Diverse Coalition Unites to Support the Just Energy Transition Act to Retire and Redevelop Fossil Fuel Power Plants

For Immediate Release

May 8, 2023
Contact: Marie Scarles, marie@nyrenews.org, (646) 389-8429
Web: @NYRenews | www.nyrenews.org

Diverse Coalition Unites to Support the Just Energy Transition Act to Retire and Redevelop Fossil Fuel Power Plants

Groundbreaking Legislation Transitions Fossil Fuel Infrastructure to Protect Ratepayers, Support EJ Communities, Achieve Just Transition

New York— A diverse coalition of stakeholders including leading environmental, business, labor, environmental justice, and community organizations joined forces today to support nation leading legislation to implement New York State’s ambitious climate goals in a manner that supports economic development, creates union jobs and benefits disadvantaged communities. The Just Energy Transition Act (JETA), S2935-B / A04866 sponsored by Senator Kevin Parker and Assemblymember Dr. Anna Kelles, prioritizes the retirement and redevelopment of New York’s fossil fuel power infrastructure to support affordable and reliable clean energy.  

Building on a recent visit by US Secretary of Energy Jennifer Granholm to New York City’s largest fossil fuel power plant – the Ravenswood Generating Station – repurposing New York State’s oldest fossil fuel power plants with renewable energy aligns an array of diverse interests behind a common goals of community reinvestment, affordability, reliable power and a just transition of the union workforce. This commonsense legislation serves as a national model for an expeditious and effective transition from fossil fuel to renewable generation.

“The Just Transition Energy Act establishes New York’s national leadership in ensuring a just transition as we transform to a clean energy future,” said Senator Kevin Parker, Chairman of the Committee on Energy and Telecommunications. “This is inclusive legislation that brings together all New Yorkers. It protects our union workforce, it invests in our disadvantaged communities, it protects ratepayers by making sure we’re repurposing our existing fossil fuel infrastructure, and it ensures reliability during the clean energy transition.”

“Responsibly meeting New York’s climate goals requires bold action and bold legislation. The Just Energy Transition Act is smart legislation that creates a framework to meet the State’s ambitious fossil fuel retirement goals while ensuring the lights stay on for consumers,” said Assemblymember Dr. Anna Kelles. “I thank my colleague Senator Parker for his leadership in the Senate and look forward to working alongside my Assembly colleagues to prioritizes the bill’s passage this year.” 

“The Just Energy Transition Act has the potential to create countless career-track jobs in the renewable energy sector, putting laborers to work across the state,” said Vincent Albanese, Executive Director of the NYS Laborers’ Political Action Fund. “We are proud to support this legislation, as it promotes economic mobility, while also helping to ensure New York continues to lead on efforts to combat climate change.”

“The Just Energy Transition Act is a landmark step in the process of replacing New York State’s fossil fuel facilities—sites that disproportionately harm frontline, Black, brown, and working-class New Yorkers—and relaunching them as renewable energy hubs,” said NY Renews Coalition Coordinator Stephan Edel. “Redeveloping these dangerous sites will not only take us one step closer to protecting communities from toxic pollution and creating union jobs in neighborhoods at the frontlines of the climate crisis but would also set a procedural precedent for communities across the nation as they fight against the toxic fossil fuel industry in their backyard and build a healthier, more equitable future.”

“By strategically repurposing our fossil fuel infrastructure, including our union workforce, and reinvesting in disadvantaged host communities, New York State will demonstrate to the nation how we can achieve a just transition together,” said Julie Tighe, President of the New York League of Conservation Voters. “We are excited to be a part of a strong and diverse coalition. We applaud Senator Parker and Assembly Member Kelles for authoring this legislation and we will work alongside our coalition partners to pass it this cycle.”

“The Just Energy Transition Act will enable New York to truly establish and implement a roadmap to achieving the mandates of the CLCPA,” said Eddie Bautista, Executive Director, New York City Environmental Justice Alliance. “Environmental justice communities have long bore the disproportionate burden of polluting power plants; by prioritizing the largest and most polluting facilities with renewable energy and energy storage, we can ensure that New York can lead the way in building the energy grid of the future while taking care of residents, laborers, and all ratepayers from the cost of climate change. The time to act is now.”

 “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.

“The Just Transition Energy Act will establish a national model for smart policy which is inclusive with labor and commits New York State to a just transition,” said James Shillitto, President of UWUA Local 1-2, and a member of the Just Transition Task Force, a subcommittee of the state Climate Action Council. “No one is more committed to safe, reliable energy for New Yorkers than our union brothers and sisters who keep the lights on every day. This legislation lets us know that New York respects our work and is committed to including us in our clean energy future. It also sends that message to disadvantaged communities who have hosted fossil fuel plants that New York is looking to reinvest in the community.  I want to thank two labor champions, Senator Parker and Assembly Member Kelles for introducing the Just Transition Energy Act, and we will work to get it passed.”

“A statewide plan for retiring and replacing fossil fuel power plants would be a win for environmental justice communities like ours,” said Carol Wilkins, President of NYCHA Ravenswood Houses Residents’ Association. “For decades, we have lived with disproportionate impacts from industrial activity – we need bold action like JETA from the state to continue advancing the Climate Act.” 

“JETA is a common-sense piece of legislation that will deliver real benefits for the communities that most deserve them. The Climate Act rightly prioritizes Disadvantaged Communities, and we urgently need a plan to replace our dirtiest power plants to reverse the environmental injustices of the past and present,” said Tammy Reyes, NYCHA Woodside Houses Residents’ Association.

“Western Queens, home to more than 7,000 families living in NYCHA, has borne the brunt of impacts from power plants that power the rest of New York City,” said Lynn Spivey, President of NAACP-NYCHA Branch. “With our community having taken on more than our fair share for decades, it is high time for bold action that prioritizes us and the health of our children.” 

“New York’s way of life, and it’s $2 trillion economy, depend on reliable electricity,” said Clint Plummer, CEO of Rise Light & Power.  “As the City’s largest generator, we’re proud 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 the Just Energy Transition Act include ACE-NY, AES, Laborers International Union of North America, NYC Environmental Justice Alliance, UWUA Local 1-2, Long Island Progressive Coalition, New York League of Conservation Voters, NY RENEWS, Rise Light & Power, REBNY, and Sierra Club.

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