Vision and Timeline
Equity and justice will be at the heart of NYC’s energy transition.
The PowerUp NYC report will recommend specific policies and programs City government can advance to clean up our air, make energy bills more affordable, create good-paying jobs, and present opportunities for local, community clean energy. The recommendations included in the report will be:
- aligned with the energy and equity policy mandates and targets of the City and State;
- reflective of an inclusive approach to energy leadership and governance; and
- grounded in the needs of NYC residents, prioritizing frontline communities and communities that have been historically underserved.
Affordability
NYC is committed to ensuring that our energy transition provides relief for the 1.5 million NYC residents currently struggling to pay their energy bills. A just energy transition means New Yorkers won’t have to choose between paying their utility bills and putting food on their table.
Sustainability
NYC is committed to achieving 100% clean electricity by 2040 and decarbonizing our buildings and transportation sectors by 2050. Reducing our greenhouse gas emissions will come hand in hand with reducing other forms of air pollution, creating a healthier and safer environment for all New Yorkers.
Resiliency
A more resilient energy system means fewer blackouts and a more equitable and vibrant city for the New Yorkers of today and generations to come.
NYC is adapting our energy systems to withstand the intensifying impacts of climate change, including extreme heat, sea level rise, and increasing rainfall and coastal storms.
PowerUp NYC includes three phases:
- Choosing key research topics – Summer 2022
What research questions do you think we should pursue to ground our energy planning decisions? The PowerUp NYC team proposed key research topics for consideration and presented these during the first round of Community Town Halls from June 25 to July 1. Public feedback was received verbally at the Town Halls and through our online comment portal.
- Conducting the research and proposing recommendations – Fall 2022
After incorporating community feedback and conducting the research, the PowerUp NYC team will summarize the findings and propose specific steps City government can take in the next four years to put us on track to meet long-term energy goals. These were presented at a Community Town Hall in downtown Brooklyn on December 1 (recording here), and at virtual Technical Sessions on December 6 and 7. Public comment will help inform the strategies to be included in the final report. Public feedback was accepted verbally at the Town Halls and was collected via our online comment portal through January 13.
- Publishing the final report – Spring 2023
Finally, the PowerUp NYC team will assemble the final report for publication in 2023, which will include an overview of the research and findings, an explanation of how public feedback was incorporated, as well as recommended programs and policies City government should advance to ensure we meet our energy and equity targets and mandates.