New Delhi: New York environmental regulators released a draft pollution rule on Wednesday that would require all of the state's remaining coal-fired power plants to shut or be repowered to burn cleaner fuels like natural gas by 2020.
The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (NYDEC) said the rule would help the state meet Governor Andrew Cuomo's goal of reducing carbon emissions by 40 percent by 2030.
Since 2000, nearly 3,000 megawatts of coal-fired generation has retired, leaving just 979 MW still active in 2018, according to data from the state's power grid operator. One megawatt can power about 1,000 homes.
Coal only represents about 2 percent of the state's overall generating capacity of 39,064 MW. Most of the power produced in New York comes from plants capable of burning both oil and gas (48 percent), nuclear (14 percent), hydro (11 percent) and gas only (10 percent).
For this summer, the New York Independent System Operator (ISO), the grid operator, forecast the state would have more than enough resources available to meet the peak demand of 32,904 MW.
The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (NYDEC) said the rule would help the state meet Governor Andrew Cuomo's goal of reducing carbon emissions by 40 percent by 2030.
Since 2000, nearly 3,000 megawatts of coal-fired generation has retired, leaving just 979 MW still active in 2018, according to data from the state's power grid operator. One megawatt can power about 1,000 homes.
Coal only represents about 2 percent of the state's overall generating capacity of 39,064 MW. Most of the power produced in New York comes from plants capable of burning both oil and gas (48 percent), nuclear (14 percent), hydro (11 percent) and gas only (10 percent).
For this summer, the New York Independent System Operator (ISO), the grid operator, forecast the state would have more than enough resources available to meet the peak demand of 32,904 MW.