Albany Can Benefit From More Clean Energy

 

Report

Across New York State, clean energy is booming – reducing pollution, cleaning our air, creating jobs and saving money. Contributing to the boom is the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative – America’s best regional clean air and climate program – which is limiting pollution and generating funding for clean energy programs.

But we can do much more. We have the tools to power our society entirely with clean energy sources like the wind and the sun, while also using energy more efficiently. Clean energy can help protect Albany from the worst impacts of global warming, such as heat waves and flooding, and build a healthier and more prosperous future.

To accelerate our progress, New York and other Northeastern states should double the strength of the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative to help create an even stronger market for clean energy.

Here’s how more clean energy can benefit Albany – and New York State:

New York State Has Immense Renewable Energy Potential

New York could generate nearly five times more electricity with solar and wind power than it uses in the course of a year. Tapping even a fraction of that potential could enable New York State to power itself entirely with clean energy. 

Clean Energy Can Replace Dirty Fuels

New York State has the potential to generate nearly 12 times more electricity from wind and solar than is currently produced by polluting fuels, like gas, in the state. 

Albany’s Rooftops Can Generate Clean Electricity Locally

More than 8 out of 10 small buildings in Albany have the potential to host rooftop solar panels – providing reliable electricity for residents and reducing dependence on fossil fuels, according to data from the U.S. Department of Energy. 

New York State Has Tremendous, Untapped Wind Energy Potential

New York has the potential to produce enough power with onshore and offshore wind turbines to power all of the homes in New York State 11 times over. 

Energy Efficiency Is Saving Money and Cutting Pollution

New York State ranks 5th (tied with Connecticut) among states for energy efficiency, according to the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy. Energy efficiency programs implemented in 2015 in New York State saved enough energy to power all the homes in Albany County twice over. 

Clean Energy Creates Jobs

Nearly 500 people in the Albany area are employed in solar energy. Across the state, more than 12,000 people work in renewable energy while another 69,000 people have energy efficiency jobs. 

Renewable Energy is Good Business

Businesses and organizations in Albany and across New York benefit from a growing clean energy economy. For example, funding generated in part by New York State’s participation in the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative has helped a Latham efficiency company go from conceptualization to commercialization. H2Pump creates technology that reduces up to 90% of the hydrogen gas, a contributor to global warming, needed in certain manufacturing processes, like steel production. 

Stronger Action Will Make Us Healthier

Clean air means better health. In its first six years, the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative saved 130 lives in New York State and prevented 11,000 missed work days due to respiratory illness, according to Abt Associates. Cutting pollution faster would save even more lives and improve public health in New York. 

Stronger Action Will Boost Our Economy

Between 2009 and 2014, the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative boosted New York State’s economy by $730 million, according to reports by Analysis Group. Doubling the strength of the program as part of a larger climate change program could reduce energy bills in the nine participating states by $25 billion and create nearly 60,000 new jobs, according to a report by the Sierra Club. 

New York State Should Take the Lead

New York State has set strong goals on clean energy and fighting climate change – now it’s time to achieve them. Governor Cuomo should double the pace at which New York is cutting pollution and investing in clean energy. In 2017, the state should strengthen the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative to cut carbon pollution by 5 percent per year – and persuade neighboring states to do the same. 

 

Citations:

1. Pg 1: Renewable potential chart heading Renewable energy potential: National Renewable Energy Laboratory, “United States Renewable Energy Technical Potential,” 2012 for wind, 2016 for solar, available at: www.nrel.gov/gis/re_potential.html; Current consumption: U.S. Energy Information Administration, “State Electricity Profiles,” 2015, available at: www.eia.gov/electricity/state

2. Pg 2: “polluting fuels, like gas, in the state.” Renewable energy potential: Ibid., Fossil fuel generation: U.S. Energy Information Administration, “State Electric Power Industry Generation by Primary Energy Source,” 2014, available at www.eia.gov/electricity/data/state

3. Pg 2: “data from the U.S. Department of Energy.” U.S. Department of Energy, State & Local Energy Data, “Buildings and Industry Summary,” available at apps1.eere.energy.gov/sled/#

4. Pg 2: “STATE X times over.” Wind potential: see note 1; Household energy usage: U.S. Energy Information Administration, “Average Monthly Residential Electricity Consumption, Prices, and Bills by State,” available at www.eia.gov/tools/faqs/faq.cfm?id=97&t=3; Homes: U.S. Census Bureau, “Quick Facts,” available at www.census.gov/quickfacts

5. Pg 3: American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy, “State Energy Efficiency Scorecard,” 2016, available at aceee.org/state-policy/scorecard

6. “homes in PLACE X times.” Savings: American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy, “Net Incremental Savings From Electricity Efficiency,” 2015, available at database.aceee.org/sites/default/files/docs/spending-savings-tables.pdf; Home energy usage: Household energy usage: U.S. Energy Information Administration, “Average Monthly Residential Electricity Consumption, Prices, and Bills by State,” available at www.eia.gov/tools/faqs/faq.cfm?id=97&t=3; Homes: Point2Homes, “Albany County Demographics,” available at www.point2homes.com/US/Neighborhood/NY/Albany-County-Demographics.html

7. pg 3: Solar local: The Solar Foundation, 2015 National and State Solar Jobs Census, www.thesolarfoundation.org/solar-jobs-census; New York State: Environmental Entrepreneurs et al., Clean Jobs New York, May 2016

8. Pg 3: Environmental Advocates of New York, RGGI: A National Model for Fighting Climate Change, August 2013.

9. Pg 4: “due to respiratory illness.” Abt Associates, Analysis of the Public Health Impacts of the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative, 2009-2014, January 2017

10. pg 4: “according to reports by Analysis Group.” Analysis Group, The Economic Impacts of the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative on Nine Northeast and Mid-Atlantic States, First and Second Three-Year Compliance Reviews, 2011 and 2015

11. pg 4: “report by the Sierra Club.” Sierra Club, Pace Energy and Climate Center, and Chesapeake Climate Action Network, The RGGI Opportunity 2.0, 4 March 2016