Chautauqua County Executive PJ Wendel discusses some recent retirements by government officials and staff, as well as sharing more information a planned integration of social services with mental hygiene; and his thoughts on the new scoping plan approved by the NYS Climate Action Council.

PJ Wendel

The Scoping Plan’s recommendations are meant to significantly reduce greenhouse gas emissions, drive critical building and transportation electrification, secure climate justice, and advance the State’s commitment to economy-wide carbon neutrality by 2050

The Plan outlines actions needed for New York to achieve:
– 70 percent renewable energy by 2030;
– 100 percent zero-emission electricity by 2040;
– a 40-percent reduction in statewide greenhouse gas emissions from 1990 levels by 2030,
– an 85-percent reduction from 1990 levels by 2050;
– and net-zero emissions statewide by 2050.

State Senator George Borrello issued a statement critical of the plan, saying the state is moving away from affordable and reliable sources of energy.

He said the core of the plan are bans on the most common energy sources used by New York consumers and businesses. This includes bans on new natural gas, propane and heating fuel oil systems will start as soon as 2025 for new construction and in 2030 for existing buildings. Starting in 2035, consumers will no longer be able to purchase natural gas, propane or fuel oil appliances for heating, cooking, or clothes drying. Gasoline-powered automobiles will be banned for sale in New York starting in 2035.

Borrello added that the plan does not address costs for conversion and that none of the mandates should move forward until a comprehensive cost benefit analysis is completed.

The Commission decision slashed the proposed rate increase by more than one-third. National Grid had requested an increase of approximately $100.4 million in electric delivery revenues and an increase of approximately $41.8 million in natural gas delivery revenues.

The decision will keep annual electric and gas increases for National Grid customers below 2% for the next three years.

The Commission adopted a joint proposal that contains provisions to further the objectives of the Climate Act and respond to the economic conditions created by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Total electric bills for typical residential customers using 600 kilowatts per month would increase by between 2.02% and 2.2% in the first year, 1.98% and 2.12% in second year, and 2.24% and 2.4% in the third year, depending on the location of customers within the company’s service territory. Total gas bills for typical residential customers using 82 therms per month would increase by 1.99% in the first year, 3.13% in the second year, and 3.29% in the third year.

In upstate New York, National Grid provides electric service to approximately 1.6 million customers and gas service to approximately 600,000 customers.

New York State’s Climate Action Council, Department of Environmental Conservation, and New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) announced the release of the plan which describes recommended policies and actions to help New York meet its ambitious climate directives as part of the Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act (Climate Act).

The Draft Scoping Plan, found at https://climate.ny.gov/, is available for a 120-day public comment period that started January 1. Residents may submit comments online, by email at scopingplan@nyserda.ny.gov, and via U.S. mail to Attention: Draft Scoping Plan Comments, NYSERDA, 17 Columbia Circle, Albany, NY 12203-6399.

The public comment period will also include at least six public hearings across the State. Details and information about how to participate in the public hearings will be announced in early 2022.

The Climate Action Council’s seven advisory panels – Transportation, Agriculture and Forestry, Land Use and Local Government, Power Generation, Energy Efficiency and Housing, Energy Intensive and Trade Exposed Industries, and Waste – along with the Climate Justice Working Group and Just Transition Working Group, submitted recommendations for the Climate Action Council to consider in the development of the Draft Scoping Plan that will help guide the State in achieving its statutory obligations under the Climate Act to significantly reduce greenhouse gas emissions, increase renewable energy development, ensure climate justice, and advance the State’s commitment to carbon neutrality economy-wide by 2050.

The recommendations from the advisory panels, along with feedback from the Climate Justice Working Group, helped to advance an integration analysis process, which provided a cost-benefit assessment of the strategies under consideration accounting for emissions reductions and health benefits.

The Draft Scoping Plan has now been submitted to the Governor and the Legislature. Public input received on the plan will be used by the Climate Action Council to help develop the Final Scoping Plan, which will be posted online and delivered to the Governor and the Legislature by January 1, 2023. The DEC will release regulations based on the plan by January 1, 2024.