June 11, 2025
Media Contact: Michael Paulson
Phone: 917-690-0520
Email: info@publicpowerny.org
PUBLIC RENEWABLES TRANSPARENCY ACT PASSES SENATE
LAW WOULD OPEN NYPA PLANNING TO DEMOCRATIC OVERSIGHT
Albany, NY — Today the New York State Senate passed the Public Renewables Transparency Act (S2462A/A7686), sponsored by Senate Deputy Leader Michael Gianaris and Assemblymember Sarahana Shrestha. The Act would require the New York Power Authority (NYPA) to disclose crucial information to the public to ensure that the Build Public Renewables Act (BPRA) of 2023 is properly and vigorously implemented.
The Transparency Act will give New Yorkers the necessary tools to assess the scope, ambition, and progress of NYPA’s public renewables planning. Based on authoritative research, organizations, legislators, and New Yorkers around the state have called for a buildout of at least 15 gigawatts(GW) of public renewable energy by 2030 to meet NYS climate goals, create 25,000 green union jobs, lower skyrocketing utility bills, and shutter super-polluting peaker plants in Environmental Justice communities. But NYPA included only 3.3 GW in their strategic plan without clearly justifying their lack of ambition and disregard for 5300+ public comments calling for 15 GW. The Public Renewables Transparency Act will bring much-needed democratic input and oversight to the planning process going forward.
The law would require NYPA to
- Publish three reports per year on the progress of public renewables buildout
- Create a public online dashboard tracking the progress of public renewables projects
- Hold hearings in locations accessible by public transit
- Join the state’s energy planning board to coordinate with other agencies
Deputy Leader Michael Gianaris said, “The State Senate led the way by passing critical legislation like the Build Public Renewables Act (BPRA) that benefits the environment, as well as workers and utility customers. To ensure the success of BPRA, the Public Renewables Transparency Act will allow the public into NYPA’s decision-making process to guarantee the buildout of publicly-owned renewable energy is occurring in a responsible and timely manner.”
Assemblymember Sarahana Shrestha said, “Public authorities are powerful vehicles through which the government can positively intervene in its economy and deliver big results for people. It’s what the New York Power Authority did when FDR created it to own and manage the state’s hydropower, and it’s what the Build Public Renewables Act sought to do when it authorized NYPA to lead the state’s renewable buildout. However, we have seen since the enactment of this law that what’s often missing are the transparency and accountability measures the public deserves in return for the unique power such authorities are granted. If authorities like NYPA are to be the people’s corporations, public participation needs to be a serious priority. That’s what the Public Renewables Transparency Act is about.”
Michael Paulson, Associate Director of Sane Energy Project and Co-chair of Public Power NY said, “The people of New York have clearly demanded an aggressive buildout of public renewables at the speed and scale demanded by science. But so far NYPA leadership has refused to follow the statewide call for 15 GW or fully explain the logic behind their limited strategic plan. The Public Renewables Transparency Act will ensure that NYPA is open and accountable as it takes on a leadership role in our energy transition.”
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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.