Democratic Governor Andrew Cuomo on Jan. 17 announced new goals as part of the state’s “Green New Deal” to achieve 100 percent carbon-free electricity by 2040. The initiative, outlined in Cuomo’s 2019 policy agenda, calls for an offshore wind target of 9 gigawatts by 2035, up from 2.4 gigawatts by 2030, adding to the combined commitments of east coast states that are leading efforts to revive the industry with aggressive goals and contracts. The plan also sets a distributed solar goal of 6 gigawatts by 2025, up from 3 gigawatts by 2023, and calls for deploying 3 gigawatts of energy storage by 2030. The carbon neutrality goal is centered on increasing the Clean Energy Standard from 50 percent to 70 percent of renewable generation by 2030. The initiative sets New York on a path to decarbonize its power sector five years ahead of California.

Cuomo said the state would invest up to $200 million in port infrastructure to match private sector investment to facilitate regional development of offshore wind. The plan seeks to establish a New York State Advisory Council on Offshore Wind Economic and Workforce Development as well as an offshore wind training center to aid in the development of skills and safety training required in the construction of wind farms.

The Green New Deal package includes the state’s first Climate Action Council to develop a comprehensive strategy to achieve carbon neutrality by cutting emissions from all major sources, including electricity, transportation, buildings, industry, commercial activity, and agriculture. The council will consider the possibility of coordinating with the U.S. Climate Alliance to create a multi-state emissions reduction program for all sectors of the economy.

Among other things, the plan would advance legislative changes to enhance building energy codes and establish appliance efficiency standards, direct state agencies to adhere to the strongest efficiency and sustainability standards, and develop a “net zero roadmap” to layout a path for carbon neutrality in buildings statewide.

Cuomo also announced 1.5 billion in competitive awards that will support 20 large-scale solar, wind, and storage projects in upstate New York with a total capacity of 1.65 gigawatts.