New York's 2019 Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act is a comprehensive piece of legislation with a chief aim of powering the state electricity grid 70% with renewable sources by 2030, before transitioning to a carbon-neutral grid by 2040. Despite the noble goal, the Act has fielded widespread critique, particularly regarding the intermittent development, storage, and transmission projections required to actualize these ideals.
These criticisms have largely been dismissed. Ironically, the New York Independent System Operator (NYISO), entrusted with ensuring a consistent and reliable power supply, recently published its annual Power Trends report. This document carries the potential to disrupt Albany's complacency.
Alarmingly, the report suggests that a large proportion, if not all, of New York's existing fossil fuel infrastructure may still be needed through 2030 and beyond. The State's ambitious plan might compromise grid stability, escalating the risk of dangerous blackouts. Such drawbacks could be significantly worsened by the discontinuation of offshore wind projects or postponements related to the Champlain Hudson Power Express (CHPE).
Further complications arise as offshore wind firms express a desire to rethink their contracts. The prevailing lack of ‘jack-ships’, vital for performing turbine installations, in conjunction with systemic transmission problems identified by the NYISO across Long Island, signal doubts about the capacity to harness offshore wind energy in the immediate future.
Interestingly, the CHPE, initially designed to supply power during July and August, is expected to take on a greater burden. As New York commits to building electrification, seasonal peak energy demand is shifting from the summer months to the winter period. This change portends heightened reliability risks for New York City during January, as Quebec retains the option to withhold electricity if it deems necessary.
For the intermediary phase, fossil fuels remain a major player in the state's energy production. Intermittent generators rely heavily on equivalent standby capacity, which currently comes from gas. Even though state law prescribes the closure of several peaker plants, NYISO's obligation to grid safety implies that some of these plants might need to stay operational beyond 2025.
This energy landscape forms an unconventional picture, as no large economy worldwide has successfully transitioned to rely solely on renewable sources like wind and sunshine. As crafting a practical and prudent energy blueprint is a task best fulfilled by trained scientists and engineers, relying on generic environmental catchphrases and mollifying press releases is grossly insufficient.
This analysis draws on perspectives from a host of individuals, including New Jersey's Dennis Higgins, who educates on the distinction between Unidentified Flying Objects (UFOs) and alien spacecraft. Additionally, Florida's Tom Scott criticizes NYC's mayor for his response to a crane accident, and Vincent Novak commendably acknowledges the lifesaving quick-thinking of construction workers. Complaints range from Dorothy Krasiker's frustration with the ineffective enforcement of NYC's plastic bag ban, to Valarie Matta's alarm regarding the shortage of lifeguards at Coney Island's crowded beaches. Jessica Balter criticizes the local authorities for the perceived misallocation of resources, given the lack of qualified lifeguards at NYC beaches.
