At Future Energy Economy Summit, Governor Hochul Calls for Advanced Clean Energy Technologies to Play a Key Role in Supporting Renewable Energy Growth and Economic Development

Outlined Next Steps To Meet Growing Energy Demand With Dispatchable Emissions-Free Resources and Continued Deployment of Renewables

Supports New York State Public Service Commission ‘Zero-Emissions by 2040’ Proceeding and Work of the State Energy Planning Board

At the Future Energy Economy Summit held in Syracuse, Governor Kathy Hochul today called for advanced clean energy technologies to play a key role in supporting renewable energy and economic development. The Summit outlined next steps needed to plan for growing energy demand that can support the State’s commitment to accelerate progress toward a zero-emission electricity system.

“New York is building a clean energy economy that fosters growth, ingenuity and taps into technologies that will reduce our carbon footprint,” Governor Hochul said. “From creating the most successful offshore wind industry in the country to our investments in a sustainable electric grid, we are committed to being a national leader in protecting our climate – and we won’t stop until we’ve created the best possible future for our children.”

Three takeaways from the Summit include the need to prioritize continued focus on building New York’s renewable energy grid to realize the health, environmental and economic benefits resources like wind and solar provide; to bring new attention to technology research, market development and commercial demonstration of new and existing dispatchable emissions-free resources to support a reliable, resilient and affordable renewable grid for the State’s expanding economy; and to identify, leverage and maximize the potential federal funding opportunities, offered by the Biden-Harris administration, and policy development proposals to further support economy growth strategies.

Using insights gained during the Summit, the State will engage the industry to undertake the following next steps:

• Complete the ongoing Public Service Commission review of the State's overarching large-scale renewable energy program, known as the Clean Energy Standard (CES) by early 2025 and advance key actions to accelerate and expand New York’s large-scale renewable energy industry, focusing on deployment goals, interconnection reforms and the timely implementation of the RAPID Act for expedited environmental reviews and permitting of major renewable energy and electric transmission facilities;
• Maximize leverage of federal programs by applying for relevant funding opportunities for economic development and next generation emissions-free energy technology planning and deployment;
• Advance Public Service Commission action on the pending ‘Zero Emissions by 2040’ proceeding that is investigating technologies that support the 2040 zero-emissions electricity system target established through New York’s Climate Act;
• Solicit industry feedback on the draft Advanced Nuclear Technologies Blueprint, found here, and finalize the draft blueprint by the end of this year; and
• Ensure that the next State Energy Plan, developed by the New York State Energy Planning Board recently convened by Governor Hochul, appropriately considers the role advanced emissions-free technologies can play in the State’s move to a deeply renewable electric grid and capitalization of programs that will expand the State’s economy.

The Summit, attended by over 600 people both in-person and virtually, was convened at Governor Hochul’s direction to explore strategies to accelerate the deployment of renewable energy and study the role of next generation emissions-free technologies that are needed to support economic growth and achieve the Climate Act target for a deeply decarbonized energy grid. The Governor appointed New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) Board Chair Richard Kauffman to serve as chair of the Summit with contributions from leadership and staff from NYSERDA, the Department of Public Service (DPS), Empire State Development (ESD), New York Power Authority (NYPA), Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC), Department of Health (DOH), Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Services (DHSES) and Department of Labor (DOL).