New York's Energy
NEW YORK’S ENERGY REALITIES
- New York has limited fossil fuel reserves but has significant renewable energy potential. The Niagara and Hudson rivers provide some of the best hydroelectric potential in America.
- The Robert Moses Niagara power plant at Niagara Falls generates 2,353 megawatts and is one of the largest hydroelectric power plants in the world.
- New York Harbor is the largest petroleum hub in the North East and has storage capacity for over 75 million barrels of oil.
- New York State’s per capita energy consumption is one of the lowest in America. This is largely due to its widely used mass transit systems.
- New York has few natural gas resources and imports its supplies from neighboring states.
- In 2004, the New York Public Service Commission created a renewable portfolio standard that requires 24 percent of the State’s power to be generated from renewable sources by 2013.
ENERGY POWERS NEW YORK’S ECONOMY
- Oil and natural gas production alone supports 245,948 jobs in New York.
- In total, the oil and natural gas industry adds $32.9 billion to New York’s gross state product, or 3% of its wealth annually.
- In 2007, New York had a total of 34,363 green jobs in industries such as solar, hydro, and wind.
- The Keystone XL pipeline would support 457 New York jobs in 2012, 1,968 by 2015, and 3,597 by 2020.
- The full development of the Canadian oil sands would support 24,631 New York jobs by 2035
- New York’s total per capita energy usage is 196 million Btu per capita, making it the 51st highest per capita usage in the United States.
- A study undertaken by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce shows that at least 19 of New York’s energy projects have been stalled by “green tape” – a means to block energy projects by organizing local opposition, changing zoning laws, opposing permits, filing lawsuits, and bleeding projects dry of their financing.
- The U.S. Chamber, based on consultation with the project developers, estimates that these projects represent at least $36.2 billion investment dollars and 62,900 jobs in New York.
