High Construction Costs to Blame for Lack of Renewable Energy Development

The Public Service Commission recently declined renewable energy developers' plea to provide more subsidies for these projects, leaving New York's renewable energy goals in dire straits.

"The PSC was correct to turn down the request. Taxpayers should not be made to pay more for these projects. With that, elected leaders in Albany made a calculated choice to increase the cost of all renewable energy projects in New York by requiring prevailing wage be paid on all projects over one megawatt or more, said Associated Builders & Contractors, Empire State Chapter President Brian Sampson.

"Prevailing wage mandates add between 15-25% to the cost of construction depending on the trade and region the work is in. Both the Empire Center and Columbia University have released studies that demonstrated this cost increase. Therefore, we call on the legislature to reverse course and only require prevailing wage when the project trips the Prevailing wage thresholds, not on every project."