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The Bureau of Land Management updates a proposed Western Solar Plan to the delight of wildlife advocates, grant funding helps New York schools take part in National Farm to School Month, and children's advocates observe "TEN-4 Day" to raise awareness of child abuse.

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Biden voices concerns over Israeli strikes on Iran, Special Counsel Jack Smith details Trump's pre-January 6 pressure on Pence, Indiana's voter registration draws scrutiny, and a poll shows politics too hot to talk about for half of Wisconsinites.

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Cheap milk comes at a cost for residents of Washington's Lower Yakima Valley, Indigenous language learning is promoted in Wisconsin as experts warn half the world's languages face extinction, and Montana's public lands are going to the dogs!

NY Legislature passes climate, energy bills before session ends

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Monday, June 10, 2024   

New York State's legislative session has ended with climate bills a top priority.

Legislation such as the Climate Change Superfund Act awaits Gov. Kathy Hochul's signature. Other bills such as the Renewable Action Through Project Interconnection and Deployment Act passed with the budget. The bill speeds up clean-energy project permitting and power grid interconnection.

Marguerite Wells, executive director of the Alliance for Clean Energy New York, said speeding up the process benefits the state.

"Many of the renewable-energy projects that have been proposed have been stalled because of lack of capacity on the transmission lines near them to actually put the electricity on the grid so that New Yorkers can access it," Wells explained. "There's no sense in building a project that can't actually deliver to people."

This after the state's grid operator, New York Independent System Operator, received a C-minus on an interconnection report card. Its lowest scores were for providing useful interconnection alternatives and interconnection process results.

Wells noted enacting the measure builds off the Build Public Renewables Act passed in the 2023 state budget.

Other barriers such as the numerous processes projects undergo before connecting to the grid can hold them back. A New York State Comptroller report found application delays are holding up renewable-energy projects siting permits for more than three years.

Despite the challenges, Wells is confident New York can achieve its 2030 climate goals.

"There's no shortage of projects being brought forward that will help meet that goal," Wells pointed out. "The trick now is just, I don't think there's any new laws needed or major changes to the structure that are necessary. I think it's streamlining what we've got and hitting a rhythm to get these projects built."

One foreseeable challenge is assembling enough skilled laborers to build the projects. Trade union leaders in the state are eager to work on them with a labor force ready to do so. A nationwide 2022 report showed not speeding up transmission increases greenhouse gas emissions by 800 million tons annually.

Disclosure: The Alliance for Clean Energy New York contributes to our fund for reporting on Budget Policy and Priorities, Climate Change/Air Quality, Energy Policy, and the Environment. If you would like to help support news in the public interest, click here.


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