NYC EJA Supports S.2935B (Parker) MEMORANDUM OF SUPPORT FOR THE JUST ENERGY TRANSITION ACT (S.2935B)
Memorandum of Support S2935B (Parker)
May 2, 2023
S2935B (Parker): Enacts the “just energy transition act”; requires a study of competitive options to facilitate the phase-out, replacement, and redevelopment of New York state’s oldest and most polluting fossil-fueled generation facilities and their sites by the year 2030.
Founded in 1991, the New York City Environmental Justice Alliance (NYC-EJA) is a nonprofit, 501(c)3 citywide membership network linking grassroots organizations from low-income communities of color in their struggle for environmental justice. NYC-EJA empowers its member organizations to advocate for improved environmental conditions and against inequitable environmental burdens by the coordination of campaigns designed to inform City and State policies. Through our efforts, member organizations coalesce around specific common issues that threaten the ability of low-income communities of color to thrive.
The New York City Environmental Justice Alliance extends support for S2935B (Parker). This legislation will empower the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority, Department of Public Service, and Department of Environmental Conservation to facilitate a transition from fossil fuel power generation to renewable energy and battery storage by 2030. The State has already committed to replacing and redeveloping its fossil fuel facilities. New York’s Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act further mandates an emissions-free electricity system by 2040. This bill would enable a responsible process to achieve this commitment by prioritizing a just transition that honors the priorities of frontline communities. Enabling transparent public proceedings and clear implementation guidelines ensures that we can operationalize a much-needed transition while accounting for energy democracy and system reliability.
The PEAK Coalition, which NYC-EJA is a member of, recently published a study with the New York Power Authority that found it feasible to individually transition NYPA peaker plants to battery storage sites by the year 2030. PEAK’s research has shown that peaker plants are some of the oldest, costliest, and most polluting sources of energy in our state. Transitioning to renewable energy and battery storage will have measurable climate, economic, and public health impacts, particularly for low-income communities and communities of color, and must be done as soon as possible. This bill builds upon the NYPA study and enables NYSERDA to conduct a sector-wide study to this effect while accounting for renewable energy and battery storage combinations that can further strengthen resource adequacy and energy reliability without relying on false solutions.
We support the goals and components of the bill listed above. Additionally, the language in this bill ensures that false solutions cannot be considered as part of the competitive options to transition fossil fuel power plants. We urge the Assembly to require that all aspects of the phase-out, replacement, and redevelopment of New York state’s oldest and most polluting fossil-fueled generation facilities and their sites are consistent and limited to the options described in the Scoping Plan issued by the Climate Action Council under section 75-0103 of the environmental conservation law and consistent with Section 66-p of the public service law.
We further encourage the Assembly to limit the eligibility of low-impact run-of-river facilities to be part of the competitive solicitation process to be located within New York State. Lastly, to aid New York in achieving the mandates of the Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act, NYC-EJA encourages the Assembly to require the state to examine strategies to eliminate emissions from all fossil fuel generation facilities, including behind-the-meter facilities, as expeditiously as possible but no later than 2040.
For the reasons stated above, NYC-EJA supports the Just Energy Transition Act S2935B (Parker).
New York City Environmental Justice Alliance
462 36th Street, 3F, Brooklyn, NY 11232
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