BILL NUMBER: S3036

SPONSOR: PARKER
 
TITLE OF BILL:

An act to amend the energy law, in relation to directing the state ener-
gy planning board to conduct a study of the technical and economic
feasibility of a one hundred percent renewable energy system and a
reduction in greenhouse gas emissions

 
PURPOSE OR GENERAL IDEA OF BILL:

This bill would include a supplemental study to be conducted as part of
the New York State Energy Plan to determine the technical and economic
feasibility of meeting a 100 percent renewable energy goal and a 100
percent greenhouse gas (GHG) emission reduction goal, along with associ-
ated impacts to electric system reliability.

 
SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS:

This bill would add a requirement for a supplemental study to be
              

conducted as part of the New York State Energy Plan. The study would
determine the technical and economic feasibility of meeting the follow-
ing goals:

- Having 100 percent of the electricity consumed in New York State be
generated by renewable energy resources by 2030, or, in the alternative,
by 2050.

- Reducing GHG emissions by 100 percent below the levels in the year
1990 by 2050, with an incremental target of a 50 percent reduction from
1990 levels by 2030.

The study would assess factors such as the timing, costs, economic, and
health impacts, and feasibility associated with pathways to meet these
goals. The evaluation of costs would consider parameters such as the
total potential costs and potential economic and non-economic benefits
of meeting these goals, in addition to the technical and cost impact on
maintaining electric system reliability, including but not limited to,
the need for and type of backup power supplies and of energy storage
systems to maintain electric system reliability.  The study also would
assess the short-term and long-term actions to feasibly meet the goals
across all economic sectors, including industry, transportation, agri-
culture, building construction and energy production, and the estimated
timelines for considering and implementing such actions.

The New York State Energy Planning Board would prepare a report on such
study's findings and would transmit the report and the study to the
Governor, the Legislative Leaders, and the chairs of the Energy Commit-
tees in the New York State Assembly and the Senate.

The Long Island Power Authority and the New York Power Authority (NYPA)
are authorized to make a voluntary contribution toward the study.

 
JUSTIFICATION:

The Clean Energy Standard (CES) already requires that 50 percent of all
electricity used in the State be generated from renewable energy
resources by 2030. The New York State Energy Research and Development
Authority (NYSERDA) and NYPA already have awarded Requests for Proposals
(RFP) to begin to implement the CES.

Yet, some have called for a requirement that the State accelerate its
current CES goal to have 100 percent of the electricity consumed in New
York State to be generated by renewable energy resources by 2030, or, in
the alternative, by 2050. The electric system reliability impacts of
meeting a goal of a 100 percent renewable energy system need to be
determined, along with an evaluation of the technical and economic
feasibility of meeting such a goal.

In his 2017 State of the State Address Book, Governor Andrew M. Cuomo
directed the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation
(DEC) and NYSERDA "to undertake a comprehensive study to determine the
timing, costs, and feasibility associated with pathways to reach 100
percent renewables statewide. This landmark study will explore various
renewable technology and energy efficiency deployment scenarios, emis-
sions reductions pathways, and economic considerations for New York
businesses, residents, and consumers. DEC and NYSERDA will engage
academic partners to draw upon existing clean energy research and seek
input from other key stakeholders. The study will build upon relevant
expertise already at the State's disposal, including analyses completed
for the Clean Energy Standard, the New York State Greenhouse Gas Inven-
tory and Pathways Analysis, and other renewable energy and energy effi-
ciency potential studies conducted by NYSERDA." This study that was
called for by the Governor in 2017 still is pending, and this legis-
lation is consistent with the intent of that study.

Similarly, some have called for a goal of reducing GHG emissions by 100
percent below the levels in the year 1990 by 2050, with an incremental
target of a 50 percent reduction from 1990 levels by 2030. This 100
percent emissions reduction goal would be more aggressive than the one
established by Executive Order 24 of 2009, which requires that GHG emis-
sions be reduced by 80 percent across the economy from 1990 levels by
2050. Also, this 50 percent incremental emissions reduction goal is more
aggressive than the goal established by the most recent State Energy
Plan, which has established a goal to reduce GHG emissions statewide by
40 percent from 1990 levels by 2030.  The technical and economic feasi-
bility of these GHG emission reduction goals needs to be determined, and
their corresponding impact on electric system reliability needs to be
evaluated, especially in combination with the 100 percent renewable
energy goal discussed above. Executive Order 24 required the DEC to
develop a Climate Action Plan, and, on November 9, 2010, the DEC issued
a draft Climate Action Plan Interim Report, which was developed through
an extensive stakeholder process, for how to reduce emissions from each
sector of the State's economy; however, this draft report was not final-
ized. This bill would ensure that draft report would be updated and
completed.

The State Energy Planning process is required to be conducted every four
years. This legislation would require a comprehensive study to be
conducted and updated every four years on the technical and economic
feasibility of meeting the goals discussed above, in addition to a
determination of their associated impact on electric system reliability.
The planning process includes a public hearing and comment process, and
the legislation would require specific input from affected and inter-
ested stakeholders. The study produced in conjunction with the State

Energy Plan would determine whether and how these goals can be met in a
responsible and cost-effective manner.

 
PRIOR LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:

2019/20 52352 - REFERRED TO ENERGY AND TELECOMMUNICATIONS

 
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS FOR STATE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENTS:

None.

 
EFFECTIVE DATE:
This act shall take effect immediately.