Today, ACE Action Fellows joined New Yorkers from across the city to speak up and advocate for a renewable energy future as they testified at the Clean Energy Standard hearing in lower Manhattan.

In December 2015, New York Governor Andrew Cuomo directed the New York Public Service Commission (PSC) to create a Clean Energy Standard, a plan that aims to source 50 percent of New York’s energy from renewables by 2030. The Clean Energy Standard would require utility companies to buy increasing amounts of electricity from renewable resources and nuclear power. In its current form, the plan gives enormous subsidies to unprofitable nuclear power plants, even though nuclear power is not considered to be a clean or renewable energy source.

“I want my city and my state to take the lead in becoming the first in the nation to develop utility scale offshore wind and inspire other states and cities to follow in our footsteps.”
— NYC Action Fellow Desiree Obaji

Throughout the month of May, New Yorkers have been attending public hearings across the state and advocating for a stronger Clean Energy Standard—one that is enforceable, applies to all utilities and power authorities, includes energy efficiency targets and a commitment to offshore wind power, and does not include nuclear power as part of the clean energy mix.

This year, the New York City Fellowship team has been working on a campaign advocating for offshore wind power for New York with a diverse group of supporters, including Sane Energy Project, Sierra Club, Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC), Rockaway Wildfire, Catskill Mountainkeeper, Food & Water Watch, and 350NYC/BK. The Fellows have worked to elevate the youth voice to influence New York City Mayor Bill DeBlasio and Governor Cuomo to make a commitment to securing large scale, long term offshore wind development in New York. Fellows have also made it a priority to educate and engage their communities in advocating for offshore wind power and have sought to bring in new youth voices. Today, they continue their mission by speaking up on at the Clean Energy Standard hearing.

At an offshore wind rally and press conference on the steps of New York City Hall earlier this year, ACE Action Fellow Desiree Obaji shared her bold vision for New York’s energy future. “I want my city and my state to take the lead in becoming the first in the nation to develop utility scale offshore wind and inspire other states and cities to follow in our footsteps. We need you, Mayor DeBlasio and Governor Cuomo, to step up and take the lead in creating offshore wind power — ensure that we reach our renewable energy goals and protect my right, protect my generation’s rights, and the rights of generations to come, to a livable future!”

From the New York City Hall steps to the United Nations headquarters, Fellows have been speaking up and stepping up for their futures around the city, and they are thrilled to have the opportunity to testify at the Clean Energy Standard hearing to demand an enforceable renewable energy plan that includes offshore wind power and puts New York on the path towards a more just and 100% renewable energy future.