Clean Energy Initiatives

Building a clean, resilient, reliable, and affordable energy system for all New Yorkers.

The Public Service Commission (PSC), supported by the Department of Public Service, seeks to stimulate effective competitive Clean Energy Markets with strategic investments, innovations in energy products and services to achieve New York’s clean energy targets as outlined in the Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act (Climate Act).

The Climate Act requires New York to reduce economy-wide greenhouse gas emissions 40 percent by 2030 and no less than 85 percent by 2050 from 1990 levels by increasing renewable energy use and ensuring all communities equitably benefit in the clean energy transition. It also requires the establishment of a renewable energy program, as now codified in the Public Service Law.

In particular, Section 66-p of the Public Service Law directs the PSC to “establish a program” whereby:

1. jurisdictional load serving entities (LSEs) have secured adequate amounts of renewable energy resources to serve at least 70% of load in 2030 (referred to as the “2030 Target” or “70 by 30 Target”), and
2. there are zero emissions in 2040 associated with electrical demand (referred to as the “2040 Zero Emission Target”).

In addition, the Climate Act directs the establishment of programs for the procurement of specific technologies, including the deployment of 6 GW of photovoltaic solar generation by 2025, 3 GW of energy storage resources by 2030, and at least 9 GW of offshore wind by 2035.

Clean Energy Standard

New York’s Clean Energy Standard (CES) is designed to fight climate change, reduce harmful air pollution, and ensure a diverse and reliable low carbon energy supply.​​​​ CES is proceeding on a Motion of the NYS Public Service Commission to Implement a Large-Scale Renewable Program and a Clean Energy Standard. It encompasses Large Scale Renewables, Land Based PV, Land Based Wind and Off-Shore Wind.

Find more information about New York's Clean Energy Standard on NYSERDA's CES web page. 

Documents and public comments submitted as part of this proceeding are publicly available by going to DMM Case 15-E-0302.

Tier 2 Maintenance Application Worksheet (March 2022)

Offshore Wind  

As part of the Clean Energy Standard, the NYS Public Service Commission recognized the potential for offshore wind production as a renewable energy resource that is secure, reliable,  and cost-effective. The Climate Act calls for the development of 9,000 megawatts of offshore wind energy by 2035.

• Encompasses Offshore Wind Procurement

The Clean Energy Fund (CEF) reinforces New York's commitment to accelerate the growth of the clean energy economy. It provides long term funding certainty to local businesses and significant flexibility to the administrators of the State's clean energy programs.

The CEF encompasses four major portfolios:

• Innovation and Research: The CEF helps to spur innovations through research and technology development that will drive clean-tech business growth and job creation while providing more energy choices to residential and business customers.
• Market Development: The New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) offers a variety of activities to stimulate consumer demand for clean energy alternatives and energy efficiency while building clean energy supply chains to meet growing customer demand. Information on Market Development can be found in DMM Case 14-M-0094 and in Matter 16-00681.
• NY Green Bank: The NY Green Bank accelerates the deployment of clean energy through a variety of financing tools targeted at alleviating financial market barriers and harnessing capital markets. The NY Green Bank leverages private sector investment, expands the availability of capital and increases confidence in lending for clean energy projects. More information on the NY Green Bank can be found in DMM Case 13-M-0412.
• NY-Sun: The NY-Sun Program is making solar energy more accessible to homes, businesses and communities throughout New York while on track to meet the Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act target of 6 gigawatts (GW) by 2025. More information on NY-Sun can be found in DMM Case 19-E-0735 or on NYSERDA's Solar Projects webpage.

View NYSERDA's Clean Energy Dashboard for a snapshot of program activity by electric and gas utilities and NYSERDA.

This proceeding addresses the mechanism to compensate energy generated by distributed energy resources such as solar photovoltaic, energy storage, combined heat and power, anaerobic digesters, wind turbines and small hydro and fuel cells.

• Encompasses the Value Stack, Rate Design, CDG, Standby Rates, Technology-Neutral Optional Rate, Net Metering, MCOS

Energy Storage Deployment Program 

• Encompasses Utility Requests for Proposals, and NYSERDA’s Retail and Wholesale Programs.

Electric Vehicle Infrastructure

Proceeding on Motion of the Commission Regarding Electric Vehicle Supply Equipment and Infrastructure. This proceeding addresses clean and reliable transportation in NYS to help meet the goal of 40% greenhouse gas reduction by 85% from 1990 levels by 2050 as well as the goal to phase out new sales of fossil fuel-burning cars by 2035, with a 2045 target for trucks and buses. 

• Encompasses the EV Infrastructure Make Ready and Managed Charging Programs

For more information, view DMM Case 18-E-0138.

Related: Electric Vehicle Infrastructure and Interconnection Working Group
 

Medium- and Heavy-Duty Electric Vehicle Charging Infrastructure

Proceeding on Motion of the Commission to Address Barriers to Medium- and Heavy-Duty Electric Vehicle Charging Infrastructure.

For more information, view DMM Case 23-E-0070.

Commercial EV Rate Design

Staff proposed an alternative to traditional demand-based rates (Managed charging and a demand charge phase-in rate).

For more information, view DMM Case 22-E-0236.

Residential EV Charging Tariff

Time-of-use rates, with one-year bill guarantee. For more information, view DMM Case 18-E-0206.

Energy Efficiency NE:NY

Proceeding in the Matter of a Comprehensive Energy Efficiency Initiative. New York is committed to achieving its energy efficiency goals through this initiative with a fuel neutral savings target of 31 TBtu (trillion British thermal units), heat pump deployment target of 5 TBtu and an annual reduction of 3% in electricity sales by 2025 of which 20% of the incremental energy efficiency funding targets the LMI customer segment.

• Encompasses the Utility Based Energy Efficiency, Utilities Roles, Planning, Investment, Electrification, and Heat Pumps

For history and current information, view DMM Case 18-M-0084.

For related documents and resources, visit the Clean Energy Guidance Documents page. 
 

New York State Clean Heat Program

The Clean Heat Program, which all the major utilities participate in along with support from NYSERDA, promotes the electrification of space and water heating by offering contractor and customer incentives for the installation of air- and ground-source heat pumps.

Technical Resource Manual

The New York Standard Approach for Estimating Energy Savings from Energy Efficiency Programs - Residential, Multi-Family, and Commercial/Industrial, known as the Technical Resource Manual (TRM), provides a standardized, fair, and transparent approach for measuring program energy savings across New York State’s energy efficiency programs. Visit the Technical Resource Manual page.

Energy Efficiency Benefit Cost Analysis

In its January 21, 2016 Order Establishing the Benefit Cost Analysis Framework, the Commission adopted a Benefit Cost Analysis (BCA) framework that, among other things, established the Societal Cost Test (SCT) as the primary determinative test for Commission consideration. Visit the EE BCA Filing Requirements page.

Legacy Energy Efficiency Proceedings

• Renewable Portfolio Standard
• System Benefits Charge

Clean Energy Dashboard

Visit the NYSERDA Clean Energy Dashboard.