New York Sets Ambitious Energy Efficiency Targets

The new energy efficiency target for investor-owned utilities will more than double utility energy efficiency progress by 2025.

In order to Meet New York’s Clean Energy Goals, Governor Andrew M. Cuomo today announced two initiatives to dramatically increase New York’s energy efficiency and energy storage targets to combat climate change.

The new energy efficiency target for investor-owned utilities will more than double utility energy efficiency progress by 2025, reducing the state’s energy consumption by the equivalent of fueling and powering 1.8 million homes.

The energy storage initiative sets New York on a trajectory to achieve 1,500 megawatts of storage by 2025, enough electricity to power 1.2 million homes, and up to 3,000 megawatts by 2030.

“As the federal government continues to ignore the real and imminent dangers of climate change, New York is aggressively pursuing clean energy alternatives to protect our environment and conserve resources,” Governor Cuomo said.

“These unprecedented energy efficiency and energy storage targets will set a standard for the rest of the nation to follow, while supporting and creating jobs in these cutting-edge renewable industries,” he added.

The associated reduction of carbon pollution resulting from this nation-leading initiative will bring an additional $1.8 billion in societal and environmental benefits and will continue to grow employment opportunities in the energy efficiency field.

Energy efficiency firms employed over 117,000 people in New York in 2017, and employers expect jobs to grow by nearly 6 percent by the end of 2018. If this rate continues through 2025, approximately 50,000 new jobs will be created.

New York State Energy Research and Development Authority plans to provide training to at least 20,000 potential employees in the energy efficiency industry.