New York Lags Behind India on Green Energy Transition

Governor Hochul's new strategy to downplay the state's 2019 climate law highlights New York's struggle to keep up with India's renewable energy progress.

Apr. 14, 2026 at 9:57pm

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A vibrant, abstract painting featuring overlapping, geometric shapes and waves of bright blue, green, and yellow colors, representing the dynamic growth of India's wind and solar power sectors in contrast to New York's stalled renewable energy transition.India's renewable energy revolution outpaces New York's halting progress, exposing the Empire State's policy failures.NYC Today

New York has struggled to match India's rapid deployment of wind and solar power, despite the state's ambitious climate goals. While India has already reached over 50% renewable energy capacity, New York has faced regulatory hurdles, corruption scandals, and general incompetence that have stalled its green energy transition. The article argues that New York should take a cue from India's 'all of the above' approach that embraces the private sector as a partner rather than an adversary.

Why it matters

New York's failure to make meaningful progress on renewable energy has left the state more vulnerable to global energy price shocks, like the current crisis at the Strait of Hormuz. As the state that engineered major infrastructure projects like the subway system and Erie Canal, New York's inability to rapidly scale up wind and solar is a concerning sign of the state's policy shortcomings.

The details

The article compares New York's approach to India's, noting that while New York has favored 'gas bans, wild pronouncements, red tape and general incompetence,' India has taken a more pragmatic 'all of the above' strategy that embraces the private sector. For example, the massive Khavda renewable energy park in India is on track to generate 30 gigawatts of power, enough to power all of New York State, while New York has struggled to even build a fraction of India's renewable capacity due to regulatory barriers and scandals like the Buffalo Billion.

  • In 2019, New York passed the Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act, setting ambitious renewable energy goals.
  • Last year, India crossed the milestone of having over 50% of its electricity capacity come from renewable sources, five years ahead of its 2030 target.

The players

Kathy Hochul

The Governor of New York who is now trying a new strategy of downplaying the state's 2019 climate law.

Narendra Modi

The Prime Minister of India who laid out a roadmap for the country's renewable energy expansion.

Adani Green Energy

An Indian renewable energy company that has installed 9 gigawatts of power at the massive Khavda renewable energy park, with plans to reach 30 gigawatts by 2029.

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What they’re saying

“The fundamental difference is that the Indian government figured out unleashing the private sector — not regulating it to death — helps both achieve their shared goals.”

— Joe Borelli, Managing Director, Chartwell Strategy Group and former Minority Leader of the New York City Council

What’s next

Governor Hochul will need to decide whether to fully abandon or revise New York's 2019 climate law in order to chart a new path forward on renewable energy development.

The takeaway

New York's struggle to match India's rapid renewable energy progress highlights the need for the state to take a more pragmatic, private sector-friendly approach to achieving its climate goals, rather than relying on mandates, red tape, and political scandals that have so far stalled progress.