Lunch and Learn Virtual Series: Learn More about Innovative Proposals to Bring Clean Energy to Downstate New York
Citizens Campaign for the Environment and the New York League of Conservation Voters have teamed up to offer a series of virtual public education forums that will explore clean energy proposals to potentially bring energy to downstate New York. Learn more, view recordings of past events, and register for upcoming events below. All events are free and open to the public.
BACKGROUND
New York State is a leader in the fight against climate change and a national champion for renewable energy, having passed the strongest climate change law in the nation in 2019—the Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act (CLCPA). The state is working towards achieving mandates of 70% renewable energy by 2030, carbon free electricity by 2040, and a net zero carbon economy by 2050.
New York State has recommended the creation of a separate tier for Zone J (NYC) to help meet the CLCPA targets. One major obstacle the state faces is that there is a “tale of two grids.” Upstate uses 88% zero-emission resources but only represents 1/3rd of the energy load, while downstate is 2/3rds of the load and 69% fossil fuels. NYC presents a unique challenge to achieving CLCPA goals and is almost entirely reliant on fossil fuels, with outdated local peaker plants polluting disadvantaged communities. Due to space limitations in the city, there is little possibility of replacing fossil fuel plants with local, large-scale renewables such as those established in upstate NY and Long Island.
LUNCH AND LEARN VIRTUAL EVENTS:
1.) Bringing Canadian Hydropower to NY
View a recording of the virtual event held on July 14, 2021
About the event:
Find out more about this proposal to bring existing, excess power from Canadian hydropower facilities to New York City via a transmission line down the Hudson River. The Hudson Champlain Power Express transmission line is approved and could bring 1,000 - 2,500MW of clean power to the NYC grid. Join CCE, NYLCV, and experts from Hydro-Québec and Transmission Developers Inc. to learn more about this project and the benefits of bringing Canadian hydropower to NYC.
Image by PublicDomainPictures from Pixabay
2.) Clean Path NY
View a recording of the virtual event held on October 7, 2021
About the Event:
Clean Path NY is a proposal to build a 1,300 MW transmission line that will bring renewable energy from upstate NY to downstate NY. The project would be able to deliver more than 7.9 million megawatt-hours of emissions-free energy every year. The transmission line will be entirely underground and will create approximately 2,000 MW of new on-shore wind power and 1,800 MW of new solar power. The Clean Path NY project is focused on an “All New York, All Renewables” solution to ensure a clean energy future for New Yorkers.