Cuomo's Game-Changing Commitment to Codify Clean Energy Goal into Law

New York Governor Andrew Cuomo 

Albany – In the State Energy Plan released earlier this year, Governor Andrew Cuomo committed to generating half of New York's electricity from clean renewable sources by 2030. Last night, the New York Times broke that the Governor intends to codify that goal into state law. 

Peter Iwanowicz, Executive Director of Environmental Advocates of New York, issued the following statement regarding the governor's intent. 

“Governor Cuomo's pledge to codify his clean energy goals into law is a game-changer. This turns aspiration into reality and provides New York the blueprint we need to ramp up the generation of clean energy. That means cleaner air, healthier families, and a huge shift from the dirty ways of the past toward a growing green economy.

"On the eve of the Paris climate negotiations and with the U.S. Congress actively working to block progress, this is the kind of climate leadership the world needs to see to know the United States is a serious partner.

"If we are to reap the economic, environmental and health benefits, setting climate and clean energy goals into law must be a top priority for Senate Majority Leader John Flanagan and Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie in 2016. The State has had this promise on the books since 2009, and the Cuomo Administration is providing the roadmap for achieving it. The Legislature has every reason to support this effort, and no justification for failing to act. 

"Environmental Advocates of New York proudly applauds Governor Cuomo and his administration for taking this crucial step, and are ready to partner with him and state legislators to ensure that New York keeps its climate commitments by setting our clean energy goal into law.”

 

Source: Environmental Advocates of New York