Summary

This bill amends the Environmental Conservation Law, the Executive Law, and the Public Service law to increase the State’s energy storage target from three gigawatts to six gigawatts.

Explanation

This bill increases the State’s 2030 energy storage target established by the Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act from 3 GW to 6 GW.

In 2019, New York State enacted the Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act (CLCPA), mandating that we achieve 70% renewable generation by 2030 and 100% zero emissions electricity by 2040. The CLCPA also requires the State to procure a minimum of three gigawatts of energy storage capacity by 2030.

In her 2022 State of the State address, Governor Kathy Hochul shared that she intends to double the state’s 2030 energy storage target from three to six gigawatts. As a result, the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) and Department of Public Service (DPS) updated New York State’s Energy Roadmap to reflect this new goal. This legislation codifies this into law, ensuring that New York State remains accountable to the emissions reductions goals set in the CLCPA.

Energy storage plays a critical role in maintaining reliability during the transition to an electric grid powered by renewables by stabilizing energy supply during peak usage and keeping critical infrastructure online during outages. Currently, when the electric grid is at peak demand, fossil fuel power plants are deployed to maintain grid reliability. These plants are old, dirty, inefficient and negatively impact the health of the communities in which they are zoned. Energy storage is a worthy replacement of these “peaker” plants and can ensure reliable electricity service without increasing emissions in surrounding communities. Additionally, with the goal of six gigawatts of capacity by in mind, the industry could employ at least 30,000 New Yorkers by 2030.

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