Transmission development and ensuring an affordable transition away from natural gas are among the priorities outlined in new plan

ALBANY, NY – Advanced Energy United today highlighted several key proposals within New York Governor Kathy Hochul's State of the State plan—including the end of ratepayer subsidies to expand the state's natural gas system (the “100-foot rule”) and plans to improve the state’s transmission systems—as being key steps to accelerating the transition away from fossil fuels and promoting the swift deployment of renewable energy and heating solutions.

“New York has some of the most ambitious clean energy goals in the country, and several of the initiatives proposed by Gov. Hochul today can help ensure we make those goals a reality,” said Nathan Willcox, a Managing Director with national business association Advanced Energy United. “Building a bigger, better electric grid and electrifying buildings are investments in home-grown energy resources that will create in-state jobs and a more resilient energy system, and benefit the health and financial wellbeing of all New Yorkers.”

Among several clean energy initiatives included within Gov. Hochul’s plan, Advanced Energy United highlighted two key areas: responsibly transitioning away from natural gas and strengthening the state’s transmission systems: 

• Transitioning Away from Natural Gas: The proposed measures, including the elimination of the “100-foot rule” and the launch of the “Smart Energy Savings Initiative” to scale time-of-use rates for heat pump owners and electric vehicle drivers, demonstrate a well-balanced approach that addresses both the needs of the energy system and the needs of energy customers. Without these measures, existing gas customers are otherwise legally bound to foot the bill for hundreds of millions of dollars of fossil fuel infrastructure per year that only moves the state further from its clean energy and climate goals, and new heat pump owners would be leaving additional savings and grid efficiencies on the table. The proposed measures would thus prioritize energy affordability for both those existing gas customers and those adopting clean, electric home heating and transportation options, making important strides towards a more inclusive transition for all. 
• Transmission & Interconnection: Meeting the state’s clean energy targets will require further expanding and strengthening transmission systems to carry power produced by renewable energy to the rest of the grid. It will also require speeding up the interconnection process through which new clean energy projects connect to the grid. Gov. Hochul's efforts to streamline the siting process for transmission projects through the "Renewable Action Through Project Interconnection and Deployment" (RAPID) Act, coupled with her call for exploring ways to speed up the interconnection process, could be two important steps forward in this area. One key to the RAPID Act’s success, and the proposal to have the Office of Renewable Energy Siting (ORES) oversee transmission permitting, for example, will be addressing permitting issues in the ORES process that have delayed renewable energy projects to date.

Click here to learn more about Advanced Energy United’s work in New York advocating for 100% clean energy and electrified transportation.