To the Editor:
Michael Martucci’s editorial, “Achieving climate goals requires a balanced approach that benefits host communities” (August 8) points out that New York is not transitioning to renewable energy fast enough. Yet the need for the balance he is referring to— the balance between the needs of local communities and the State’s need for more renewable energy — is behind much of the delay.
Mr. Martucci’s suggestion that NYSERDA leadership be “called on the carpet” for the slowness of the State’s progress seems unfair. After all, NYSERDA’s Office of Renewable Energy Siting is charged with providing local government and community participation in the permitting process. Though a decision must be reached within a year after completion of a project application, there is often a lag in the application process.
Perhaps it’s Governor Kathy Hochul, instead, whom we should be calling on to pick up the pace on the state’s procurement process for wind farms, solar farms and offshore wind development. She could circumvent some siting issues, too, by stepping up support for residential rooftop solar, programs to cover urban parking lots with solar canopies and commercial rooftops with solar panels, and encouraging the development of more industrial-scale battery storage. We also need the Governor to cut through the red tape delaying the connection of renewables to the grid.
These are among the many ways that New York has available to meet its renewable energy goals. Martucci is right to say that finding more ways will take thinking “outside the box,” but a “performance audit and greater oversite” of NYSERDA doesn’t seem like the best way to generate that kind of thinking.
Sincerely yours,
Robert Heinemann
Poughkeepsie
