New York Snubs “Reckless” Trump With Massive Renewable Energy Initiative

New York pushing ahead with renewables

New York Governor Andrew M. Cuomo has announced a USD $1.5 billion investment in major renewable energy projects for the state and the forming of an alliance to uphold the aims of the Paris Climate Agreement.

“As the federal government abdicates its responsibility to address climate change — at the expense of our environment and economy — New York is leading the nation in advancing a clean energy future,” Governor Cuomo said.

The investment in wind power and solar energy will result in an additional 2.5 million megawatt-hours of clean electricity a year; enough to power approximately 350,000 homes and the largest clean energy procurement by a state in U.S. history.

The Governor expects solar capacity in New York state to double by the end of 2018 (800MW to 1600MW) and wants to make the state a magnet for new energy technologies, creating 40,000 new clean energy jobs by 2020.

Requests for proposals were issued following the announcement, the first in a series expected to result in the construction of 40 to 60 large scale renewable energy projects by 2022.

An additional USD $300 million investment will also be made in energy efficiency and distributed solar power, resulting in 125 megawatts of solar capacity on schools and other public buildings by 2020 – a 300 percent increase in distributed solar at public facilities across the state.

New York has set greenhouse gas emission reduction targets of 40 percent below 1990 levels by 2030 and 80 percent by 2050. The state’s Clean Energy Standard requires 50 percent of electricity to come from renewable energy sources by 2030.

U.S. Climate Alliance Formed

As a reaction to President Trump’s decision to withdraw from the Paris Climate Agreement , the U.S. Climate Alliance has been formed between Mr. Cuomo, California Governor Edmund G. Brown Jr., and Washington State Governor Jay R. Inslee. Together the Governors will work with other U.S. states committed to observing the Agreement and taking aggressive action on climate change.

California’s Governor Brown was scathing of President Trump’s decision last week to withdraw from the Agreement.

“Donald Trump has absolutely chosen the wrong course. He’s wrong on the facts. America’s economy is boosted by following the Paris Agreement,” he said. “He’s wrong on the science. Totally wrong. California will resist this misguided and insane course of action. Trump is AWOL but California is on the field, ready for battle.”