Advocates worry Gov. Hochul may 'move the goalposts' on climate action

At the biggest environmental event of the year in New York City, numerous advocates, politicians and business leaders worried that self-professed climate “champion” Gov. Kathy Hochul is on the verge of walking back the state’s ambitious emissions goals and deadlines.

Climate Week NYC concluded recently after more than 600 events featuring industry and environmental insiders from around the globe discussing ideas, solutions and challenges surrounding the climate crisis.

At events focusing on climate problems facing New York City and state, Hochul’s name kept coming up. Speakers frequently noted that Hochul’s pause of congestion pricing missed an opportunity to reduce pollution in Manhattan from vehicles. They feared her recent comments about the “collateral damage” of climate goals augured a delay to emissions reduction targets set for 2030 and beyond. Any move to pump the brakes on clean energy goals could undermine Hochul's claims to be a "climate advocate" and a "huge champion" of environmental issues.

“It's premature to move the goalposts,” said Noah Ginsburg, executive director at New York Solar Energy Industries Association, whose group participated in a Climate Week panel.

A July report from the state’s research and development authority found that New York is far behind on its renewable energy goal of 70% clean power by 2030. At the current rate, New York will reach only 44% clean power by 2030. Ginsburg was among the many speakers who said Hochul should be redoubling efforts to reach that goal.

“Six years is a long time and there's a lot that we can do,” he said.

But many environmentally friendly business groups and politicians said the state government is an obstacle to climate goals. They said that Hochul should do more to expedite climate projects and boost cooperation from energy utilities.

In a statement, Hochul spokesperson Paul DeMichele said “we will continue our ongoing efforts to build a clean energy economy and tackle the climate crisis.”

But Hochul’s recent statements are more nuanced. In July, she drew a parallel between her pause on congestion pricing and the costs of climate-friendly upgrades for homeowners.

“I have to step back and say, ‘what is the cost on a typical New York family?’ Just like I did with congestion pricing,” Hochul said, noting she needed to think about the cost of transitioning a home away from heating oil or natural gas.

“We’re going to get to our goals. But if we miss it by a couple of years – which is probably what will happen – the goals are still worthy, but we have to think about the collateral damages… either mitigate them, or you have to rethink them.”

State Sen. Liz Krueger, who spoke at NYC Climate Week, said Hochul was listening too much to representatives of the fossil fuel industry.

“Just move quicker and stop listening to the companies in the old energy businesses when they tell you in a doomsayer kind of way: 'We can't get there. We can't stop using oil and gas,'” Krueger said. “The future is in renewable green energy.”

As Climate Week got underway, a group of environmental groups, including Alliance for Clean Energy, sent Hochul a 10-point plan on how to meet the state’s climate goals.

At the top of the list was a request that Hochul direct all state agencies to “facilitate and expedite Climate Act implementation,” including by removing roadblocks put in place by local governments. A 2023 study conducted by Cornell University found that 42% of rural upstate residents opposed large-scale renewable power in their communities.

“We've got a really big gap to close and this, and it's because of the utility-scale projects falling behind,” Ginsburg said.

Marguerite Wells, executive director at Alliance for Clean Energy New York, added that many renewable energy projects that have been approved are sitting idle because of supply chain issues during the pandemic and inflation. She said the state recommended terminating many of those contracts and starting from scratch, instead of adjusting them for inflation.

Last year, the state’s research and development authority estimated with all the renewable projects under contract that the state would be at 66% clean energy – nearly at the 70% goal. Krueger emphasized that time is of the essence.

“We don't control the schedule. It's planetary change and crisis that is controlling the schedule,” she said.