Gov. Cuomo issues strong plan to advance renewable energy and tackle carbon pollution

Environment New York

NEW YORK, N.Y.—Governor Andrew Cuomo announced today an ambitious plan to curb New York state’s carbon emissions by 40 percent by doubling the amount of power it gets from renewable energy to 50 percent, by 2030. The pollution reduction and clean energy targets would be the most ambitious in the nation, matched only by California. The plan comes as the United States Environmental Protection Agency gets ready to release the final Clean Power Plan, the nation’s first limit on global warming pollution from power plants, later this summer.

Environment New York State Director Heather Leibowitz issued the following statement:

“Governor Cuomo’s clean energy plan puts New York right where it should be—at the front of the pack. The goals in this plan are ambitious yet achievable, and put New York on a path toward national and international climate leadership. The plan also reinforces that cleaning up power plants is achievable, desirable and has real benefits for citizens and the world. Furthermore, it shows that states can accomplish much more than the minimum steps the federal government is asking states to take. 

“The effects of climate change are more and more evident across the country and the world every day—from Hurricane Sandy to the record drought in California—and we have an imperative to act now. The governor has created a blueprint for state action to reduce pollution and shift to clean renewable energy like wind and solar. 

“This is exactly the type of action we need from states across the country as we prepare for the international climate talks in Paris later this year and President Obama’s Clean Power Plan. We look forward to working with Governor Cuomo’s office to ensure this plan becomes a reality.”