Emilio Petroccione , legislative and regulatory attorney for the Empire State Energy Association , briefed the attendees . Another challenge Petroccione noted was the proposed Williams pipeline , which would transmit natural gas from Pennsylvania to New Jersey and New York City .

Barry Knox of Renewable Energy Group delivered an update on biofuels and Bioheat . REG , based in Ames , Iowa , is developing biodiesel blending capabilities with Broco Oil at a Broco Oil facility in Haverhill , Mass . The facility is expected to serve as a distribution hub for the Northeast . ( See story , pg . 42 .)

Cuomo in January announced a New York State version of the “ Green New Deal ,” modeled after one that was previously floated , primarily by progressives , in Congress . The governor described his proposal as a clean energy and jobs agenda designed to “ aggressively put New York State on a path to economy-wide carbon neutrality .

“ Climate change is a reality , and the consequences of delay are a matter of life and death . We know what we must do . Now we have to have the vision , the courage , and the competence to get it done ,” Cuomo said in

Left : Chris Scaturro , president of HVOEC . Right : Emilio Petroccione , legislative and regulatory attorney for the Empire State Energy Association , briefed attendees . announcing the plan . “ While the federal government shamefully ignores the reality of climate change and fails to take meaningful action , we are launching the first-in-the-nation Green New Deal to seize the potential of the clean energy economy , set nation ' s most ambitious goal for carbon-free power , and ultimately eliminate our entire carbon footprint ."

During Cuomo ’ s first two terms , New York banned fracking of natural gas , committed to phasing out coal power by 2020 , mandated 50 % renewable power by 2030 , and established the U . S . Climate Alliance to uphold the Paris Agreement . Under the Reforming the Energy Vision agenda , New York has made large renewable energy procurements , solar has increased , and offshore wind is poised to transform the state ' s electricity supply to be cleaner and more sustainable , the governor said .

As proposed , the Green New Deal would statutorily mandate New York ’ s power be 100 % carbon-free by 2040 . Cuomo called it “ the most aggressive goal in the United States and five years ahead of a target recently adopted by California .” The cornerstone of the mandate is an increase of New York ’ s Clean Energy Standard from 50 % to 70 % renewable electricity by 2030 . The ramp-up of renewable energy would include :

Quadrupling New York ’ s offshore wind target to 9,000 megawatts by 2035 , up from 2,400 megawatts by 2030

Doubling distributed solar deployment to 6,000 megawatts by 2025 , up from 3,000

Eli Van Etten , president of ESEA .

megawatts by 2023

More than doubling new large-scale land-based wind and solar resources through the Clean Energy Standard

Maximizing the contributions and potential of New York ’ s existing renewable resources

Deploying 3,000 megawatts of energy storage by 2030 , up from 1,500 megawatts by 2025

The Green New Deal also would create the state ’ s first statutory Climate Action Council , comprising heads of relevant state agencies and other workforce , environmental justice , and clean energy experts to develop a comprehensive plan to make New York carbon neutral by reducing emissions from all major sources , including electricity , transportation , buildings , industry , commercial activity , and agriculture , Cuomo said . The Climate Action Council would consider a range of possible options , including the feasibility of working with the U . S . Climate Alliance to create a new multistate emissions reduction program that covers all sectors of the economy , including transportation and industry , and exploring ways to leverage the successful Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative to drive transformational investment in the clean energy economy and support a just transition , according to the governor ’ s statement . l FON

This article is based on a news release issued by Gov . Andrew Cuomo ’ s office , and reporting by Stephen Bennett .

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