Lisa Dix, Sierra Club, 631-235-4988, lisa.dix@sierraclub.org
Farmingdale, NY – Today the Long Island Power Authority and PSEG-Long Island released a long awaited draft plan for current and future energy needs for Long Island. New York has a target to source 50 percent of energy from renewables, including a target to add at least 2,400 megawatts of offshore wind power to New York’s grid, by 2030. The cost effective investments in offshore wind, energy efficiency and new renewable energy under the draft plan positions the utility to comply with New York State’s targets and outlines a bold path forward for transformation to a 21st century utility.
The three year study concluded that sinking more ratepayer funds in outdated fossil fuel power plants and building new gas plants is unnecessary given the high $5 billion cost, the reduced prices of natural gas and the fact that these outdated investments are not needed for grid reliability. Instead, the findings conclude that the most cost effective new investments will increase the growth of renewable energy from 2017 through 2030 in order to better balance and diversify Long Island’s energy needs and will stabilize and reduce costs for bill payers. The utility plans on adding 800 megawatts of offshore wind and solar in addition to 950 megawatts of rooftop solar, other renewables and energy saving measures.
In response, Lisa Dix, Sierra Club’s New York Senior Representative, released the following statement:
“The Sierra Club applauds the Long Island Power Authority and PSEG-Long Island’s bold progress in transforming Long Island's utility into a model for the nation.
Aggressive investments in energy efficiency, job creating renewable energy such as offshore wind and solar, and modern technologies like battery storage and electric vehicle charging infrastructure will not only slash costs for bill payers, but clean-up Long Island’s air and water, and protect our communities from the devastating impacts of climate disruption.
Investing in modern clean energy infrastructure will create thousands of new jobs and economic development opportunities for Long Island and will position Long Island and New York as a hub for new renewable energy industries.”