As preparations become finalized for New York's energy summit in Syracuse next week, Republican lawmakers are urging the state leaders and global experts who will participate to make a cost analysis of New York's clean energy goals and reliability of the electric grid part of the conversation.
Environmental experts, state agencies, power producers, labor groups and others will be part of the two-day Future Energy Economy Summit at the Syracuse Marriott Downtown hotel.
Several details about the Sept. 4-5 summit remain under wraps, but will be centered on transitioning away from dependence on fossil fuels. Hochul's office has publicly announced expected topics, but not specific speakers for each scheduled panel discussions.
Stakeholders have said they hope the summit will provide clarity on delaying the state's timeline to meet emission reduction goals set under the 2019 Climate Act, after a recent state report showed New York is not on track to transition to 70% renewable energy by 2030.
"We need to know what the impact is going to be for every New Yorker, and most importantly, for our economy," said state Sen. George Borrello, a Republican member of the Senate Energy and Telecommunications Committee.
New York Republicans are pushing to delay the Climate Act's emission reduction mandates and give the state more time to afford the change.
Dozens of state business leaders have also questioned if the state mandates are feasible, or realistic.
High inflation and supply chain issues have increased costs and impeded clean energy construction projects. And several state agencies have failed to keep pace with the timeline written in state law.
"The state drags its feet, and now because the state dragged its feet, they might miss the deadlines," NYPIRG Executive Director Blair Horner said Tuesday. "And that's seized on as an opportunity for those who oppose the climate law and want to slow down the parade even further."
Republicans argue the need for next week's summit shows the state's ambitious clean energy mandates set under the 2019 Climate Act aren't the right approach.
The Senate GOP released an agenda this week of legislative proposals they argue would equally protect the environment and taxpayers' pockets — urging state and federal leaders to include analysis of the expected cost of the initiatives and impact on New Yorkers next week.
"We want to offer New Yorkers a common-sense alternative to what the Democrats are offering and the governor is offering," Borrello said.
The senator said Democrats, who have a legislative supermajority, have not run a sufficient cost analysis of the green energy mandates. And he's perplexed by a lack of answers about the reliability of the electric grid to sustain the state's electrification requirements.
Assembly Republicans sponsor about 7,000 affordable energy bills intended to direct burden of clean energy projects off New York ratepayers.
Assemblyman Phil Palmesano, the ranking Republican on the Assembly Energy Committee, is concerned the expensive projects will not put a dent in global greenhouse gas emissions, and that more New Yorkers will leave the state if they're shouldered with the costs.
"We owe the voters and businesses accountability on this," Palmesano said. "If we're going to put this implementation plan in, it's going to cost billions and billions of dollars. Why not have an up or down vote on it?"
Horner, who is considering attending next week's summit, said the upcoming conversation is critical as the state weighs delaying its clean energy deadlines.
"The problem is, of course, if you believe the science, is there's no time to waste," he said. "And the last thing in the world New York should be doing, or the world, for that matter, is slowing down its effort to transition away from fossil fuels."
A spokesperson with Gov. Hochul's office said Tuesday the state is committed to advancing its clean energy goals, and would not answer questions about how much the state may push back its green energy goals set under the Climate Act.
"Under the status quo, New York consumers are stuck with dramatic fluctuations on utility bills and sky-high costs after extreme weather events," a spokesperson with Hochul's office said in a statement. "Gov. Hochul is advancing the clean energy revolution to protect New Yorkers, while investing $1.6 billion this year alone in energy affordability initiatives."
Last month, Hochul acknowledged the setbacks to renewable energy projects stemming from inflation and global supply chain issues, but told reporters that recent flooding events, tornadoes and other storms show the state's intended climate actions cannot wait.
"We're going to continue forging into a clean energy future to help protect our climate, help protect our environment, and I'm not deterred from hitting those goals," the governor said.