Utility gives its support to bill
Proposed legislation would let it operate renewable energy systems
KINGSTON, N.Y. >> Central Hudson Gas & Electric Corp. says it favors a proposed bill that, if passed, would allow the utility to operate renewable energy systems to help New York reach its ambitious fossil fuel elimination goals.
John Maserjian, a company spokesman, said Central Hudson supports a proposed law that would give it permission to create renewable energy sources.
“Central Hudson strongly favors legislation that allows utilities to invest, build and operate renewable generating facilities for the benefit of our customers,” Maserjian said in an email. “While Central Hudson currently operates three small hydro-electric generating plants in Ulster County, utilities in New York are no longer permitted to invest in nor build new facilities since deregulation took effect in 2000.
“The size of renewable generators, particularly solar, matters too, because large-scale facilities, as would be proposed by Central Hudson, are much less costly on a per-unit of output basis than rooftop and other smaller-scale facilities,” Maserjian added. “Commu
nity-sized facilities will help New York reach its carbon reduction goals at a lower cost to our customers.”
In June, Gov. Andrew Cuomo signed a law considered the most ambitious on reducing carbon emissions in the U.S. The bill requires that, in 30 years, all the state’s electricity come from renewable sources, Those include solar, wind and hydropower.
“In the past, about 20 percent of New York’s electricity was delivered from renewable resources, generated by hydro-electric plants chiefly at Niagara Falls,” Maserjian said. “Since 2003, millions of dollars have been in invested in additional renewable sources, mainly wind and solar.”
But, Maserjian added, the
rate of renewable energy use has slightly increased.
“However, despite this investment, renewable generation today increased by only slightly, to 26 percent of the total,” Maserjian said. “Electricity from non-utility renewable generators are subsidized by all other customers, which also carries a cost.”
Maserjian said that would be different if Central Hudson would be given a chance to create renewable energy.
“If we are to even approach the state’s far-reaching low carbon goals costeffectively, with 70 percent of electricity from renewable generators by 2030 and 100 percent by 2040, utility companies must also be permitted to build renewable generation, particularly where non-utility investments are not taking place,” Maserjian said. “Utilities offer a low cost
of capital, can locate generators optimally within the electric system and can more equitably provide customers with renewable energy resources, all helping to lower costs.
“By allowing for both utility and non-utility investments in new renewable generation, we can more rapidly and cost-effectively advance the low-carbon resources necessary to achieve state goals,” Maserjian said.
During a recent live stream interview with the Freeman, state Sen. James Skoufis, D-Cornwall, said the bill should be passed at the next legislative session starting in January.
“In order to reach these goals in the bill, effectively get off of fossil fuels completely by 2050, we need an all hands on deck approach,” Skoufis said, adding that that includes utilities.