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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Tuesday, November 19, 2024
Contact: Lee Ziesche, info@publicpowerny.org, 954-415-6228

“15 Gigawatts for Lower Electric Bills”

Community Members, Advocates, Labor and Electeds Call on Hochul and NYPA to Build More Public Renewables 

(Assemblymember Sarahana Shrestha addressing the public at a rally before the NYPA hearing.) 

Photo credit: Brittany Barnard.

Albany, New York – On Monday, New Yorkers delivered the same message to Governor Kathy Hochul in Albany that has dominated public hearings across the state: Hochul’s New York Power Authority (NYPA) needs to build more public renewables.

NYPA is holding several public hearings this month on a draft plan to implement the Build Public Renewables Act (BPRA). The BPRA, which has been called “the biggest Green New Deal Victory in US history”, was passed in May 2023 through the New York State Budget after a powerful, four year-long, statewide campaign. The bill enables New York to unleash NYPA to build publicly owned, 100% renewable energy

However, NYPA’s draft plan proposes to build an inadequate 3.5GW of renewable energy with the expectation that many of those projects will not move forward. New Yorkers and electeds who fought for and won the legislation are saying NYPA’s proposal does not go far enough and falls short of state climate goals to reach 70% renewables by 2030. 

“The New York State legislature created the New York Power Authority (NYPA) in 1931 to protect its hydropower as a public good, and, today, NYPA once again has a critical role to play in our energy transition,” said Assemblymember Sarahana Shrestha. “New York has the responsibility right now—not in two years, not at a later time, but right now—to do everything in its power to meet our 2030 goal of 70% renewables, to lower the costs of clean electricity, to expedite interconnection roadblocks, and to see itself as the leader that can directly and swiftly improve the lives of of New Yorkers. That begins with a commitment from NYPA to build at least 15 gigawatts of renewable energy by 2030, and create 25,000 green jobs, lower bills for those who need it most, and shut down toxic peaker plants that harm our black and brown communities.”

NYPA must build at least 15 GW of renewables by 2030 to:

  • Ensure New York meets its legally mandated climate goals
  • Lower utility bills for New Yorkers who need relief the most
  • Create 25,000 green union jobs
  • Close super-polluting peaker plants on the timeline required by law

”New Yorkers are facing the impacts of the climate crisis and spiraling utility costs. Just this week we’re experiencing record breaking droughts and wildfires in November. Capital District residents are facing utility rate hikes of up to 20%. The answer to both of these issues is to build public renewable energy. After the election earlier this month, it’s clear that those answers won’t come from Washington, but we can’t afford to wait. New York, and the Capital Region need to lead the way towards a buildout of 15 gigawatts of renewables, for our bills, for our climate, and for our future,” said Brennan Howell, Public Power Committee Chair for Capital District DSA.

“NYC’s upstate water reservoirs are in real danger of drying up. There were wildfires this month in Orange County and Ulster County, causing smoke that made it impossible to stay outside for more than a few minutes. This is not a hypothetical. This is not a problem for future generations. This is happening right here and right now. We need Governor Kathy Hochul and NYPA CEO Justin Driscoll to do everything they can to build 15 gigawatts of public renewables to combat climate change,” said Daniel Atonna, Political Coordinator with For The Many.

Virtual public hearings will be held in the morning and evening on Thursday, November 21. Written comments can also be submitted. Advocates and electeds plan to rally before the evening New York City public hearing on Wednesday to call on NYPA to build 15GW of renewable energy by 2030.     

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Note to the editor: 

More photos and video available upon request.

About Public Power NY

The Public Power NY Coalition is a statewide movement of community and advocacy organizations fighting for an environmentally sustainable energy system that’s also racially, socially, and economically just. We believe energy and a habitable planet are human rights, and that we need to avert the climate crisis by eliminating the use of fossil fuels and transitioning to 100 percent renewable energy. We aim to accomplish these goals by taking over our for-profit energy system and bringing it under public, not-for-profit, local, and democratic ownership and management.