ALBANY, N.Y.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Consumer Energy Alliance (CEA) today released an analysis of U.S. government emissions data that looks at key pollutants and the overall environmental improvements seen across New York, which shows that statewide emissions have fallen by as much as 95 percent since 1990 even as the state’s energy demand remained strong and natural gas usage surged.
The analysis demonstrates to policy leaders and anti-development activists that hastily passed the state’s Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act (CLCPA) how we can have energy production and sound environmental stewardship at the same time. This policy plan came as New York had a marked increase in consumption from 2017 to 2018 in both residential and commercial end-users. These facts show, despite ideologically driven attempts to shame energy development, many of the emissions reductions are the fruit of ongoing innovation, technology and the increased use of natural gas and nuclear energy in New York’s energy mix.
CEA’s analysis found that even as New York create strict policies that continue to harm low-income families, small businesses and cities including the Big Apple by restricting access to affordable energy sources, emissions of key air pollutants and greenhouse gases have declined significantly across the state.
From 1990 to 2017, New York’s emissions of key pollutants have decreased across the board, with a:
- 73 percent reduction in nitrogen oxides (NOx),
- 95 percent reduction in sulfur dioxide (SO2), and;
- 13 percent reduction in volatile organic compounds (VOCs)
Additionally, from 1990 to 2016, New York’s carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions declined by 22 percent.
All of this improvement occurred while more than 78 percent of the state’s energy needs were being fueled by oil and natural gas. New York’s economy has continued to thrive, ranking 11th globally thanks to diverse income sources like agriculture from rich upstate farmland, business from one of the world’s great financial capitals and a bustling health care sector.
“With the emission reductions that have occurred recently, New York’s policymakers, regulators and leaders must come together in support of access to reliable energy resources and infrastructure development that will help the state continue to thrive,” said CEA’s State Director for New York, Wendy Hijos. “Policies like the CLCPA, which literally leave small businesses holding the bag, is something that people in our community should stand up against. While we applaud the efforts to continue our environmental stewardship, this administration’s energy policies don’t account for everyone in our communities, passing the buck onto consumers who will end up feeling it in their wallets. This is an economic injustice. It is energy injustice. Let’s strive for policies that help our environment and offer economic opportunities.”
This analysis follows CEA’s Energy Savings Report for New York consumers, which found that families, small business and manufacturers across the state saved almost $30.9 billion thanks to low-cost energy over the past decade. This is essential for New York as one of the top five energy consuming states in the nation, where one in four households use fuel oil for heat in the winter and 40 percent of the state’s electricity generation is powered by natural gas.
To view the analysis, click here.
About Consumer Energy Alliance
Consumer Energy Alliance (CEA) is the leading consumer advocate for energy, bringing together families, farmers, small businesses, distributors, producers, and manufacturers to support America’s environmentally sustainable energy future. With more than 550,000 members nationwide, our mission is to help ensure stable prices and energy security for households and businesses across the country. CEA works daily to encourage people across the nation to seek sensible, realistic, and environmentally responsible solutions to meet our energy needs.
Contacts
Emily Haggstrom
P: 720-582-0242
ehaggstrom@consumerenergyalliance.org
