NYPIRG ACTIVIST SEES CONTRADICTION IN NEW YORK’S ENERGY INVESTMENT

To the Editor,

Governor Cuomo’s announcement of a $1.5 billion initiative for renewable energy projects in New York State is a commendable move considering recent national actions on climate change, but it raises serious questions about his recent bailout of the nuclear industry. If a $1.5 billion investment into the renewable industry will create 40,000 jobs in New York by 2020, as the Governor claims, why is he taxing ratepayers $7.6 billion to save 600 nuclear jobs? It doesn’t add up. On top of that, the nuclear plants will only supply energy to Upstate New Yorkers through 2029, falling a year short of his Clean Energy Standard (CES) goal.

A $7.6 billion state investment in renewable energy and energy efficiency, if you use the governor’s calculations, could create 200,000 jobs, and be able to produce the necessary energy to fully replace unsafe nuclear power while phasing out fossil fuels. New Yorkers need clean, safe, economically sensible 21st century energy solutions. The state obviously has the capacity to do so.

Sincerely,

Eric Wood
NYPIRG,
Environmental Campaign Organizer

  CES, Clean Energy Standard, new york state, NY energy investment, NYPIRG