West NY News

Senator George Borrello commented on Comptroller Thomas DiNapoli’s recent audit, which cited numerous failures of the Public Service Commission (PSC) and the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) in the planning and implementation of the Climate Act. The audit criticized the agencies for not developing viable transition plans using accurate data, failing to account for new energy laws that will increase future energy needs, and not providing a detailed cost analysis of the transition's projected costs to ratepayers.

"Comptroller Tom DiNapoli’s scathing audit of the state’s planning, implementation and progress towards its Climate Act goals only confirms my view that this effort is a disaster in the making. It has been clear all along that the zero emission targets and timelines were unrealistic and often based on assumptions rather than accurate data," Borrello stated.

He added, "In the rush to push through this politically driven agenda, major issues were overlooked. As the audit points out, among the many issues that were not accounted for in the Climate Act was the intermittent nature of renewables, which only produce energy when the wind blows and the sun shines. Also left unaddressed were the impact of cancelled projects and expired renewable energy contracts."

Borrello emphasized his concern about the lack of an accurate cost analysis: "The audit criticized the lack of an accurate, detailed cost analysis of the transition and its real impact on ratepayers and taxpayers, a point I have raised from day one. If the costs are being hidden to avoid public backlash, that is wrong and doomed to fail. If the costs are impossible to calculate due to assumptions and unknown variables, that is just as bad. Blindly pursuing an energy transition plan without knowing the impact on the people who will pay for it is reckless and the very definition of bad leadership."

He concluded by urging a reassessment: "Now is a good time to hit the pause button on this collapsing house of cards. A climate agenda developed primarily by bureaucrats and environmental activists was bound to be unworkable in the real world. Rather than continuing to flounder in face of unachievable goals and burdening ratepayers, businesses, school districts and organizations with poorly supported mandates' costs, I urge governor majorities in legislature reassess authorize thorough study led by energy experts engineers how our state can pursue green energy goals affordably achievable. New York’s economy quality life residents should not sacrificed corrupt costly political agenda."

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