New York to cut emissions by 100%

Lawmakers in New York have introduced a bill aimed at cutting the state's greenhouse gas emissions by 100 per cent by 2050.

The bill is designed to support Governor Andrew Cuomo’s climate targets covering emissions reduction, energy efficiency and renewables.

The bill would require electric utilities in the state to source 27 per cent of their generation capacity from renewables in 2017, 30 per cent by 2020, 40 per cent by 2025, and 50 per cent by 2030.

New York would also have to reduce GHG emissions by 25 per cent below 1990 levels by 2025, 50 per cent by 2030, and 80 per cent by 2045 on the way to a complete phase-out by 2050.

Peter Iwanowicz, Executive Director, Environmental Advocates of New York, said: “This is, quite simply, one of the strongest, smartest, and most thoughtful pieces of climate legislation the public has ever seen.”

Mr Iwanowicz added: “It may be the best in the country, and we roundly applaud Speaker Heastie, Assemblyman Englebright, and their colleagues for taking the aspirational goals outlined in Governor Cuomo’s State Energy Plan and providing the blueprint for achieving them.”

If the bill is passed the electricity sector will be ordered to completely eliminate GHG emissions by mid-century.

According to the US Environmental Protection Agency, GHGs include carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide, and the entire range of flourinated gases.

The bill originates from Governor Cuomo’s New York State Energy Plan, a non-binding plan released in June last year aimed at pushing the state towards deeper cuts in GHG emissions and installing more renewable energy projects.

The Plan maps out a vision for New York’s energy future that connects a vibrant private sector market with communities and individual cunsumers to create a dynamic, clean energy economy.

The Plan is divided into two volumes with the first containing actionable policy recommendations and analyses to guide the State’s efforts to advance new energy technologies that foster an innovative clean energy economy.

The second volume addresses energy use and provides detailed background that was used to develop the vision and initiatives of the first volume.

The second volume also provides forecasts for energy supply and demand, a statewide inventory of greenhouse gas emissions, environmental and public health impacts associated with energy production and use, and vulnerabilities of the energy system.