Texas Outpaces New York in Renewable Energy Development

Deregulation, limited local opposition, and grid investments fuel Texas' renewable energy boom, while New York struggles to meet its climate goals.

Published on Mar. 8, 2026

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Texas has added more wind and solar power in the last two years than New York has in the last two decades, despite New York's ambitious climate goals. Factors like deregulation, limited local opposition, and investments in grid infrastructure have allowed Texas to build renewable energy projects more quickly and cheaply than New York, where permitting challenges, high costs, and an aging grid have slowed progress.

Why it matters

New York's slow rollout of renewable energy is undercutting the state's 2019 Climate Act, which mandates a transition to a 100% clean energy system by 2040. The gap between Texas and New York's renewable energy development has raised concerns about New York's ability to meet its climate targets, with the Hochul administration considering amending or delaying the law due to affordability concerns.

The details

Texas never set ambitious clean energy goals but is building wind and solar projects at a faster pace than New York, in part due to deregulation, limited local opposition, and investments in grid infrastructure to carry power from rural areas to urban centers. In contrast, New York faces permitting challenges, high development costs, and an aging grid that has hindered renewable energy growth. The majority of renewable projects that entered agreements with New York between 2018-2022 have been canceled.

  • In 2005, the Texas Legislature directed the installation of high-voltage transmission lines to connect the state's western wind resources to population centers.
  • The Texas transmission projects were completed in 2014, 'de-bottlenecking' the electric system and allowing affordable renewable energy to reach major cities.
  • New York authorized a $4.4 billion transmission upgrade program in 2023, but the projects won't be completed until at least 2030.

The players

Texas

A state that has rapidly built wind and solar power without setting ambitious clean energy goals, benefiting from deregulation, limited local opposition, and grid investments.

New York

A state that has set aggressive clean energy targets through its 2019 Climate Act but has struggled to meet them, facing permitting challenges, high development costs, and an aging grid.

Kathy Hochul

The governor of New York who is considering amending or delaying the state's Climate Act due to affordability concerns.

Peter Harckham

A New York state senator and strong proponent of the Climate Act who is using Texas as an example to persuade the Hochul administration that building renewable energy can be cheaper and quicker than fossil fuel facilities.

Potomac Economics

A research firm that monitors New York's grid and found that the vast majority of renewable energy projects that entered agreements with the state between 2018-2022 have been canceled.

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What they’re saying

“Look at Texas, deep red Texas, which doesn't even believe in climate change, all of their new generation has been renewable.”

— Peter Harckham, New York State Senator (Times Union)

“The complete lack of any regulation at all.”

— Rod Wetsel, Energy Attorney in Nolan County, Texas (Times Union)

“Permitting is a very low obstacle in Texas. … That's good for building out renewables, but at what cost to the local ecosystem and landscape.”

— Ryan McManamay, Ecologist at Baylor University (Times Union)

What’s next

The judge in the case will decide on Tuesday whether or not to allow Walker Reed Quinn out on bail.

The takeaway

This case highlights growing concerns in the community about repeat offenders released on bail, raising questions about bail reform, public safety on SF streets, and if any special laws to govern autonomous vehicles in residential and commercial areas.