New York’s Clean Energy Expansion Needs a Jolt
A forthcoming report and April 30th webinar by the Climate Jobs Institute lays out what’s working, what’s stalling, and how labor-forward climate policy can close the gap
New Yorkers don’t need another record-breaking flood or heatwave to know that the climate crisis is accelerating. Since 2015, our state has experienced almost as many billion-dollar weather disasters as it did in the previous three decades combined.
That urgency is why New York adopted a nation-leading target: 70% renewable electricity by 2030. Yet our new report, “Update on New York’s Renewable Energy Policies, Plans & Progress,” shows the state is still sourcing only about 25% of its power from renewables and will likely miss the 2030 goal by at least three years under current trends.
Why the stakes go beyond megawatts
- Energy reliability: Electrifying buildings and cars will increase electricity demand. Without faster, large-scale deployment and storage, we risk an over-stressed grid.
- Economic opportunity: Meeting the 2030 standard could create 15,000 additional solar jobs alone. However, for economic benefits to be shared widely, projects must have strong labor standards and targeted pathways for frontline communities.
- Public health and cost of delay: Every year of slippage locks in fossil-fuel emissions, higher utility costs, and escalating disaster-recovery bills.
Three takeaways you’ll find in our report
- There’s momentum in rooftop solar but not in utility-scale projects. New York has already reached its 6 GW distributed solar goal and is on track to reach 10 GW by 2030. But distributed solar barely meets 5% of statewide demand, leaving a yawning gap that large projects must fill.
- Permitting reforms are starting to shave years off project timelines. The Office of Renewable Energy Siting has cut average state permitting from 3.5 years to about 1.2 years.
- Job growth is real, but job quality and equity still lag. Clean energy jobs grew 5% last year (more than twice the statewide average), yet women and Black workers remain underrepresented, and most solar installations pay neither union wages nor benefits.
Join our April 30th webinar!
To learn more about New York’s clean energy goals and progress, join us on Wednesday, April 30th, from 12pm - 1:30pm ET, for a brief presentation followed by a panel discussion with state legislators, labor leaders, and environmental advocates.
Speakers and panelists
- Senator Peter Harkham, New York State Senate District 40; Chairman, Committee on Environmental Conservation
- Assemblymember Michaelle Solages, New York State Assembly District 22
- Vincent Albanese, Executive Director, New York State Laborers’ Organizing Fund
- Julie Tighe, President, New York League of Conservation Voters (NYLCV)
- Iris Packman, Senior Research & Policy Development Associate, Climate Jobs Institute
- Bethany Figueroa, Research Support Specialist, Climate Jobs Institute
- Lynda Nguyen, Climate Jobs Associate, Climate Jobs Institute
We’ll explore insights from our latest research, delve into actionable strategies for overcoming barriers to renewable energy expansion, and discuss how to ensure equitable job creation within our green economy.
New York can lead the way forward, but decisive, equitable action is essential. Your voice and involvement are key.
Register here to help shape New York’s clean energy future.