Renewable energy use is on the rise and can create long-lasting benefits for not only our environment, but our long-term energy needs as well. This energy plan, Governor Cuomo’s own “Green New Deal,” aims to revolutionize the way that New Yorkers consume energy and make the state less dependent on fossil fuels and other types of non-renewable energy sources over time. This plan, while not unique to New York, is unprecedented throughout the state’s history, and may well revolutionize the energy industry in New York like the New Deal revolutionized America in the 1930s.
What does Governor Cuomo’s Green New Deal plan include?
Governor Cuomo’s Green New Deal plan includes plans to boost the state’s clean energy standard to 70 percent from 50 percent by 2030. There are a variety of ways the Governor proposes to do this which include:
- Increasing the offshore wind target from 2,400 megawatts by 2030 to 9,000 megawatts by 2035
- Doubling solar deployment from 3,000 megawatts by 2023 to 6,000 by 2025
- Maximizing large scale renewable energy contributions already in place from New York’s resources
- Striving toward more than double the land-based solar and wind resources based on the Clean Energy Standard
Are there any financial incentives to spur the private sector in the Green New Deal?
Governor Cuomo also included $1.5 billion in awards for more than 20 solar, energy, and wind projects in New York. These projects are slated to power more than 550,000 homes in addition to creating more than 2,500 jobs that will help New Yorkers in the short and long-term.
Has there been anything recently announced since the 2019 rollout of the plan?
The Governor’s 2020 state of the union address specifically addressed 21 awards that will help create more than 2,000 jobs and helps propagate more than $2.5 billion in private investment. Notably, projects received bids that were 23% lower than three years ago, saving taxpayers money and allowing for more work to be done toward renewable energy solutions. The implementation of these projects are the energy equivalents to helping take 300,000 cars off the road each year and reduces carbon emissions by 1.3 million metric tons annually.
What does this mean for New York and renewable energy?
This is a boon for New York and renewable energy across the state and, hopefully, nation. Using this as an example, energy may be able to be revolutionized across the United States so that older, more inefficient, and more expensive ways of producing energy are phased out so the consumer can benefit. This can help pave the way for increased productivity from energy sources, in addition to cleaner air and water that makes cities or other areas more attractive for short and long-term investment. No matter what the specifics of Governor Cuomo’s proposal are, the long-term trend toward more renewable energy in New York is a positive for clients who may be able to see the financial and ecological benefits sooner rather than later.
