BPHA caucus joins chorus of supporters for 15 gigawatts of public renewables

The Black, Puerto Rican, Hispanic and Asian Legislative Caucus is throwing its weight behind an effort to get the New York Power Authority to build at least 15 gigawatts of renewable energy throughout New York by 2030.

Progressives and advocates for public power have been pushing NYPA to commit to building 15 gigawatts of renewable energy, and the BPHA caucus sent a letter to the NYPA board of trustees and Gov. Kathy Hochul on Thursday making the demand. The letter focused on the impacts of climate change on communities of color, and the benefits that expansive public renewable projects would have in those communities. “Communities of color also bear the highest energy cost burdens, making an equitable energy transition essential,” the letter reads. “By reinvesting the revenue from renewable energy projects into these communities through utility bill credits, NYPA can significantly shift the burden from working class people.”

NYPA is also required to shut down its gas-powered peaker plants in New York City by 2030 under state law. “To achieve this, NYPA must build sufficient renewable capacity in downstate New York to replace these plants,” the letter reads.

The initial version of the caucus’ People’s Budget, released in December, did not mention the specific 15 gigawatt number but did support a $100 million investment for NYPA’s renewable energy plans.

New York passed a version of the Build Public Renewables Act as part of the state budget in 2023, which authorized NYPA to build and own renewable energy projects. The state also directed the public utility to pick up the slack if the state falls behind on its climate mandates approved in 2019, which include having 100% zero emission electricity statewide by 2040 and reducing the state’s greenhouse gas emissions 85% by 2050. The first benchmark goal, coming up in 2030, is to reduce greenhouse gases by 40% and to have 70% of electricity coming from renewables. 

The state so far is falling behind on meeting those goals, missing key deadlines for regulatory frameworks and as private offshore wind projects stall or are canceled. Hochul in her State of the State indicated that she would delay the implementation of the cap and invest program considered crucial for hitting the climate goals by at least another year. The incoming Trump administration is expected to throw further roadblocks into the state’s attempts to build out clean energy projects.

NYPA released a draft plan in October laying out its strategy and projects for building out renewables. It accounted for 3.5 gigawatts of energy – far less than the 15 gigawatts that the caucus and other advocates are looking for – and was met with criticism from progressives at the time. The authority has defended the initial plan as ambitious and as the first steps in the process. NYPA did not immediately provide comment on the letter.

Building out that much energy would be an enormous undertaking and cost the state a lot of money to ensure NYPA has the resources it needs. Assembly Member Michaelle Solages, chair of the BPHA caucus, acknowledged that it may not be easy, but said the state must move faster to hit its climate goals. 

“Some may call it aspirational,” Solages told City & State. “I say that New York state has the ability to do it, if they just put some sweat into it, and we can get it done. And it's really important that we are aggressive in our goals.”