New York Clean Energy Standard essential for state’s nuclear plants, according to NEI president
New York’s Clean Energy Standard (CES) is essential for the continued success of nuclear energy in the state, Nuclear Energy
Institute (NEI) President and CEO Maria Korsnick told the New York State Assembly this week.
Nuclear energy is also vital to meeting the state’s environmental goals, Korsnick said.
“The Clean Energy Standard promotes renewable use in the state along with the preservation of nuclear energy,” Korsnick said.
“Nuclear is a vital component of this plan, as it provides the majority of New York’s non-emitting generation.”
In 2016, New York’s six nuclear reactors produced 42 million megawatt-hours of electricity, which represents 31 percent of the
state’s total generation and 58 percent of the state’s carbon-free electricity. Thirty-seven percent of New York’s carbon-free energy
comes from hydroelectricity, while wind and solar account for just over 5 percent.
“New York’s nuclear plants produce ten times the state’s wind electricity and as much as all of the solar electricity produced by the industry across the entire nation,” Korsnick said. “Including nuclear plants in the Clean Energy Standard enables New York to quickly and cost-effectively reach its environmental goals.”
According to Korsnick, CES helps to prevent the premature closure of nuclear plants.
“When [nuclear] plants close, the pattern is clear,” Korsnick said. “Carbon emissions increase and so do electricity prices.”
