The Coalition for Safe and Reliable Energy petitioned the New York State Public Service Commission to hold a hearing to evaluate whether to temporarily suspend or modify the obligations under the Renewable Energy Program established as part of the Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act (“CLCPA”). This text is adapted from the Empire Center’s comments in response.

Summary

There are several reasons to reexamine whether New York’s current energy policy goals (70 percent of electricity from renewables by 2030 and zero‑emission electricity by 2040) are reasonable, affordable, or deliver meaningful climate benefits.

1. Electricity prices in New York are high and have risen sharply since the passage of the Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act (CLCPA).
2. New York accounts for only a minimal share of global carbon dioxide emissions, meaning changes to its renewable energy mandates would have a negligible effect on global climate outcomes.
3. Experience in other states shows that stringent statewide mandates are not the only path to achieve growth in renewable energy.

New York’s Electricity Prices Are High

Electricity prices in New York are rising at an unusually fast rate. According to the latest Energy Information Administration (EIA) data on average residential electricity prices, New York’s prices rose by 5.7 percent month over month and 14.4 percent year over year in February 2026. This represents exceptionally fast growth, significantly exceeding the national averages of 1.1 percent and 7.4 percent, respectively. Under these circumstances, all policies and measures that may affect electricity prices warrant close examination and review.

Electricity Price Growth Accelerated After CLCPA

From January 2001 through June 2019, New York’s electricity prices rose by an average of just 0.13 percent per month. After June 2019, that average jumped to 0.6 percent. Over the same periods, national electricity prices increased by 0.25 percent and 0.35 percent per month, respectively.

While these figures do not establish causation, they show that electricity prices in New York have risen significantly faster than the national average since CLCPA’s passage, suggesting the presence of New York‑specific factors.

Regardless of their precise causes, these price increases place growing financial pressure on households and warrant a careful review of policies that may be contributing to higher electricity costs, including renewable energy mandates.

Changes to New York’s Renewable Energy Mandates Will Have No Meaningful Effect on Global Climate Change

While global emissions reductions necessarily consist of many smaller actions, New York’s share is sufficiently small so that changes to its renewable mandates would have a negligible effect on global emissions trajectories and their effects.

In 2023, the United States emitted a total of 4,781 million metric tons (MMTs) of CO₂ from energy consumption. New York emitted 164.9 MMTs, representing 3.4 percent of the national total. New York’s per capita CO₂ emissions were 8.4 tons, compared to a U.S. average of 14.2 tons, ranking New York as the fourth lowest state by per capita emissions.

By comparison, China emitted a total of 11,129 MMTs of CO, with estimates of 8.7 tons per capita. Although China’s per‑capita emissions are comparable to New York’s, its vastly larger population results in total emissions that dwarf those of any U.S. state.

Even a 40 percent reduction in New York’s annual emissions—approximately 66 MMTs—would equal only about 0.59 percent of China’s annual emissions, or two days’ worth of emissions from China.

Therefore, changes to, or reviews of New York’s renewable energy program would have no meaningful impact on global climate change or its effects on New York and are therefore worth investigating.

Renewable Energy Mandates are not the Only Way to Increase the Use of Renewable Energy Sources

Renewable energy mandates in Florida and Texas are less stringent than in New York, yet both states have expanded wind and solar generation faster than New York since 2019.

New York has increased solar energy production by 336% from 2,376 GWh in 2019 to 10,359 GWh in 2025. However, over the same time, electricity production in Texas went up from 5,366 GWh to 64,073 GWh, or by 1094%. Florida increased solar generation from 4,590 GWh to 30,131 GWh or by 556%.

In wind power, New York increased electricity production from 4,456 GWh to 6,902 GWh. However, Texas achieved similar growth rates at significantly higher volumes, increasing its production from 83,620 GWh to 129,458 GWh.

This data suggests that renewable energy mandates are not the only pathway for increasing the production or consumption of renewable energy, therefore reviewing or reforming New York’s renewable energy mandates would not violate the goals of increasing the use of renewable energy sources.