Dr. Conca reports that the New York Public Service Commission (PSC) voted to approve a provision within the Clean Energy Standard (CES) that would value the emission-free energy that Upstate New York nuclear energy plants provide, finally recognizing that these plants are essential to meeting the state goal of reducing greenhouse gas emissions 40% by 2030. Since everyone agrees that this goal would be impossible to achieve without retaining the state existing nuclear power, this provision was critical. New York new Clean Energy Standard includes the following: 1. increase renewable electricity supply to achieve the 50% renewable by 2030 goal, 2. support construction of new renewable generation in New York State by providing up to 4.5 cents per kWh in federal and state subsidies, 3. prevent closure of emissions-free nuclear facilities by providing a 1.7 cents per kWh subsidy to upstate nuclear reactors, and 4. promote the progress of energy market reforms.
Utilities and energy service companies would be required to procure a percentage of their electricity from three tiers, or categories, of energy resources ... existing renewables, existing nuclear, or new renewables. Both anti-nuclear and pronuclear protesters were in Albany in force yesterday to demonstrate what they thought about nuclear as a clean energy source. Nuclear generates the most carbon-free electricity in New York, even more than hydro, and about ten times more than any renewable. The need to reduce carbon emissions is a priority in the state of New York and across the country, said Nuclear Matters co-chair former Senator Judd Gregg (R-NH). Yet, as we work to obtain a cleaner energy future, too many existing nuclear plants, which are responsible for the bulk of our carbon-free power, have had to shutter due to the fact that they have not been properly valued for the reliable and clean energy that they produce. As of today, though, this may no longer the case.
The original URL: https://www.forbes.com/sites/jamesconca/2016/08/02/new-york-state-considers-nuclear-a-clean-energy/#4107e4fc5b0c
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