New York ranks among the U.S. leaders in climate change legislation and initiatives. However, despite its ambitious initiatives, the Empire State lags behind other countries in making progress on clean energy initiatives and reducing carbon intensity. The state has an ambitious plan to reach net-zero carbon emissions by 2050 and shift entirely to renewable energy sources. The main obstacles preventing New York from reaching its climate goals primarily center around financial and political issues. This article discusses what’s holding up New York’s climate change progress.
New York’s Climate Change Agenda
In August 2016, New York enacted the Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act (CLCPA). This act sets ambitious climate change goals for reducing greenhouse gas emissions. These goals are 40% reduction of GHG emissions by 2030, 85% reduction by 2050 and 100% carbon-free electricity by 2040. The CLCPA also sets targets for increasing renewable energy sources with an eye to reach 70% renewable energy sources in the state’s electricity mix.
One of the primary objectives of the CLCPA is to transform New York’s energy sector to be 100% carbon-free by 2050. This includes transitioning from fossil fuels to renewable sources of energy such as wind, solar, and hydropower. By 2023, New York is aiming for 6 gigawatts of energy from offshore wind and 9 gigawatts from solar by 2025.
New York has also established one of the country’s most comprehensive climate adaptation plans. The New York State Climate Smart Communities plan is an effort to address the impacts of climate change on cities, towns and communities throughout the state. This plan addresses topics in projects, infrastructure and programs designed to reduce the impacts of climate change.
What is Holding Up Progress?
There are several factors that are holding up New York’s climate progress. The state has yet to invest a large amount of money into clean energy research and development, compare to other states. As a result, many of the new renewable energy sources have yet to move forward.
Financial Obstacles
The price of clean energy is still more expensive than that of fossil fuels, particularly for energy sources such as solar and wind. The cost of photovoltaic systems has dropped since their inception, but the cost to implement them is still more expensive. These high costs are a major obstacle for renewable energy projects, making it difficult for projects to get off the ground. For example, the cost of offshore wind turbines is estimated to be around $50 per MWh,while the cost of coal ranges from $50 to $150 per MWh.
In addition, the cost of renewable energy sources depends largely on incentives and subsidies. Subsidies can take the form of tax credits, grants, and low-interest loans. And while New York does offer incentives for clean energy projects, these are largely for residential and commercial projects, not for large-scale energy projects. This is a major obstacle for projects that are large in scale and require large investments.
Political Obstacles
In addition to financial obstacles, political obstacles are also hindering New York’s climate progress. Several groups, including fossil fuel companies and energy utilities, have been resistant to move away from cheaper and more familiar energy sources, such as natural gas, to renewable energy sources. These groups are actively lobbying against renewable energy projects, arguing that the cost of renewable projects are too high and the resulting electricity too unreliable.
Effect Of Political Climate
Given the current political climate in New York, it is difficult to accurately measure the impact of political objections on the state’s climate progress. While it is possible that some of these groups are slowing the process, it is important to note that many of the goals of the CLCPA have been endorsed by both Democratic and Republican lawmakers. This cross-party agreement shows that while politics sometimes gets in the way, it is certainly not a major factor in stalling climate progress.
Implications
The lack of progress on New York’s climate is concerning, as the state is one of the U.S. leaders in climate change legislation and has far-reaching goals. However, New York is still on track to meet its 2030 reduction goals, having already achieved a 22% reduction in overall emissions since 1990.
Going forward, it is important for New York to continue to invest in renewable energy projects and make changes to the state’s regulatory environment to ensure these projects get off the ground. Additionally, New York should continue to focus on expanding incentives for clean energy projects and working with energy utilities to address political concerns. This should include getting utilities on board with investing in clean energy sources such as offshore wind and solar, as this will be key in reaching the states net-zero carbon goals.
To conclude, the main factors holding up New York’s climate progress are financial and political roadblocks. New York has ambitious climate change goals and has already achieved a significant reduction in emissions since 1990. Going forward, it is important for the state to continue to invest in renewable energy projects and make the regulatory environment supportive of projects. Additionally, the state should focus on working with energy utilities to address political concerns and getting them on board with investing in renewable energy sources. With the right efforts, New York can reach its climate goals and be a leader in U.S. climate change policy.
