ALBANY, N.Y. -- New York State now has a concrete plan to move toward renewable energy.
The Public Service Commission approved the Clean Energy Standard Monday.
It will require 50 percent of New York's electricity to come from renewable energy sources like wind and solar by 2030.
A controversial part of the plan includes 480 million dollars in zero emission credits over the next 12 years for qualifying nuclear plants.
Officials say that will help keep those plants operating as the state transitions to renewable sources, while also preserving jobs.
"The concept of not paying for the nuclear attributes and shutting them down now and looking at energy efficiency and renewables as a substitute is really not a practical solution," said Audrey Zibelman, Public Service Commission chair. "We could not possibly replace those carbon attributes."
Officials say the Clean Energy Standard will add less than two dollars a month to the average residential customer’s bill.