New York’s power sector should be aligned with its clean energy goals, including the State’s economy-wide Cap-and-Invest program.
We are Carbon Free New York
New York State has aggressive, renewable and clean energy goals embodied in the Climate Leadership Community Protection Act (CLCPA). To have any chance of meeting these goals, it needs every tool at its disposal, including the economywide Cap-and-Invest program.
We are a coalition of like-minded organizations dedicated to ensuring New York leads the nation in clean energy by decarbonizing its electricity sector via a Cap-and-Invest program. We advocate for the inclusion of the power sector in the state’s program to ensure polluters pay for their emissions, thereby accelerating the transition to a clean energy future.
Members of Carbon Free New York
Why We Care
Public Health
Carbon emissions severely impact public health in New York City, causing over 3,000 premature deaths, 2,000 hospital admissions, and 6,000 emergency room visits for asthma each year (State of the Planet) (City Limits). Reducing pollution is crucial for protecting health, especially in disadvantaged communities with higher exposure to pollutants.
Climate Change
Climate change, driven by carbon emissions, leads to severe weather, ecosystem disruption, and biodiversity loss in New York. The CLCPA targets a carbon-free electricity sector by 2040 and a net-zero carbon economy by 2050 to combat these effects (NYSERDA) (Department of Environmental Conservation).
Community Impact
Efficient policies will decarbonize New York's electricity sector at the lowest cost to consumers. A Cap-and-Invest program will cap emissions, drive clean technology investments, and stimulate green job creation, ensuring a sustainable future for all New Yorkers (Wikipedia).
We believe the power sector should be aligned with New York State’s clean energy goals set forth by the CLCPA, and polluters should pay for their emissions.
The mission of the Carbon Free New York Coalition (CFNY) is to encourage all stakeholders and policymakers to collaborate in ensuring the inclusion of the power sector in New York’s economywide Cap-and-Invest program. By incorporating the power sector in this program, we aim to align New York’s electricity markets with the state’s climate goals set forth in the Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act (CLCPA). This will drive the decarbonization of the electricity sector, reduce emissions, and promote a sustainable and equitable clean energy future for all New Yorkers.