New York State

Sector: Regional Government

Population:

> 19,306,183 (2006)

Carbon Footprint:

> 80,976,290 metric tonnes CO₂e (2004)

TARGETS

> 10% reduction in emissions over 1998-2001 levels from power plants by 2019.
> 5% reduction in community CO₂e emissions from 1990 levels by 2010.
> 10% reduction in community CO₂e emissions from 1990 levels by 2020.
> 35% reduction in corporate energy by 2010.
> 25% electrical energy from renewables by 2013.
> 15% primary energy from renewables by 2020.

Achievements

> 19% electrical energy from renewables in 2004.
> 10% primary energy from renewables in 2002.

Benefits

> US$ 284 million annual projected savings for consumers through improved energy efficiency standards.
> US$ 800 million investment in energy efficiency and energy demand reduction in New York Energy Smart Program to 2005 with US$ 2 billion in present value benefits.
> US$ 25 million invested by NYSERDA for CNG, hybrid vehicles and fuel cells for transportation.

Low Carbon Solutions

Background

New York State is at the forefront of US State action on climate change. It ranks second in the number of financial incentives it offers for energy efficiency and second in the number of financial incentives it offers for renewable energy, with the underlying motivation for the incentives being reducing carbon emissions and the promotion of renewable energy use. To date, New York State has already implemented many effective strategies in minimising its carbon footprint and has significant potential for further development.

New York State is a member of the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI), a co-operative effort by nine Northeast and Mid-Atlantic States to discuss the design of a regional cap-and-trade programme initially covering CO₂ emissions from power plants in the region. In the future, RGGI may be extended to include other sources of GHG emissions, and GHGs other than CO₂.

In 1996, the State enacted the New York Energy $mart Program with the objective of improving energy efficiency, reducing the environmental impacts of energy production and consumption, and facilitating competition in electricity markets to benefit end-users. The programme is a partnership between the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) and the Public Service Commission (PSE) and is funded by a surcharge on customers’ bills on the electricity transmitted and distributed by the State’s investor-owned utilities. Proceeds support energy efficiency, renewable energy, education and outreach, research and development, and low-income energy assistance.
NYSERDA makes use of the Energy Star Program, which continually conducts product reviews, certifying only the most efficient appliances and equipment. Relying on this programme, NYSERDA was able to reduce internal staff time devoted to certifying selected air conditioners and instead utilise the expertise of a national certification effort. NYSERDA also implemented the Keep Cool Air Conditioner Bounty Program (Keep Cool) in August of 2000 to reduce the number of inefficient air conditioners in use throughout the State. By increasing energy efficiency during summer months, the State hoped to reduce peak demand for energy during the warmest months of the year. Through Keep Cool, residents, multi-family building owners, and management companies receive a US$ 75 bounty payment upon the return of older, working room air conditioners alongside the purchase of a new Energy Star room air conditioner. Old air conditioners are recycled in an environmentally sensitive manner through a contract the State has bid competitively. The Appliance and Equipment Energy Efficiency Standards Act of 2005 sets energy efficiency standards for appliances not covered by the National Appliance Energy Conservation Act of 1987 such as ceiling fan and light kits; commercial washing machines; commercial refrigerators, freezers, and icemakers; torchiere lighting fixtures; and other commercial and household items.
Under the authority of Executive Order 11, all State agencies, departments, and authorities are required to reduce energy use by 35% by 2010 relative to 1990 levels.

Implemented in 2005, New York State’s Renewable Portfolio Standard (RPS) aims to increase the amount of electricity generated from renewable resources to at least 25% of the State’s supply by the end of 2013. Eligible renewable sources include methane digesters and other forms of biomass, liquid biofuels, fuel cells, hydroelectric power, photovoltaic (PV), ocean or tidal power, and wind power. This increase is expected to add 3,700MW of renewable energy capacity over 2005 levels. The RPS programme is funded by proceeds collected by the State’s investor-owned utilities. Under the authority of Executive Order 111, NY State government will purchase at least 20% of its electric power from renewable energy resources and convert all light-duty vehicles in the government’s fleet to be alternative-fuel vehicles by 2010.
Former Governor Pataki signed into law two bills to promote the use of solar energy in New York State by offering homeowners tax incentives that would reduce the net cost of solar installation. The bills will encourage the use of clean, alternative sources of renewable energy and better protect New York’s environment. The legislation exempts solar energy system equipment from sales and uses taxes and gives municipalities the option of granting local exemptions. A second bill broadens the existing personal income tax credit for solar electric generating equipment to also include equipment using solar radiation to provide heating, cooling and/or hot water.

