Energy Research and Development Authority, New York State

Agency Web Site: https://www.nyserda.ny.gov/

Mission

The New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) facilitates change through the widespread development and use of innovative technologies to improve the State’s energy, economic, and environmental well-being.

As part of its central mission, NYSERDA administers market development and innovation and research programs which are funded through the Clean Energy Fund. NYSERDA also administers clean and renewable energy initiatives pursuant to the Clean Energy Standard. In addition, it is a major player in the implementation of the Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act (CLCPA).

Energy research, development and demonstration programs are managed by the Authority and funded primarily by assessments on gas and electric utilities. The Authority also issues tax-exempt bonds on behalf of investor-owned utilities for eligible capital improvements.

NYSERDA's responsibilities include the development and analysis of energy policy options, the monitoring of fuel supplies, the management of the former nuclear fuel reprocessing plant at West Valley in Cattaraugus County, and the management of the Saratoga Technology and Energy Park (STEP) in Saratoga County. NYSERDA also administers several initiatives such as: Fuel NY; Charge NY; Renewable Heat NY; NY-Sun; Green-Jobs Green New York; EmPower NY; and the Cleaner, Greener Communities program.

Organization and Staffing

NYSERDA is governed by a 13-member board consisting of nine members nominated by the governor with the consent of the Senate and four ex-officio members, who include the commissioners of the departments of Transportation and Environmental Conservation, the chair of the Public Service Commission, and the president and the chief executive officer (CEO) of the Power Authority of the State of New York. The NYSERDA board appoints its president and CEO.

Budget Highlights

To meet the state share of a federal cost sharing agreement with the U.S. Department of Energy for the management and administration of the nuclear fuel reprocessing plant at West Valley, the FY 2025 Executive Budget recommends a capital projects appropriation of $25.8 million for this purpose.

To support a first-of-its-kind EmPower Plus low-income home retrofits program, the Executive Budget includes a reappropriation of $200 million. The funding will be used to help 20,000 low-income families retrofit their homes by adding insulation, installing energy efficient appliances, and where eligible, switching from inefficient fossil fuel heating systems to clean, efficient electric alternatives.

Through Article VII legislation, NYSERDA will receive approximately $28.7 million in revenue from a special assessment on gas and electric corporations for expenditures related to the energy research, development and demonstration program, local grants, the energy policy and planning program, and the Fuel NY program. This legislation also provides for the continued support of the Department of Environmental Conservation's Climate Change Office.

The FY 2025 Executive Budget also includes Article VII legislation to extend the NYSERDA Build-Ready Program for six years. The Build-Ready Program identifies sites in New York State that may be suitable for development as large-scale renewable energy projects and advances those sites for eventual publicly-noticed competitive solicitation to private renewable energy developers. The Build-Ready Program prioritizes the development of sites that commercial developers may otherwise elect not to pursue due to complicated development challenges, including those on existing or abandoned commercial sites, brownfields, landfills, former industrial sites, and other abandoned or underutilized sites.

As co-chair of the Climate Action Council (CAC), NYSERDA played a critical role in the development of the CAC’s scoping plan. This plan, released in December 2022, outlines how New York will achieve and implement its clean energy and climate goals as set forth by the Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act (CLCPA). Within the scoping plan the CAC determined that a Cap-and-Invest Program would be the most feasible, efficient, equitable, and affordable method to attain a more sustainable future. In response to the CAC recommendation, the FY 2024 Executive Budget proposes legislation that establishes a foundation for the Department of Environmental Conservation and NYSERDA to advance a Cap-and-Invest Program. The program will establish a gradually declining cap on greenhouse gas emissions, limit the financial impact to New Yorkers, and invest the proceeds in programs that drive emission reductions in an equitable manner, while maintaining the competitiveness of New York’s industries.

For more information on this agency's budget recommendations located in the Executive Budget Briefing Book, click on the following link:

Briefing Book – Environment, Energy, Parks, and Agriculture (PDF)

Program Highlights

NYSERDA administers energy efficiency and renewable energy programs, including:

Clean Energy Fund

This 10-year, $5 billion fund supported primarily by an assessment on gas and electric ratepayers, is designed to deliver on New York State’s commitment to reduce ratepayer collections, drive economic development, and accelerate the use of clean energy and energy innovation.

NY Green Bank

This $1 billion program is supported by the Clean Energy Fund and addresses gaps in clean energy financing markets through credit enhancement and loan loss reserves.

Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative

A cap-and-trade program that supports clean energy investments through the quarterly auctioning of greenhouse gas emission allowances to power generators.

Off-Shore Wind

NYSERDA is leading the coordination of offshore wind opportunities in New York State and is supporting the development of 9,000 megawatts of offshore wind energy by 2035 in a responsible and cost-effective manner. Offshore wind will be a crucial step on the pathway to a carbon-neutral economy and a critical component in achieving the expanded Clean Energy Standard, whereby 70 percent of New York’s electricity will come from renewable sources by 2030 under the Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act, New York’s ambitious and comprehensive climate and clean energy legislation.

Note: Most recent estimates as of 01/16/2024