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The new year brings an exciting and important new stage to implementation of the state’s historic Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act. Passed by the Legislature and signed by Gov. Cuomo in 2019, the bill set in motion a process that could put New York in the leadership of the fight to address climate change and launch a new wave of investments in renewable energy and energy efficiency.

Welcome to 2021, a year we hope will be healthier and more peaceful. The ßÙÁ¨´«Ã½ Team has returned from our holidays ready to get back to work, and as usual, we area already off to a busy start. The NYS Legislature kicks off its new session on Jan 6 and Governor Cuomo is scheduled to deliver his State of the State speech on Jan 11. We will be engaged with the lawmakers and listening intently to the Governor for initiatives to further clean energy in New York.

On December 1, New York State Governor Andrew Cuomo announced the adoption of new regulations for the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI). One of the nation’s first cap-and-invest programs, this multi-state initiative is designed to reduce carbon dioxide emissions from power generation.

To deliver a recap of 2020, a year without measure, is a daunting task. 2020 will be most notable for the horror of a once-in-a-lifetime pandemic (hopefully!) with New York the initial epicenter.. There was the surfacing of brutal racial injustices. At the same time, our democracy came under question, apocalyptic fires burned throughout the West, and all the while, the global climate change clock ticked-down louder and faster.

While we can’t yet be sure what the Biden/Harris administration’s chief priorities will be, addressing climate change and environmental justice will likely be high among them. Renewables like solar and wind are at the heart of combating climate change, and New York is setting a strong example for the rest of the country on how to use these resources.

Last week, ßÙÁ¨´«Ã½ joined leading voices in health, transportation, environment, business, and clean energy to launch NY for TCI, an exciting new coalition to support the multi-state Transportation Climate Initiative. Meanwhile, one of the most controversial questions about TCI is how it could support equity and environmental justice. In response, on September 29, the Transportation and Climate Initiative held a public webinar tackling the issues of ensuring environmental justice and equity.

A new study released on August 4th by international energy consultants Wood Mackenzie took a look at the economic benefits, including job-creation, of offshore wind development in the United States. The study was commissioned by the New York Offshore Wind Alliance (NYOWA), American Wind Energy Association, the National Ocean Industry Association and the University of Delaware, Special Initiative on Offshore Wind.

Achieving New York’s ambitions clean energy goals will new require upgrades to the state’s electric power transmission grid. This was the theme of ßÙÁ¨´«Ã½â€™s recent virtual event: Clean Energy and Transmission Town Hall. The June 25th webinar featured a new video, welcoming introduction by Senate Energy and Telecommunications Committee Chair Kevin Parker, and a keynote by newly appointed Deputy Secretary for Energy and Environment Ali Zaidi. A panel discussion moderated by ßÙÁ¨´«Ã½ Executive Director Anne Reynolds followed, with an active question and answer session.

Last week, in case 15-E-0302 (Our favorite case!), NY’s Public Service Commission released the CES White Paper as well as a supporting analysis (CES White Paper Appendix A). Also in this case you will see recent filings of the Draft Generic Environmental Impact Statement on the electricity portions of New York’s climate law, as well the RES Program Impact Evaluation/CES Triennial Review.