Another Voice: It’s time for an honest conversation about the CLCPA

November 29th, 2023

Buffalo News Another Voice: It’s time for an honest conversation about the CLCPA
Justin Wilcox Nov 22, 2023

The Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act (CLCPA) was hastily passed in 2019, and while the overall goal to reduce greenhouse gas emissions remains laudable, mandating decarbonization goals and timetables is not a realistic approach.

Since the passage of the CLCPA, New Yorkers have seen an ever-growing price tag for transmission upgrades, offshore wind projects and natural gas bans on new construction, as well as state-subsidized facilities to build windmills. The brunt of these costs is already falling on the backs of utility ratepayers, and from building infrastructure necessary to implement the CLCPA to developers second-guessing the feasibility of projects, this is only the beginning.

Meanwhile the entity responsible for ensuring the reliability of the grid, the New York Independent System Operator (NYISO), has been in the process of taking unprecedented action to address declining reliability margins due in part to the misguided policies coming out of Albany.

Earlier this year, NYISO declared a reliability violation for the New York City area. Their Short-Term Assessment on Reliability (STAR) report makes clear that thinning margins are also likely to impact upstate if current trends and anticipated needs are not addressed.

Upstate United has repeatedly called on policymakers to address reliability issues and reveal the true costs of the CLCPA and who is footing the bill. It was not until earlier this year through NYISO’s declaration for a reliability need and the Public Service Commission’s (PSC) recent unanimous vote to deny renewable developers an additional twelve billion dollars, that it felt like our warnings and apprehensions were being heard.

The PSC and NYISO have set the bar for how to mitigate the unintended consequences of poorly constructed policies. The PSC took action to protect ratepayers and New Yorkers writ large by defending the bidding process in place to ensure taxpayer dollars are spent appropriately. Additionally, NYISO continues to monitor and report on the grid’s rapid change of pace under the CLCPA. However, the PSC should not have to be the de facto taxing authority for the CLCPA, nor should NYISO be forced to take unprecedented actions to protect the grid.

Despite its unrealistic timeline and unknown costs, the legislature approved the CLCPA. An honest conversation about what that means for the New Yorkers is long overdue. The legislature needs to acknowledge the countless warning signs before them. For the sake of the grid reliability and quality of life for New Yorkers, it is time to change course to a more affordable and realistic approach to reducing greenhouse gas emissions.