LAWMAKERS, LABOR, ENVIRONMENTAL ADVOCATES AND BUSINESS GROUPS UNITE AT NEW YORK CAPITOL TO URGE PASSAGE OF THE JUST ENERGY TRANSITION ACT (JETA)

Historic Coalition Held Press Conference In Albany In Support Of Legislation That Will Support Disadvantaged Communities With New York’s Clean Energy Transition   

Albany, NY (May 17, 2023) – Today, a historic coalition of residents of NYCHA public housing, NYC Environmental Justice Alliance, AES, ACE-NY, NYC-EJA, and Rise Light & Power held a press conference at the capital in support of S2935-B / A04866 sponsored by Senator Kevin Parker and Assembly Member Anna Kelles. This historic legislation would prioritize the retirement and redevelopment of New York’s fossil fuel power infrastructure to support affordable and reliable clean energy.  

When enacted, JETA will ensure that New York State achieves the Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act’s (CLCPA) ambitious goals by directing New York’s climate, energy, and environmental agencies and authorities to develop a blueprint to guide the retirement and redevelopment of New York’s oldest and most-polluting fossil fuel power generation facilities and their sites by 2030 and implement the blueprint through a competitive procurement process, thereby encouraging cost-effective proposals that replace fossil fuel power generation facilities with clean sources of renewable energy.

Click here to download B-Roll video from the event

“For the benefit of our climate and our most vulnerable communities, we urgently need to move our energy supply from fossil fuels to renewable energy,” said Senator Kristen Gonzalez. “I was thrilled to join NYCHA residents from Western Queens alongside other environmental justice advocates in rallying for the Just Energy Transition Act, which will chart a clear path to redevelop New York’s most polluting power plants into renewables. I urge my colleagues in the Senate and Assembly to join me in supporting this bill.”

“We are here today in support of JETA,” Lynn Spivey, President of the NYCHA NAACP Branch. “All too often communities that face negative impacts have not been given the opportunity for health, job opportunities, and clean air. That is why we are here asking for this bill to be introduced as soon as possible into the energy committee.”  

“We know that JETA will help us meet the CLCPA requirements, and most importantly, it will help us to reach the minimum of 35-40% investment for disadvantaged communities,” said Celeste Perez, Policy Organizer at the New York City Environmental Justice Alliance. “Ravenswood is one of the largest power plants in New York, and it is adjacent to the largest public housing in our country. By transitioning these plants and passing this bill, we can make a great framework for New York and show the entire nation what we are capable of, and that we are prioritizing the health of our children and families that have faced the brunt of environmental injustice far too long.”    

“The only way we can avoid air pollution from New York’s older fossil-fuel power plants is if we build something to replace them. This bill tackles this problem head on and can lead to renewable energy or energy storage meeting our power needs without these polluting plants,” said Anne Reynolds, Executive Director of the Alliance for Clean Energy New York.  

“Rise Power and Light is proud to be a part of today’s coalition of leaders from the NYCHA community, the labor movement, and business world uniting to support New York’s clean transition,” said Sid Nathan, VP of External Affairs for Rise Light & Power. “As the City’s largest generator, we’re proud to show up to support the Just Energy Transition Act because we believe it will catalyze significant private sector investment to ensure New Yorkers have the reliability they expect while meeting the goals of the CLCPA.” 

JETA ensures New York State meets the ambitious goals of the Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act (CLCPA) by directing New York’s climate, energy and environmental agencies and authorities to develop a blueprint and commence a competitive solicitation to guide the retirement and redevelopment of New York’s oldest and most-polluting fossil fuel facilities and their sites by 2030.  Guided by the blueprint, New York State would competitively bid and award proposals that replace fossil fuel facilities with clean sources of renewable energy such as wind and solar as well as battery technology and electricity transmission and distribution systems to support renewable energy. 

JETA’s repurposing of existing infrastructure unites several critical policy goals, including: 

      Reliability: Ensuring reliability the New Yorkers expect and keeping the lights on while reducing emissions and local air pollution from fossil fuels. 

      Protect Ratepayers: Competitive bidding for new projects that will repurpose existing fossil infrastructure to provide a cost-effective clean energy alternative. 

      Environmental Justice: Significantly reduce air pollution in neighborhoods that have historically borne the brunt of downstate fossil fuel power generation. 

      Just Transition for Union Labor: Investing in a pipeline of existing and new workforce to power homegrown clean energy facilities. 

      Achieve the CLCPA’s Climate Goals: Creating new local sources of clean renewable energy to achieve New York’s nation-leading goal of 70% renewables by 2030. 

Organizations who have signed onto a letter of support, advocating for the Just Energy Transition Act include ACE-NY, AES, NYC Environmental Justice Alliance, UWUA Local 1-2, Long Island Progressive Coalition, New York League of Conservation Voters, NY RENEWS, Rise Light & Power, and REBNY.

Learn more about the campaign to pass JETA here: www.PassJETA.com  

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