Write a commentNew York is on the cusp of a full-blown energy crisis, and the real tragedy of the matter is that if catastrophe does strike, it will have been entirely avoidable.
Since the Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act (CLCPA) was passed in 2019, the Assembly Minority Conference has warned our energy grid is in serious jeopardy. Our concerns about the rushed electrification of New York's power grid are in line with independent energy experts, New York Independent System Operator (NYISO) and countless New Yorkers who are tired of watching their energy prices spike while the stability of the grid plummets.
NYISO has been sounding the alarm about potential energy shortfalls for years. Prior to a targeted 2025 heatwave warning, the energy management organization stated broadly that full electrification under current conditions is not feasible at best and dangerous at worst. Fast forward to earlier this week when the NYISO flagged another disturbing anomaly—forecasted energy prices hit a historically significant high, a figure more than double the next highest value since the CLCPA was passed.
According to the organization, on Wednesday, Jan. 28, day-ahead pricing—this mechanism helps stabilize energy costs by using predictive models to facilitate energy purchasing—reached more than $1,000/MWh in many regions of the state. Since 2019, that number has never broken $400 in the central region, and the week prior, the lows in the central region were around $55. This drastic fluctuation is unprecedented. NYISO representatives attribute the unnatural volatility to aging energy infrastructure, higher natural gas costs and growing electrification straining the state's grid. New Yorkers shouldn't have to worry about whether their home energy needs are in danger every time we have a snowstorm, cold snap or heat wave.
What do these factors all have in common? They are squarely within the purview of the governor and Legislature to fix. Instead of racing to completely eliminate natural gas and other traditional heating methods, we must develop a diverse, resilient energy grid that leverages the full measure of nuclear, renewable and traditional energy methods. Simply put, we are nowhere near ready for full electrification, and if New York were to attempt to meet the emissions demands of the CLCPA as written, we would not have enough power to heat and cool homes, hospitals, schools and emergency services.
As such, I have sponsored legislation (A.653) to protect energy choice in New York and ensure customers have access to the type of energy that makes sense for them. Our Conference members have proposed a wide range of reforms to ensure New York never runs out of energy. These policies are specifically designed to bolster reliability, keep costs down and protect vulnerable New Yorkers.
Legislating is rarely a straightforward proposition. But when we have repeated warnings from experts, non-governmental agencies, the public and lawmakers at every level of government explicitly, repeatedly telling you there is something wrong with what you are doing, you ought to listen. This is one of those cases. To my colleagues and the governor: Our state needs to take a more measured approach to addressing grid reliability. We need more generation, including natural gas, to come online quickly to avoid a crisis. There is no defensible excuse not to.
If you have any questions or comments on this or any other state issue, or if you would like to be added to my mailing list or receive my newsletter, please contact my office. My office can be reached by mail at 19 Canalview Mall, Fulton, NY 13069 and by email at barclayw@nyassembly.gov. You may also find me, Assembly Minority Leader Will Barclay, on Facebook or X at @WillABarclay.
