From September 4 to September 5, 2024, representatives from Barclay Damon, along with key industry leaders, attended the invitation-only Future Energy Economy Summit in Syracuse, New York, which explored strategies to accelerate the deployment of renewables and study the role of the emerging emissions-free technologies with the goal of achieving the state’s Climate Leadership & Community Protection Act (CLCPA) goals.
The summit began with New York State Governor Kathy Hochul unveiling the “Draft Blueprint for Consideration of Advanced Nuclear Technologies.” The primary focus of the summit was the possibility of adding new nuclear resources to meet the state’s energy goals, which is a deviation from the state’s efforts to reduce reliance on nuclear energy in favor of other renewable energy sources over the past decades. Attendees also heard from large-scale end users of electricity, such as Micron and the Raymond Corporation.
The summit also focused on next steps that the state will engage private industries to advance, including:
- Completion of the ongoing Public Service Commission (PSC) review of the state’s Clean Energy Standard (CES) by early 2025 and advance key actions to accelerate and expand New York State’s large-scale renewable energy industry, focusing on deployment goals, interconnection reforms, and the timely implementation of the RAPID Act for expedited environmental reviews and permitting of major renewable energy and electric transmission facilities;
- Effectively leverage federal programs by applying for relevant funding opportunities for economic development and next generation emissions-free energy technology planning and deployment; and
- Support the PSC action on the pending “Zero Emissions by 2040” proceeding (PSC Case 15-E-0302), which is investigating technologies that support the 2040 zero-emissions electricity system target established through the CLCPA.
A 30-day comment window is now open and NYSERDA is requesting public input on the Draft Blueprint by October 5, 2024. Comments can be submitted to draftblueprint@nyserda.ny.gov. Barclay Damon will continue to monitor these issues closely.
If you have any questions regarding the content of this alert, please contact Ekin Senlet or Brenda Colella, Regulatory Practice Area co-chairs, at ensenlet@barclaydamon.com and bcolella@barclaydamon.com; Emma Marshall, associate, at emarshall@barclaydamon.com; or another member of the firm’s Regulatory Practice Area.