N.Y. clean power plan adds teeth to Cuomo strategy
By Peter Behr, E&E reporter.
Monday, August 1, 2016 - New York state's Public Service Commission is expected to give formal approval today to key parts of Gov. Andrew Cuomo's bold clean energy plan, committing the state to a rapid expansion of wind and solar power so that half its electric power will come from renewable sources and nuclear plants by 2030.
But while the Democratic governor has the backing of state energy regulators for his transformational Reforming the Energy Vision utility strategy and his renewable energy goal, he faces new friction with the state's electricity grid and power market manager, the New York Independent System Operator (NYISO).
The NYISO last month urged the PSC to hold up final regulatory approval of the "50 by 30" clean power standard until planners can map out how much new transmission lines will be needed to move large volumes of new renewable energy from the thinly settled upstate counties to customers in metropolitan New York City. As much as 1,000 miles of additional high-voltage circuits may be required, the NYISO said.