Obama-era Clean Power Plan (“CPP”) and establish new emissions guidelines for states to address greenhouse gas (“GHG”) emissions from electric-generating power plants. As background, the CPP was stayed by the Supreme Court in a 5-4 decision in February of 2016 before the rule ever went into effect. More recently, in October 2017, the EPA announced its intention to effectively repeal the CPP because it “exceeded” the EPA’s authority. Now, the EPA is proposing to enact the Affordable Clean Energy rule (“ACE Rule”) to reduce GHGs while giving states more flexibility to achieve that goal.
Continue Reading EPA Proposes to Replace Clean Power Plan with Affordable Clean Energy Rule

New York State (“NYS” or “State”) is launching a second round of request for proposals (“RFPs”) for large-scale renewable projects. According to NYS Energy Research and Development Authority (“NYSERDA”), the State is seeking to accelerate progress to achieve the lofty goals set in the Clean Energy Standard initiative that went into effect in August of 2016. As we have previously reported, the Clean Energy Standard mandates that renewable energy supply 50 percent of the State’s electricity needs by 2030. Large-scale renewable projects, such as utility-scale solar and wind, have been expected to carry a huge load in bridging the gap between the mandated 50 percent and the roughly 23 percent that was produced by renewables in 2016.
Continue Reading New York State Seeks Proposals for Large-Scale Renewable Projects

Since mid-March, the New York Public Service Commission (“PSC”) has had only two Commissioners, leaving it without a Chair and two additional Commissioners. This has caused many to question whether or not the PSC can act with only two Commissioners, and also creates concerns if the Commissioners are split on a matter.
Continue Reading When Will the New York Public Service Commission Be at Full Strength?

It has been reported that Tom Congdon, Chief of Staff of the N.Y. Department of Public Service, has just been named Deputy Chair of the State’s Public Service Commission (“PSC”) by outgoing Chair Audrey Zibelman.

Congdon, who was Governor Cuomo’s Assistant Secretary for Energy for over four years, is considered to be strongly supportive of the Governor’s energy agenda.
Continue Reading Tom Congdon Named Deputy Chair of N.Y. Public Service Commission