As uncertainties surround New York’s climate objectives, Sen. Pete Harckham (D, WF-40th), chair of the Senate Environmental Conservation Committee, calls on Gov. Kathy Hochul to strengthen commitments to solar power development.
Challenges to Renewable Energy Mandates
Recently, a group of organizations submitted a petition to the Public Service Commission, requesting a review to potentially pause or adjust requirements under the state’s Renewable Energy Program. This program forms a key element of New York’s climate legislation.
Gov. Hochul has outlined her energy approach as an “all-of-the-above” framework, incorporating various sources beyond just renewables. Indications suggest the governor might seek legislative adjustments to ease certain climate law provisions or incorporate modifications through her 30-day amendments to the executive budget.
Harckham’s Stance on Renewables
Sen. Harckham opposes these potential shifts, arguing that an “all-of-the-above” model conflicts with the Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act (CLCPA). “No, I don’t believe it does. I have, respectfully, a different view than the governor,” he stated. He emphasizes prioritizing renewables, noting that solar energy offers significant cost advantages over natural gas and nuclear options while providing greater scalability.
To illustrate the benefits, Harckham points to Texas, where substantial investments in renewables have delivered $30 billion in savings for ratepayers.
Legislative Push for Solar Growth
Harckham sponsors several measures to advance solar adoption, including the ASAP Act (S6570-A8758). This bill aims to increase New York’s solar capacity targets from 6 gigawatts to 20 gigawatts and streamline interconnection processes managed by the Public Service Commission and the New York Independent System Operator (NYISO).
Distributed solar generation stands out as a success story within the CLCPA, having surpassed initial targets. “The one bright spot in the CLCPA has been our distributed solar. We’ve exceeded our goal,” Harckham noted.
Additional proposals from Harckham promote solar installations on parking lots, warehouses, agricultural sites through agrivoltaics, and even floating systems on water bodies. These approaches enable quicker deployment and expansion at lower costs. “It’s much faster to build and much faster to scale and more cost-effective,” he explained. “And it’s far cheaper than a kilowatt of natural gas or nuclear.”
