NYPA Press Release

Measurement of Environmental, Social and Governance Factors on Performance Shows Progress in Decarbonization, VISION2030 Strategic Plan Goals

WHITE PLAINS—The New York Power Authority’s (NYPA) 2021 Sustainability Report shows the Power Authority’s progress in achieving environmental, social and governance (ESG) performance measures and highlights key milestones in the Authority’s VISION2030 strategic plan, its role in climate action, and advancement of the state’s Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act. The second annual sustainability report by NYPA, the largest state-owned electric utility in the U.S., is a model for other public utilities and power companies in incorporating ESG measures into business practices. The report gives concrete examples of how NYPA is working to protect the planet while serving communities and customers for the benefit of all New Yorkers.

“Reviewing our business performance through an ESG framework shows how far we have progressed toward our sustainability goals and positions NYPA as an industry leader, setting an example of how to measure our successes by taking our impact on the environment, the communities we serve, and our governance into play,” said Justin E. Driscoll, interim president and CEO. “As we continue to march toward a fully clean energy economy, we are delivering on our commitments in our VISION2030 strategic plan, to benefit all New Yorkers and we’re pleased to share this sustainability report that highlights our significant progress.”

The report, Powering the Fight Against Climate Change, focuses on efforts to achieve NYPA’s goals as outlined in both its VISION2030 strategic plan and its Sustainability Plan 2021-25. The report also covers advances made by NYPA’s subsidiary, the New York State Canal Corporation. Stories in the report illustrate NYPA’s commitment to integrate renewables and modernize generation assets, as well as to help customers reduce their carbon footprint with projects that include solar, transport electrification and energy efficiency. The report also shows how NYPA and Canals are working to bolster the New York State canal system of waterways and trails as a viable ecotourism destination that will promote increased economic growth in canalside communities.

New York State has an aggressive timetable for decarbonizing its electricity system, including moving toward 70 percent renewables by 2030, 100 percent carbon-free electricity by 2040 and a carbon-neutral economy by 2050. NYPA has committed to generating 100 percent carbon-free electricity in its natural gas fleet by 2035. VISION2030, NYPA's 10-year strategic plan, is a roadmap for NYPA’s efforts to lead the transition to a carbon-free, economically vibrant state by investing in its hydropower facilities which provide reliable, clean baseload supply, building new transmission infrastructure to expand the use of renewables, and helping NYPA customers meet their bold decarbonization goals.

Notable 2021 achievements most relevant to NYPA’s VISION2030 strategic priorities include:

• 88 percent of electricity generated from renewable hydropower.
• $207 million invested in Smart Path, Smart Path Connect and Central East Energy Connect transmission projects to bring more renewables to areas of high electricity demand.
• $61 million invested in that year in modernizing infrastructure to support the Next Generation Niagara $1.1 billion investment and $460 million Lewiston Pump-Generating Plant modernization projects.
• $246-plus million invested in capital work for energy efficiency projects at customer facilities.
• 426,505 jobs created/maintained through our economic development electric power programs.

Read NYPA’s 2021 Sustainability Report.

For more information about NYPA’s ESG focus and its sustainability work, contact sustainability@nypa.gov.

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New York State's Nation-Leading Climate Plan

New York State's nation-leading climate agenda is the most aggressive climate and clean energy initiative in the nation, calling for an orderly and just transition to clean energy that creates jobs and continues fostering a green economy as New York State recovers from the COVID-19 pandemic. Enshrined into law through the Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act, New York is on a path to achieve its mandated goal of a zero-emission electricity sector by 2040, including 70 percent renewable energy generation by 2030, and to reach economy wide carbon neutrality. It builds on New York's unprecedented investments to ramp-up clean energy including over $33 billion in 102 large-scale renewable and transmission projects across the state, $6.8 billion to reduce buildings emissions, $1.8 billion to scale up solar, more than $1 billion for clean transportation initiatives, and over $1.6 billion in NY Green Bank commitments. Combined, these investments are supporting nearly 158,000 jobs in New York's clean energy sector in 2020, a 2,100 percent growth in the distributed solar sector since 2011 and a commitment to develop 9,000 megawatts of offshore wind by 2035. Under the Climate Act, New York will build on this progress and reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 85 percent from 1990 levels by 2050, while ensuring that at least 35 percent with a goal of 40 percent of the benefits of clean energy investments are directed to disadvantaged communities, and advance progress towards the state's 2025 energy efficiency target of reducing on-site energy consumption by 185 trillion BTUs of end-use energy savings.

About NYPA

NYPA is the largest state public power organization in the nation, operating 16 generating facilities and more than 1,400 circuit-miles of transmission lines. More than 80 percent of the electricity NYPA produces is clean renewable hydropower. NYPA uses no tax money or state credit. It finances its operations through the sale of bonds and revenues earned in large part through sales of electricity. For more information visit http://www.nypa.gov and follow us on Twitter @NYPAenergy, Facebook, Instagram, Tumblr and LinkedIn.