The CLCPA (Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act) was passed in 2019, and the grand electrification plans have become a power supply nightmare for New York, combined with major electric transmission and distribution rate increases that add up to huge electric costs when supply and delivery charges arrive in our bills.

Worse yet, New York attempted to replace retired coal-fired and other fossil plants with renewables and imports, and the 2025 NYISO Power Trends report stated that we’re losing ground. The current process to update the New York Energy Plan is expected to say the same. Having degraded New York energy independence by choosing to import power versus building new in-state baseload power plants has hit a brick wall, as regions like Ontario and Pennsylvania/PJM have released power supply concerns due to data centers locating there, and they have massive electric needs.

What can New York do about it?

The announcement to build a 1000 MW nuclear facility is a good start, but that will only keep pace with the energy needs of the Micron facility being developed near Syracuse. The policy reports indicate that natural gas needs another look in order to keep supply adequate for reliability and cost.

New York need not abandon the CLCPA, but it needs amending to correct the unattainable mandates for things like electric buses and commercial fleets and elimination of all fossil generation by 2040. Further, while renewables continue to get developed, we need strategically placed combined cycle natural gas plants to maintain the system.

As a thought, a solicitation should come from New York state that invites data centers to dormant power plants and brownfield sites that also have valuable electric infrastructure in place.

A power plant developer, and a PPA with data centers should be accompanied by additional electric capacity for economic development and grid stability. The solicitation should also include investment into addressing the top source of emissions – transportation.

For example, the Cummins Engine Plant in Lakewood received a $450-plus million investment for a new line of fuel agnostic commercial engines, including zero emission hydrogen, with the help of NYS ESD. If a site like the retired Dunkirk Power Plant were selected, an add on for things like hydrogen production would pair nicely with a demonstration of the Cummins engine – perhaps in one, or several Dunkirk plows or garbage trucks.

Creative and timely effort is desperately needed, or the CLCPA as written will prove catastrophic for business and residents alike in New York.

Philip Wilcox, a Tonawanda resident, is an advocate for energy policy with the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers.