Memorandum of Support - S.7134 (Parker)
IPPNY supports S.7134 (Parker). To meet the Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act’s (CLCPA) targets, this bill would foster the development of carbon capture technology in this state to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from existing infrastructure. In 25 years, the private sector has successfully reduced carbon emissions by nearly half and cut sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxide emissions by more than 90% each.
The CLCPA mandates a transition away from fossil fuels, thus creating a need for new technologies, and it requires the Public Service Commission (PSC) to designate what technologies qualify as zero emissions. In August of 2021, IPPNY, the NYS AFL-CIO, and the NYS Building & Construction Trades Council submitted a petition to the PSC to establish a competitive program to foster the development of, and investment in, 1 gigawatt of zero emissions energy systems to help reach the CLCPA’s target of having a 100% emissions-free electricity system by 2040 (100 by 40 target), while also maintaining electric system reliability. The PSC has made some progress, but more is required.
As the State’s economy electrifies to meet the CLCPA’s targets, the current electricity grid will need to be expanded at least three-fold. The invention and installation of a new class of technology that is both dispatchable (able to operate on demand whenever needed) and emissions-free – also known as dispatchable emissions-free resources (DEFRs) – will be necessary to meet the 100 by 40 target. The Climate Action Council’s adopted Scoping Plan indicates the importance of identifying, exploring, evaluating, and supporting the development of DEFRs.
Sargent & Lundy, a world-renowned engineering firm, has identified DEFRs capable of “filling the gap” created by increased intermittent resources on New York’s electric grid and the retirement of existing fossil fueled resources. To transition away from fossil fuels while maintaining reliability, all solutions must be considered, including new and existing nuclear, hydrogen, renewable natural gas, and carbon capture and sequestration technologies.
Under this legislation, the PSC would determine whether to approve or modify carbon capture demonstration projects from gas corporations. At least one project per company would be within a Disadvantaged Community.
For the reasons stated above, IPPNY supports S.7134 (Parker).