In 2003, former New York Governor George Pataki spearheaded the effort in launching the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI), an agreement between nine Northeast and Mid-Atlantic States to cap CO₂ emissions from power plants and achieve significant reductions in GHG production by 2019. Participating States agreed to a 10% reduction in emissions over 1998-2001 levels from power plants by 2019 under a market-based cap-and-trade programme. All of the nine Northeast and Mid-Atlantic states are in various stages of studying or implementing programmes to reduce GHG emissions. Current New York Governor Eliot Spitzer has already committed to working with the RGGI governors in order to expand the programme, including capping emissions from other sources in addition to power plants.
In addition to spearheading the RGGI, former New York Governor George Pataki directed State agencies and authorities to be more energy efficient and environmentally aware when he signed Executive Order 111 on June 2001. Under this Order, at least 20% of the State government’s electricity must be generated from renewable sources (i.e. wind, solar thermal, solar PV, managed biomass, tidal, geothermal, methane waste and fuel cells) by 2010. The Order also calls for all light-duty vehicles in the government’s fleet to be alternative-fuel vehicles by 2010.

In 2000, Governor Pataki signed legislation to enact a State tax credit for the construction and rehabilitation of “green buildings.” This tax credit, a first-of-its-kind in the US, promotes improved environmental standards in the design and construction of buildings in New York.

The Clean-Fueled Bus Program, administered by the NYSERDA, provides funding for the incremental cost of a clean-fuelled bus over a diesel bus. Since it began, the programme has provided US$ 21 million to put 378 clean-fuelled buses on the streets of New York. The programme already displaces 3 million gallons of diesel fuel per year. The use of compressed natural gas (CNG) to power buses in the place of diesel fuel buses results in a reduction in CO₂, NOx, and PM-10 emissions, and hybrid-electric buses, while they do use diesel fuel, enjoy 30% fuel savings because of the electric drive. The programme has led to a reduction of 840 tons of NOx, 46 tons of PM-10, and 111,000 tons of CO₂ per year. The Metropolitan Transportation Authority is planning to order at least 200 more hybrid-electric buses for New York City under this programme; the Central New York Transportation Authority will purchase seven CNG transit buses in Syracuse; the Rochester-Genesee Regional Transportation Authority will add ten CNG buses; and Tompkins County plans to buy two hybrid-electric buses.
The Advanced Travel Center Electrification system is currently being tested by the NYSERDA. The system aims to cut down on the diesel fuel that is consumed by professional truck drivers when they rest in the sleeper compartments built into their vehicles, most often leaving the engines on in order to use the heating and cooling systems. The system, designed by IdleAire Technologies Corporation, provides drivers with heat and air conditioning, power, Internet and phone connections, television, and other services when they want to rest, while allowing the truck engines to be shut off, saving money and fuel. The technology is installed at parking spaces. It is estimated that the Advanced Center Electrification System saves 6,424 gallons of diesel fuel per parking space each year. Each parking space equipped with the technology results in a net reduction of 47.5 tons of CO₂ and 0.37 tons of NOx per year. New York’s 44-unit pilot project, therefore, will save over 282,000 gallons of fuel, 2000 tons of CO₂, and 16 tons of NOx per year. Approximately 1 gallon of diesel fuel is consumed during every hour of idling. At an average of US$ 1.65 per gallon, the cost of an 8-hour layover is roughly US$ 13.20. ATE technology currently costs US$ 11.20 for the same period of time.