07/17/2024 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 07/17/2024 08:21
The Public Service Commission (PSC) and the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) have taken considerable steps in planning for New York State's transition to renewable energy but must take stronger action to meet the state's clean energy goals, according to an audit released today by New York State Comptroller Thomas P. DiNapoli. The audit found inadequate planning, monitoring and assessment of risks and challenges in the PSC's efforts to help the state meet the Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act's (Climate Act) targets, which seek 70% renewably sourced electricity by 2030 and net-zero emissions by 2040.
"New York is moving in the right direction to transition to renewable energy, but we found better planning, monitoring of progress and timely assessment of risks by PSC is needed to achieve our ambitious clean energy goals," DiNapoli said. "New York has been a leader in its efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and the threats caused by climate change, and identifying existing and emerging challenges will improve the likelihood that we succeed."
Auditors found that the PSC, tasked under the Climate Act with establishing and reviewing the state's renewable energy program, sometimes used outdated data and wrong calculations to determine if the state could reach 70% renewably sourced electricity by 2030. The PSC did not update their calculations based on new laws and directives, which may drive clean energy demand and supply up, like electric vehicles, new green buildings, or electric cooling and heating.
PSC also did not fully account for other potential risks, and did not consider certain challenges that could delay meeting the state's clean energy targets. For example, according to the Independent System Operator, the state would need new technology not yet developed to account for the weather-related intermittency of renewables, as well as expanded transmission capability to get clean energy to consumers, to achieve the 2040 goal of 100% renewable statewide electric generation.
The audit found that the PSC did not develop a back-up plan if the Climate Act's goals were not met within prescribed timeframes, except for the continued reliance on fossil fuels, including "peaker plants," which generally operate at a higher monetary and environmental cost.
Cancellations of renewable energy projects have slowed progress toward meeting the Climate Act's goals, and auditors determined that the PSC did not plan properly for the historical project cancellation rate. As of April 2023, there were 230 large-scale renewable projects awarded contracts within the Climate Act program, and 28 projects were cancelled from 2005 to 2023. Of the remaining 202 projects, only 30% were completed, and on average it takes 5 years for a large-scale renewable project to be up and running, as a 2030 deadline looms to achieve 70% renewably sourced electricity.
The PSC also did not fully plan for expiring contracts, which could lead to higher costs. Most contracts for renewable energy sources have a 10 to a 20 year span. Between 2007 and 2022, 81 contracts expired, which could lead to New York paying more than the original price once the contract expires. Additionally, there is no guarantee these facilities will then sell the renewable electricity they generate into the New York power grid and contribute to achieving the Climate Act goals. These situations, for example, were not factored into PSC's planning to develop a program to meet the goals.
The PSC did not reasonably estimate or verify other entities' estimates of the cost of the transition to renewable energy. Undertaking a project without knowing the costs increases the risk that the project will not succeed. The absence of cost estimates also makes it difficult, if not impossible, to assess its impact on New Yorkers, including those who are currently struggling to pay their utility bills and who have faced rising costs over the past two decades. PSC officials stated that they expect the cost for renewable energy to decrease as time goes on, but did not produce an analysis that demonstrated how quickly they expect these costs to decline.
Auditors identified other factors that could delay achievement of the Climate Act goals, including increasingly severe weather, renewable electricity demands, a delayed Champlain Hudson Power Express line and potential limitations on the hydroelectric power it is expected to provide, and material availability and supply chain issues.
While the PSC is not solely responsible for ensuring the state is prepared to meet the Climate Act's goals, it should discuss the potential effects of these issues with the agencies responsible for ensuring a smooth transition, determine the effects of these concerns and include this information in its projections to increase the likelihood of meeting the Climate Act's goals.
DiNapoli's audit recommended the PSC:
The audit also recommends NYSERDA:
In response, PSC did not agree with several of the audit's findings, including that it uses outdated or incorrect calculations for planning purposes. It also referred to events such as the COVID-19 pandemic impacting cost analysis. NYSERDA generally agreed with the audit's recommendations and said it had implemented changes to its procedures.
Audit
Climate Act Goals - Planning, Procurements, and Progress Tracking
Other related work
Application Review and Site Permitting for Major Renewable Energy Projects
Renewable Electricity in New York State: Review and Prospects