Highlights
- Bill Credits from Renewable Projects to Benefit Low-Income New Yorkers
- New REACH Program Result of Governor Hochul's 2023 Budget Initiative
The New York Power Authority (NYPA) today (Jan 31) filed a petition at the New York State Public Service Commission (PSC) to establish the Renewable Energy Access and Community Help (REACH) program to provide electric bill credits for low-income households across the state. The new program stems from the Power Authority's expanded authority to develop, own, and operate renewable energy generating projects either alone or in collaboration with other entities granted in the 2023-24 Enacted State Budget and directly supports the State's renewable energy and environmental justice goals set forth in the New York State Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act (Climate Act).
NYPA President and CEO Justin E. Driscoll said, "The REACH program will help ensure that low-income New Yorkers will not be left behind as we transition to a clean energy economy. The Power Authority is driven to accelerate the deployment of renewable energy in New York State through our expanded authority. This is a transformational moment for the state and this new REACH program will enable more New Yorkers to benefit from newly built renewable energy projects."
REACH will directly benefit low-income electric ratepayers using renewable generation from distributed energy sources in their communities or from large-scale renewable projects located throughout the state's electric power grid. The bill credits will be funded from a portion of revenues from new renewable energy generation projects developed or contracted for by NYPA and designated for REACH, and other authorized funding. The petition asks PSC to establish a regulatory framework to allow electric utilities to receive funds from the Power Authority to credit low-income ratepayer's bills.
NYPA requests that PSC build the REACH program utilizing the same structure as the Energy Affordability Program and as the Statewide Solar for All program, which Governor Kathy Hochul announced in her State of the State address on Jan. 9, 2024. The use of existing regulatory structures will lower costs for program administration and allow for more funds to be received by low-income ratepayers.
The petition, which comes more than three months ahead of the statutory filing deadline of May 3, 2024, will be issued for public notice and comment by PSC. Following stakeholder input, NYPA requests that PSC issue an order establishing the program by the end of this year to ensure that REACH is ready for implementation in 2025. The timing will coincide with the Power Authority's planned issuance of its first biennial Strategic Plan for building new renewable energy generation projects in January 2025.
Once the REACH framework is established, NYPA will confer with the Long Island Power Authority (LIPA) to implement REACH within LIPA's service territory. In addition, NYPA is currently studying the feasibility and advisability of establishing a similar program for municipal distribution utilities and rural electric cooperatives.
The Power Authority's positive impact on New York's carbon footprint dates to the 1950s and 1960s when it constructed the state's largest hydroelectric power plants in Niagara and Massena. Over decades of innovation from smart generation and transmission to renewable energy and clean transportation NYPA is now well-positioned to help move the state into the next era of renewable energy production and toward realizing the state's clean energy goals. For more information about NYPA's renewable generation plans, visit https://www.nypa.gov/renewables.
New York State's Nation-Leading Climate Plan
New York State's nation-leading climate agenda calls for an orderly and just transition that creates family-sustaining jobs, continues to foster a green economy across all sectors and ensures that at least 35 percent, with a goal of 40 percent, of the benefits of clean energy investments are directed to disadvantaged communities. Guided by some of the nation's most aggressive climate and clean energy initiatives, New York is on a path to achieving a zero-emission electricity sector by 2040, including 70 percent renewable energy generation by 2030, and economywide carbon neutrality by mid-century. A cornerstone of this transition is New York's unprecedented clean energy investments, including more than $46 billion in 65 large-scale renewable and transmission projects across the state, $6.8 billion to reduce building emissions, $3.3 billion to scale up solar, nearly $3 billion for clean transportation initiatives, and over $2 billion in NY Green Bank commitments. These and other investments are supporting more than 170,000 jobs in New York's clean energy sector as of 2022 and over 3,000 percent growth in the distributed solar sector since 2011. To reduce greenhouse gas emissions and improve air quality, New York also adopted zero-emission vehicle regulations, including requiring all new passenger cars and light-duty trucks sold in the State be zero emission by 2035. Partnerships are continuing to advance New York's climate action with 400 registered and more than 100 certified Climate Smart Communities, nearly 500 Clean Energy Communities, and the State's largest community air monitoring initiative in 10 disadvantaged communities across the State to help target air pollution and combat climate change.
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 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: media.inquiries@nypa.gov | (914) 681-6770
