05/15/2025 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 05/15/2025 11:55
ALBANY - The New York State Public Service Commission (Commission) today adopted the Clean Energy Standard (CES) Biennial Review filed by Department of Public Service staff and the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA), and approved key proposals to advance the state's clean energy targets. The Biennial Review summarizes the progress made toward meeting the state's renewable energy and zero emission targets and assesses the policy options and proposals to achieve such targets. The proposals approved today are intended to modify various aspects of the CES to reflect current market conditions and to maintain progress on building new, clean energy generation in a way that preserves reliability and meets the state's energy affordability objectives.
"The recommendations approved today reflect a need to modify our current procurement practices to adapt to current market conditions and electric load growth, while balancing the attainment of the Commission's affordability and other legislative mandates," said Commission Chair Rory M. Christian. "The Commission today reaffirmed its commitment to achieving the state's renewable energy targets in an affordable and cost-effective manner."
The Commission also launched a holistic review of the CES solicitation practices to identify improvements to ensure the efficient and cost-effective achievement of the state's clean energy ambitions. Over the last several years, New York's clean energy goals have been buffeted by rising supply chain costs, inflation, and most recently, federal action that threatens the entire renewable energy industry. This is happening against the backdrop of significant load growth forecasts, largely as a result of an economic development revitalization in upstate New York. The Commission's review of the CES' solicitation practices will examine ways to ensure the way New York procures new clean energy resources is in sync with those realities.
Recognizing that time is of the essence, the Commission also took action to increase the annual procurement target for NYSERDA's land-based renewable energy program, known as Tier 1 from 4,500 gigawatt hour (GWh) to 5,600 GWh renewable energy. This process will be laser focused on securing mature projects that will help the state pursue energy abundance while being protective of ratepayers.
The CES biennial review process provides transparency into renewable energy development in New York as well as the progress toward the state's clean energy targets. Other recommendations approved today include modifying the Tier 1 and offshore wind solicitation processes to allow for better project selection and greater price and development certainty; creating additional, and more flexible, programmatic options to support the state's hydroelectric resources; and directs staff to file a white paper that evaluates the continuation of the Zero-Emission Credit program to preserve the existing zero-emission nuclear fleet beyond 2029. The Commission also directed staff to file a report on the implementation of clean energy zones that will align generation and transmission development in key areas of the state to the maximum benefit of ratepayers and host communities.
The draft CES Biennial Review was subject to a thorough public vetting, with public comments received from more than 60 parties. The next review of the CES will begin in 2026.
New York State's Climate Agenda
New York State's climate agenda calls for an affordable and just transition to a clean energy economy that creates family-sustaining jobs, promotes economic growth through green investments, and directs a minimum of 35 percent of the benefits to disadvantaged communities. New York is advancing a suite of efforts to achieve an emissions-free economy by 2050, including in the energy, buildings, transportation, and waste sectors.
Today's decision may be obtained by going to the Commission Documents section of the Commission's Web site at www.dps.ny.gov and entering Case Number 15-E-0302 in the input box labeled "Search for Case/Matter Number". Many libraries offer free Internet access. Commission documents may also be obtained from the Commission's Files Office, 14th floor, Three Empire State Plaza, Albany, NY 12223 (518-474-2500). If you have difficulty understanding English, please call us at 1-800-342-3377 for free language assistance services regarding this press release.
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