Statement Regarding CLCPA Letter Calling for Answers to Key Policy Concerns
More Than 60 Groups Across the State Signed the Letter Sent to Governor Hochul’s Office
Today, we are sharing a set of concerns and recommendations -- supported by a diverse group of business and labor interests -- addressing the state’s climate change response efforts, driven by mandates in the 2019 Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act (CLCPA). Stakeholders in the state’s climate policy implementation efforts are increasingly concerned about the achievability of key CPCPA mandates and what that means for the future reliability and cost of the state’s energy system.
Today, we are calling for the state to identify and make necessary mid-course corrections based on updated information and significant economic and market changes. These steps are essential to avoid significant unintended impacts on the well being of New Yorkers and on the state’s economic competitiveness. Importantly, we believe that New York can continue to be a leader in state-level climate policy, but it needs to take a workable, affordable approach to meeting its energy and emission goals.
Since the start of the CLCPA implementation efforts five years ago, many have called for a more comprehensive, publicly accessible assessment of implementation costs, the comparative costs of policy alternative programs, and the impact of new policies on residential and business energy consumers. We are renewing those demands today. This type of transparency is essential to assuring affordability and maintaining public support for key initiatives.
While program costs are a growing concern, this isn’t just about costs. It is also about the practical achievability of key CLCPA provisions and the consequences of basing major policy decisions on unworkable statutory mandates. We are not opposing further state investments in emission reductions, renewable generation, and energy efficiency, nor are we opposing the adoption of a “cap and invest” program. However, the state needs to ensure that its push toward emission reductions and the electrification of major sectors are technically and economically achievable.
Responding to climate change is critically important and poses highly complex policy decision. The Department of Environmental Conservation and NYSERDA have done a great job to assure stakeholder input into their program development, and we appreciate their efforts to make new programs as workable and cost-effective as possible.
But we are now at a point where implementation challenges call for a reassessment of the underlying statutory mandates. We look forward to working with the Administration, state legislators, and other climate stakeholders on this critical task.