New York State’s Clean Energy Standard sets a high bar for reducing carbon pollution- moving the state off of dirty, dangerous and expensive fossil fuels while charting a course to a future powered by homegrown renewable energy. Governor Cuomo has also shown that he is a climate leader with New York’s ban on fracking, the commitment to fully phase out coal, and by tackling the build out of fossil fuel infrastructure. This is just the sort of visionary policy making we need.
The Sierra Club’s central priority is fighting global climate change and all our work to protect the environment is seen through that lens. We will continue to advocate passionately for cutting dangerous carbon emissions in the short- and long-term, while helping New York move to a truly clean, renewable future as quickly as possible and ending our reliance on risky fossil fuels and nuclear power.
But no plan is perfect and we would be no friend to the Governor if we didn’t voice our concerns about the “nuclear tier” of the state’s new energy policy. As our organization, and many of our members have stated time and again, nuclear power is not renewable, safe nor economically viable. It is critical that we double down on renewable energy and energy efficiency programs and not reward troubling energy sources like nuclear power with giveaways that only lengthen our road to a clean energy powered future. We understand the short term conundrum. Replacing nuclear power with clean, renewable and more cost-effective alternatives takes time to do right. A well-planned, systematic transition is critical to reaching a truly clean and renewable energy future.
The reality is that, while nuclear power represents nearly one quarter of the state’s generating capacity, most of its individual reactors are operating under such crushing financial losses that they can no longer afford to stay open. Allowing these plants to immediately cease operations may have the undesirable short term consequence of increasing harmful carbon pollution from oil, gas and coal generation in order to meet public demands for electricity. But keeping these dangerous, chronically under-maintained facilities open puts the state at risk for an unimaginable catastrophe on top of the increased financial burden placed upon every New Yorker who pays an electric bill.
Continuing to underwrite nuclear power, without a clear transition plan, is not only dangerous but it confuses the policy situation in the state. Our statewide conversation should be about how to move NY to a clean, affordable renewable energy economy as quickly and responsibly as possible, not how to keep aging, toxic plants on life support at the cost of electricity customers across the state. Simply put, renewable energy and energy efficiency are safer, less expensive and pose little risk to our environment or to our citizens.
In fact, 100 percent clean energy for all is entirely within the grasp of the state and the Sierra Club will continue working tirelessly to see that made a reality. With abundant onshore and offshore wind resources, affordable solar at both the community and large scale levels and thoughtful energy efficiency programs that save families money while cutting down on energy usage the path is clear. And that path certainly shouldn’t include continuing support for nuclear power.
Twelve years is simply too long to wait, and $7 billion in ratepayer subsidies is simply too much of a price to pay to keep these old plants active. New York needs a clear plan that ensures a safe and timely decommissioning of nuclear reactors whose power is replaced by renewable energy and job creating efficiency programs. Refocusing the nuclear subsidy conversation on a plan to a just and fair transition for communities and workers will help alleviate some of the conflict between reaching our climate goals and keeping the lights on.
Now is the time to focus on the future of state, and our future holds great promise. But we’ll be short changing that potential if we continue to underwrite nuclear power on the backs of ratepayers and at the expense of true clean energy solutions.