Energy Project
Climate Change
Nuclear Safety
Solid Waste
Toxics
Energy
Air Quality
Watershed Protection
Environment Home
Past energy policy choices have saddled New Yorkers with a whole host of problems. Power plants are the state’s largest source of industrial air pollution, contributing to climate change, mercury contamination and unhealthy air quality. Volatile energy markets and skyrocketing costs are hammering consumers.
Energy efficiency is the most cost-effective and “green” way of meeting New York’s energy need. Energy efficiency alone will not meet our energy needs—as we retire older, dirtier, or unsafe power plants, New York will need to develop new sources of energy to replace them. The state has adopted a “45 by 15” goal of reducing electricity consumption 15% below projected levels by 2015 and generating 30% of New York’s energy through renewable sources by 2015. Investments in energy efficiency and clean renewable technologies will save consumers money, improve air quality, protect New Yorkers’ health, create new jobs, and spur economic development. Transitioning to clean energy is essential for reducing greenhouse gas emissions and combating climate change.
NYPIRG is working on a number of fronts to ensure that New York meets its clean energy goals while protecting consumers. This includes monitoring the state’s energy and climate planning processes, supporting energy retrofits and home weatherization programs, advocating for wind and solar power, and working to ensure that state funds and incentives for energy efficiency and clean renewable energy are directed for their intended purpose rather than diverted for other purposes or used to support technologies that are not “clean,” such as garbage incineration, nuclear power, and “clean coal” projects. We also work directly with individuals and businesses to promote energy conservation and renewable energy.