FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Wednesday, September 10, 2025
Contact: info@publicpowerny.org
New Yorkers Call on Hochul to Build 15GW of Public Renewables
Community members say Governor is embracing Trump’s energy policy instead of plan that will cut pollution, create thousands of union jobs and lower bills.
(Jamaal Bowman speaks at the People’s Hearing for Public Renewables – photo credit Michael Paulson)
Additional photos available here
Video available upon request
Brooklyn, New York – At an energized people’s hearing last night, New Yorkers made it clear that Governor Kathy Hochul has a choice: will she echo Trump’s energy policy or will New York lead the country and build 15 gigawatts (GW) of renewable energy?
Public Power New York organized the People’s Hearing for Public Renewables because the New York Power Authority (NYPA) refused to hold in-person public hearings on its updated strategic plan to implement the Build Public Renewables Act (BPRA).
Under Justin Driscoll, the Republican that Hochul appointed to lead NYPA, the state initially only proposed a paltry 3GW of renewables last year. New York needs to build 15GW of projects to meet its legally mandated climate goals of 70% renewable energy by 2030.
“When I say 15, you say gigawatts” said State Senator Jabari Brisport leading the crowd in an enthusiastic chant.
“It was also the hottest June 24th in New York City on record. I don’t know where you were, in Bed Stuy it hit 102,” said Brisport, talking about the New York City mayoral primary election day. “It does not need to be this way. We have the ability to make sure New York hits its climate mandate of 70% renewables by 2030 and yes we have a Governor that wants to drag the feet on public power and renewable projects.”
(State Senator Jabari Brisport at the People’s Hearing for Public Renewables – photo credit Michael Paulson)
“Not only is it way hotter, but the storms are out of control. If you are a child and you are born and raised in the Bronx you are five times more likely to die of asthma than anywhere else in the country. Governor Hochul this is a life or death issue for children across the state,” said former Congressman Jamaal Bowman. “We are going to organize up and down this state to make sure everyone knows, Governor Hochul, what you are doing and what you are not doing.”
“I’m here to tell Governor Hochul and Mr. Driscoll that we have to get this done. We must build 15GW by 2030 so New York can lead the fight for our future” said Brandon Mancilla, Director of UAW 9A. “Too often the one percent, the companies that we bargain against, and the pro-corporate politicians from both parties try to frame the climate issue as an existential choice between climate and jobs. As labor, many of us have called this out as a false choice. In fact, it’s an impossible choice for working class people to have to make. We need both a climate that will sustain life on this planet and jobs that ensure the security to thrive.”
Because thousands of New Yorkers rose up to demand 15GW, NYPA doubled its projects to 7GW, getting New York much closer to its goal. If NYPA can add almost 4GW of renewables in just six months, it can add enough to get the state to 15GW by 2030.
“It’s not just environmental organizations that support this, we’ve got labor unions that are supporting this. That outside power that we built is how we were able to force the state to double its initial plans,” said Assemblymember Marcela Mitaynes. “15GW means shutting down the state’s most polluting plants, the peaker plants, 5 years sooner. It means lower bills for New Yorkers. This is not just an environmental issue, but it is a racial issue.”’
“In New York City there are around a million students. In many respects our students are taking the lead on pushing back against climate catastrophe,” said Ryan Bruckenthal, a high school teacher and Co-chair of the UFT Climate and Environment Justice Committee. “We all as educators and union members want to bring our institutional muscle to support them so that’s precisely why we, and our statewide affiliate, supported the Build Public Renewables Act and we will continue to keep fighting until we get 15GW of renewables.”
“We are glad to see an increase in the capacity for public renewables, but we want to see more. It’s not enough. We are calling on NYPA to build more public renewables,” said teacher, PHD student and PSC-CUNY rank and file member Jenna Tipaldo. “CUNY owns lots of buildings and some of our campuses would be good spots for projects.”
A growing series of videos from New Yorkers highlighting the importance of the fight for public renewables and Hochul’s embracement of President Trump’s energy policy are gaining popularity and helping to mobilize hundreds of public comments on the updated strategic plan. New Yorkers have already left over 3,600 comments calling for 15GW of public renewables. The deadline to submit a comment on NYPA’s updated plan is September 12.
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Note to the editor:
About Public Power NY
Public Power NY is a movement fighting to ensure New York effectively carries out the Build Public Renewables Act by building 15 Gigawatts of public renewables by 2030. Hailed as the first statewide Green New Deal law, BPRA was written by PPNY and passed in 2023 thanks to four years of organizing by a multiracial, multi-generational movement of climate and advocacy organizations, labor unions representing millions of New Yorkers and tens of thousands of New Yorkers who have taken action from upstate, downstate, and everywhere in between. With federal climate action off the table, BPRA has enabled NY to not just play defense against Trump, but lead the way the way FDR created NYPA to do.