ALBANY, New York — President Donald Trump’s quashing of offshore wind projects — on top of rising costs for new renewables, affordability concerns and growing electricity demand — have put New York’s 2030 target for 70 percent renewables out of reach. But the state’s Public Service Commission, which is responsible for achieving the goal, declined to make that official Thursday.
Instead, the commission tweaked current policies and kicked off a wholesale review of the state’s renewable energy development efforts, acknowledging the status quo hasn’t succeeded.
“We have a wide array of challenges we need to overcome,” Public Service Commission Chair Rory Christian said at a commission meeting Thursday. “The dynamic realities of project development has shown us that we are taking what I view to be a measured approach towards putting ourselves in a position to meet those goals.”
Why it matters: Rising costs, Trump’s election and the sharp pivot in federal policy on renewables have made achieving decarbonization goals a far heavier lift — with the state and ultimately its residents likely having to pay more for the upfront investments needed.
