New York’s clean energy push is falling far behind schedule. The state’s renewable energy share only rose from 28.49% in 2020 to 29.99% in 2024. That’s a gain of just 1.51 percentage points over four years. New York’s goal is 70% renewable electricity by 2030. At this pace, that target looks nearly out of reach.
Solar and wind power did grow. Solar jumped from 0.65% to 2.42%. Wind grew from 3.49% to 4.67%. But those gains weren’t enough to make up for losses elsewhere. Hydroelectric power dropped from 22.83% to 21.66%. That decline partially offset much of the progress from solar and wind.
The numbers look even worse compared to other states. Across the U.S., renewables grew from 19.53% to 22.66% between 2020 and 2024. That’s a gain of 3.14 percentage points — more than double New York’s growth. According to reports, Texas has significantly outpaced New York in wind and solar development, and New York’s roughly $4.4 billion program has reportedly produced only about 20% of what Texas built in a fraction of the time.
The state’s grid also isn’t getting cleaner fast enough. After a decade of policy efforts, the state’s grid was more reliant on carbon-based fuels in 2024 than in 2014, per NYISO reports. Transmission upgrades that could help move clean energy around the state face timeline challenges. Load-serving entities reported renewables at just 23.6% in 2024.
Gov. Kathy Hochul has reportedly faced pressure regarding the state’s climate targets. By some accounts, she laid out over 200 initiatives in her 2026 State of the State address but also asked for a delay in the 2019 Climate Act mandates. She didn’t directly say the targets were impossible. But her remarks suggested a policy shift toward grid reliability and energy diversity rather than doubling down on the original deadlines.
New York does have some bright spots. It ranks first in the country for community solar. The state’s also investing in offshore wind and grid modernization. This aligns with a broader national trend of states across the country reducing reliance on fossil fuels and transitioning to cleaner sources of electricity. The state has also set an ambitious target of 100% zero-emission electricity by 2040, going beyond just renewables. But with 2030 just around the corner, the gap between where New York is and where it needs to be is hard to ignore.
References
- https://wpdh.com/new-york-renewable-energy-growth/
- https://nationaltoday.com/us/ny/new-york/news/2026/03/13/new-york-sees-rise-in-solar-and-wind-power/
- https://comptroller.nyc.gov/services/for-the-public/nyc-climate-dashboard/energy/
- https://www.rtoinsider.com/124635-ny-reports-minimal-increase-renewable-power/
- https://www.governing.com/management-and-administration/why-texas-is-outpacing-new-york-in-renewable-energy-development
- https://www.eia.gov/states/NY/analysis
- https://bcse.org/new-study-shows-sustainable-energy-technologies-met-rising-demand-growth-2025-despite-uncertainty/
