Calling N.Y.’s renewable goal a ‘moral imperative,’ environmental groups oppose likely delay

NEW YORK — Gov. Kathy Hochul’s administration has acknowledged for the first time that the state’s renewable target is out of reach.

New York has enough existing and underdevelopment renewables to reach about 44 percent in 2030 — far from its 70 percent goal, according to a review of progress under the state’s climate law released last Monday. Closing that gap is not feasible, state agencies asserted.

So the state’s Public Service Commission will consider a change to the statutory target, Chair Rory Christian said in an interview Monday, noting the entity “is authorized to do so under the Public Service Law.”

Weakening the statutory target will face staunch opposition from environmental advocates.