Hochul: NYS needs more time to meet its clean energy goals

ALBANY — Gov. Kathy Hochul on Friday proposed slowing down New York’s clean-energy goals by about a decade, saying the state can’t possibly meet its 2030 targets for reducing emissions.

The governor, in an op-ed, pointed out that the Trump administration has been hostile to offshore wind power and other renewable energy sources, slowing New York’s progress. She also noted that regulatory agencies have estimated the cost of trying to meet the goal of reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 70% by 2030, compared with 1990 mileposts, would add hundreds of dollars to households’ monthly utility bills.

In an essay published on EmpireReport.com, Hochul proposed that climate regulations that are supposed to be developed essentially now should be pushed back to 2030.

Hochul floated some of the details to leaders of the State Assembly and Senate late Thursday. Officials said the new regulation ideally would be tied to a new 2040 goal while keeping the 2050 goal of an 85% reduction in place.

"We need more time, and so I am proposing we amend the law to require regulations to reduce statewide greenhouse gas emissions to be issued at the end of 2030," Hochul wrote. "We are seeking to change what emission limits the regulations are tied to — including a new 2040 target as well as the existing 2050 statewide emission limits.

"Nothing else in the (climate act) is changing regarding the existing statewide emission limit targets and these new regulations would still require the state to make timely progress, ensuring long-term policy stability."

Hochul wants to use the enormous leverage governors have in crafting a state budget to get the Assembly and Senate to put the climate roll back into a budget agreement, which is supposed to be done by April 1 — though it is increasingly clear lawmakers aren’t close to a deal yet.

A spokesman for Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie (D-Bronx) declined to comment on the governor's plan. Senate Majority Leader Andrea Stewart Cousins (D-Yonkers) said only that it was under review.

The Democratic governor is up for reelection against Republican Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman, who has sought to make rising utility bills a campaign issue.

Slower transition

Hochul has said she supports the effort to move to renewable energy while contending she is being pragmatic and pushing back against more progressive Democrats and environmental activists who don’t want to alter New York’s climate goals.

"These proposed changes preserve the intent of the law while realistically recognizing the economic and political challenges we face," Hochul wrote. "Even with these adjustments — which bring us in line with other climate-leading states like California, Washington and Colorado — New York will still boast one of the most ambitious laws in the country."

To no surprise, Hochul's proposal split business and environmental groups. 

"These are reasonable and necessary corrections that will avoid onerous and costly mandates based on impractical emission-reduction targets," said Heather Mulligan, CEO of the New York State Business Council, the largest business lobby group in the state.

The organization had been calling on lawmakers to acknowledge that the 2030 goal wasn't feasible and to streamline the process of getting energy plants and battery-storage facilities online more quickly to meet rising electricity demands.

"Importantly, these necessary amendments do not affect the state’s investments in energy efficiency, renewable energy and energy storage," Mulligan added.

Criticism from environmentalists

Environmental groups honed in not only on the slow down of target dates but also a proposal to change how methane is tabulated for state emissions, saying it would allow New York to claim emissions have declined while really staying the same.

 A coalition of groups, including Earth Justice, which has an ongoing lawsuit over the implementation of climate goals, said Hochul's proposal "would essentially allow her to do nothing at all."

 Senate Minority Leader Rob Ortt, a Niagara County Republican, said Hochul is offering changes "simply because it is an election year" but will do nothing to lower consumer costs.

By Yancey Roy

yancey.roy@newsday.com@yanceyroy