The New York Power Authority (NYPA) has begun the conferral process, called for in legislation included in the 2023-24 Enacted New York State Budget that provides NYPA with new authority to develop, own and operate renewable energy generating projects to assist the state in meeting its clean energy targets. Through the conferral process, the Power Authority will gather input from state agencies and key stakeholders regarding progress on the implementation of New York's renewable energy goals as outlined in the state's Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act. Power Authority leadership will confer with sister state agencies charged with implementing the state's clean energy agenda. Next, NYPA staff will meet with additional pertinent stakeholders, including climate and resiliency experts, labor organizations, and environmental justice and community organizations.
Power Authority Board of Trustees Chairman John R. Koelmel, on behalf of all NYPA trustees, said, "Hearing from organizations involved and invested in the state's clean energy transition is vital as the Power Authority shapes its next steps and plans for the coming decade. The conferral process will ensure that key voices are represented and can help inform NYPA's strategic plan to build more renewable generation and decarbonize our economy for the benefit of all New Yorkers."
The conferral process will yield a report by NYPA that includes stakeholder perspectives on the state's progress on CLCPA renewable energy goals, information about the generation interconnection process of the New York Independent System Operator (NYISO), and other important issues. The conferral report will be made public and used by the Power Authority to inform the development of a strategic plan that identifies projects and describes other actions NYPA will undertake to help the state meet its clean energy targets.
"With Governor Hochul's leadership, we at the New York Power Authority will build upon our unique position and experience in operating the state's clean energy hydropower plants for the past sixty years to work with stakeholders and help shape the clean energy vision for New York State," said NYPA President and CEO Justin E. Driscoll. "The conferral process is the first step in our commitment to learn how we can best fill in gaps and put our distinct resources to work. We are excited to hear from our collaborators as we embark upon identifying new renewable energy generation projects that will help enable New York to lead the country's decarbonization journey."
A conferral process task force will shape the outreach and report. The task force, led by Yves Noel, senior vice president and chief strategy officer, and Phil Toia, president, NYPA Development, consists of a cross-functional team that leverages internal subject matter experts from across NYPA including development, strategy, legal, and technical departments.
In May 2023, the 2023-24 Enacted State Budget provided NYPA with new authority to develop, own, and operate renewable energy generating projects either alone or in collaboration with other entities to assist the state in meeting its clean energy targets, including producing 70% of the state's electricity from renewable sources by 2030 and creating a zero-emission statewide electrical system by 2040.
To contact the conferral task force for more information or to ask a question, e-mail NYPARenewablesConferral@nypa.gov.
New York State's Nation-Leading Climate Plan
New York State's nation-leading climate agenda is the most aggressive climate and clean energy initiative in the nation, calling for an orderly and just transition to clean energy that creates jobs and continues fostering a green economy as New York State recovers from the COVID-19 pandemic. Enshrined into law through the Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act, New York is on a path to achieve its mandated goal of a zero-emission electricity sector by 2040, including 70 percent renewable energy generation by 2030, and to reach economy wide carbon neutrality. It builds on New York's unprecedented investments to ramp-up clean energy including over $33 billion in 102 large-scale renewable and transmission projects across the state, $6.8 billion to reduce buildings emissions, $1.8 billion to scale up solar, more than $1 billion for clean transportation initiatives, and over $1.6 billion in NY Green Bank commitments. Combined, these investments are supporting nearly 158,000 jobs in New York's clean energy sector in 2020, a 2,100 percent growth in the distributed solar sector since 2011 and a commitment to develop 9,000 megawatts of offshore wind by 2035. Under the Climate Act, New York will build on this progress and reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 85 percent from 1990 levels by 2050, while ensuring that at least 35 percent with a goal of 40 percent of the benefits of clean energy investments are directed to disadvantaged communities, and advance progress towards the state's 2025 energy efficiency target of reducing on-site energy consumption by 185 trillion BTUs of end-use energy savings.
About NYPA
NYPA is the largest state public power organization in the nation, operating 16 generating facilities and more than 1,400 circuit-miles of transmission lines. More than 80 percent of the electricity NYPA produces is clean renewable hydropower. NYPA uses no tax money or state credit. It finances its operations through the sale of bonds and revenues earned in large part through sales of electricity. For more information visit www.nypa.gov and follow us on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, Tumblr and LinkedIn
Contact: Susan Craig | susan.craig@nypa.gov | (914) 287-3691
