New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo wants his state to be coal-free by 2020.
The Democrat made the declaration in his State of the State address Wednesday, announcing he wants his state’s three remaining coal plants to be closed or shifted to renewable energy by 2020.
The coal plants account for 4 percent of New York’s energy, and one plant is already scheduled to close this year. Cuomo said public health is the top priority.
“We will help the few remaining coal plants transition, but we must clean our air and protect our health and that must be our first priority,” Cuomo said.
Cuomo announced an energy plan in December that sets the goal of a 40 percent reduction in carbon dioxide emissions from the energy sector by 2030. Cuomo also wants 50 percent of the state’s electricity to come from renewable energy by 2030.
Among the commitments Cuomo has made to renewable energy is installing 150,000 new solar panels and 300 new wind turbines and converting all State University of New York campuses to renewable energy by 2020.
The state’s Department of Public Service and Department of Environmental Conservation will work with the New York Independent System Operator to come up with regulations that would make sure the energy grid stays reliable during the transition, Cuomo said.
In addition, Cuomo plans to use the state’s $19 million mitigation fund to help offset the financial losses from closing the coal plants.
“Gov. Cuomo is committed to working with plant owners and host communities to achieve his objective in a manner that will preserve jobs or retrain current employees for new jobs in New York’s clean energy economy and provide tax revenue stabilization assistance to local governments and school districts,” a state fact sheet read.
The news was cheered by New York environmentalists who have been boosted in recent times by Cuomo’s energy actions, which include a ban on hydraulic fracturing, or fracking.
Lisa Dix, the Sierra Club’s senior representative in New York for its Beyond Coal campaign, said Cuomo is now an international climate leader.
“This measure, coupled with a transition plan for coal-affected communities, will both protect the health of New Yorkers and the climate while finally putting an end to coal’s dirty legacy in the Empire State,” Dix said. “Today, Governor Cuomo has shifted New York’s focus from the energy of the past to the energy of the future. ”
