Renewable energy sources offer the promise of an independent, clean energy future.

ISSUE:

New York State faces formidable energy challenges, including a rising demand for energy, an insufficient and unreliable energy supply, antiquated technology, power plants located in overburdened and undesirable locations, and an inability to site new facilities.

If these challenges are not addressed, they will continue to place heavy strains on New York's economy, the pocketbooks of citizens, and will compromise the quality of life in our communities.

NYS ACTIONS:

New York State's Renewable Portfolio Standard (RPS) promotes the use of renewable energy development. The RPS requires that by 2012, 25 percent of all the electricity used in the state come from clean energy sources, such as solar power, wind, and fuel cells. The RPS is attracting renewable energy companies to the state and has the potential to attract hundreds of millions of dollars in investment in clean energy resources.

However, the state's power plant siting law expired in December 2002, and, since then, the stalemate in Albany has prevented the siting of any sizeable power plants. This has caused undue strain on New York's traditional energy sources, threatens to hamper the state's ability to manage the current rising demand, and impedes New York's ability to bring a new generation of energy plants online.