New York’s “asinine” climate change law demanding a dramatic increase in green energy has set unattainable goals — and could trigger soaring electrical costs for consumers, a top state business advocate claims.
“It is very clear that New York will not meet the goals that are required under the statute when it comes to climate change,” Paul Zuber, senior vice president at the NYS Business Council, said during an interview on WABC 77 radio’s “The Cats Roundtable” program.
Without modifications, the law will just drive more residents and businesses out of New York because of skyrocketing energy costs to build the transmission lines for renewal projects, Zuber argued.
The Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act of 2019 requires the state to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 40% by 2030 and 85% by 2050 from 1990 levels.
The goal is to boost wind and solar power production and achieve 70% non-fossil fuel, non-carbon renewable energy by 2030.
“It is not a realistic goal,” Zuber said. “It’s asinine.”
He noted the recent cancellation of three offshore wind projects was a major setback to meeting the targets set under the law, and provides strong evidence that the statute is impractical.
New York is betting too heavily on wind and solar instead of a more diverse energy portfolio to juice the state that includes nuclear energy and natural gas, Zuber said.
“It especially doesn’t work when you do what many of the environmentalists want — having only wind and have only solar… When you look at it that way, it is a joke,” he said.
“The cost for the average consumer when they’re paying their electric bill is going to skyrocket because utilities have to build transition lines lines to these renewable projects, which costs money, and that cost is passed on to the taxpayer.”
Gov. Kathy Hochul faced a fierce backlash after the state banned gas stoves for new housing construction to help reach climate goals.
Meanwhile, a coalition representing thousands of New York City co-op and condo owners is pushing for tax relief to help with the $20,000 per unit costs to comply with the mandate.
An energy expert at the conservative-leaning Empire Center for Public Policy agreed that the renewable energy targets set by the law are not attainable.
“This climate change law has the potential to murder upstate manufacturing,” said Ken Girardin, the Empire Center’s research director, who published a recent study claiming state projections undercount the true costs of complying with the statute.
Hochul’s office defended her administration’s implementation of the climate change law and claimed that nearly 60% of the state’s power generation mix is now coming from clean energy sources including hydropower, wind and solar.
“Under the status quo, New York consumers are stuck with dramatic fluctuations on utility bills and sky-high costs after extreme weather events,” a Hochul spokesperson said Tuesday.
“Governor Hochul is advancing the clean energy revolution to protect New Yorkers, while investing $1.6 billion this year alone in energy affordability initiatives.”
Environmental advocates also defended the law and accused the NYS Business Council of carrying water for the fossil-fuel industry, charging the group’s “stance is predictable given their core memberships of oil and gas related businesses.”
“Their position is shortsighted and disregards the urgent need to transition off the roller coaster ride of dirty fossil fuels to renewable energy, which will benefit the health and safety of our communities as well as our economy,” said Julie Tighe, president of the New York League of Conservation Voters.
“Now might be the time to ease off the gas in our cars, but we absolutely should be going pedal to the metal to reach our clean energy goals,” added Tighe.
“The Hochul Administration continues to be a leader on this issue, and we applaud their efforts to meet the ambitious goals of the CLCPA.”
Another green energy insider said offshore wind projects will get back on track but added that the state erred by decommissioning the Indian Power nuclear plant in Westchester under former Gov. Andrew Cuomo.
Indian Point provided about one-quarter of power to juice New York City.
