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New Coalition Set to Push Cuomo on Carbon Pricing

POLITICO's Marie J. French: 

A new coalition backed primarily by renewable generators and developers hopes to push Gov. Andrew Cuomo's administration to back a price on carbon in the electric market.

The campaign, dubbed "Carbon Free New York," is anchored by the Alliance for Clean Energy New York, a renewables trade association, and the New York League of Conservation Voters, a bipartisan environmental advocacy group.

The campaign plans to spend in the mid to high six figures on advertising and petition efforts, with a focus on building public support for the New York Independent System Operator's carbon pricing proposal. The NYISO has signaled it will not move the plan unless state policymakers — ultimately, the governor — back it. The administration has been reticent thus far. Supporters say the plan will help leverage technological innovation and markets to achieve the state's new climate goals faster and at a lower cost than subsidies.

"We want to make sure that people are aware that there is a broad group of supporters for getting carbon pricing done," NYLCV's Julie Tighe said. "Whether that's the administration or the Legislature, we want it known that we and other members of the coalition are supporting carbon pricing in order to get renewable energy sited and operating much more quickly than is currently happening."

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