What's REV and the CEF and Why Do They Matter?

"Reforming the Energy Vision" (REV) is a major decision-making process underway now to
transform the retail electricity market and overhaul New York's energy efficiency and renewable
energy programs. The stated goal of the proceeding is to create a cleaner, more affordable, more
modern and more efficient energy system in New York, through the increased development of
distributed energy resources, like rooftop solar, energy efficiency, and battery storage.
The Clean Energy Fund (CEF) is a proposal for the next generation of state-funded and supported
clean energy programs. These programs are funded by surcharges on most utility bills and
managed by the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA). The CEF
proposal is a companion to the REV proceeding and seeks to phase out state financial support for
renewable energy and energy efficiency programs in favor of the market-oriented appraoch
outlined in REV. The CEF plans to spend about $5 billion on clean energy programs over 10 years.
(Read the Energy Democracy Working Group CEF Flyer)
The REV proceeding was initiated by New York's Public Service Commission in April, 2014.
While the goals of REV are laudible and supported by many organizations across New York,
including AGREE, there is growing concern over the emerging policy proposals and the lack
of opportunity for public input and participation.

The fight for Energy Democracy

REV could be an opportunity to improve state environmental and energy policies and push for
major changes we all know need to happen to accelerate the transition to a cleaner, safer, more
democratic, and more affordable energy system. However, the proceeding has lacked involvement
of most of New York's public interest community, particularly groups working at the grassroots
level for a sustainable energy transition, for environmental justice, for affordable electricity rates,
for consumer protection, and to overcome the barriers people and communities face in accessing
energy efficiency and renewable energy programs.
At stake in the proceeding are questions such as:

What will the state's renewable energy goals be for the next decade?

Will competitive markets or subsidies best help the state reach its greenhouse gas emission
reduction goals?

Who will design and oversee the New York's reformed retail energy system (the public,
utility companies, or selected technocrats)?

Will communities, individuals, competitive businesses or utilities own the state's renewable
energy systems?

What will be the role of community ownership and community organizing in meeting the
state's energy goals?

Who will benefit from energy efficiency retrofits and weatherization?

How and to what extent will the environmental, health and societal costs and benefits of
clean energy be incorporated into energy prices?

What consumer protections will be put in place to protect people from deceptive marketing
and predatory lending?

Will the state ensure energy affordable basic energy service for all?

Heavy Corporate Influence

The development of REV has been highly influenced by New York's investor-owned utility
companies (like National Grid, ConEdison, RG&E, etc), which have a lot to gain or a lot to lose in the
outcomes of the proceeding. The opportunity to reform the way investor-owned utilities operate in

the New York is welcome, but this reform should be guided by the public interest, not the
companies that stand to gain or lose financially from the outcomes.
The details of REV are still emerging,
As a result of the domination of this proceeding by well funded corporations, the PSC is poised to
hand design of and responsibilities for our renewable energy and energy efficiency programs over
to the for-profit investor-owned utilities, with relatively little public input. Through a related
proceeding on the Clean Energy Fund, New York policy makers are preparing to phase out
subsidies for energy efficiency and renewable energy in favor of a more market-oriented approach
to development of these resources. These proceedings have yet to set clear goals and benchmarks
for getting New York on a path to substantial greenhouse gas reductions, nor have they set clear
goals for energy affordability or for ensuring inclusion of all of New York's communities in the
economic and health benefits promised by a transition to a cleaner energy system.
Reclaim the Energy Vision
Alliance for a Green Economy (AGREE) is working with groups across New York to promote energy
democracy, energy affordability, environmental protection and consumer safeguards in the REV
proceeding, as well as the goals of reversing the social, racial and economic inequity exacerbated
by our current energy system. We have argued that the inclusion of these goals from the outset will
create a process that can light the way to a just, inclusive, and swift transition to the affordable,
efficient, renewable, and resilient energy system envisioned by the REV proceeding.
There are still many opportunities to change the course of REV, but it will take an organized public,
with a strong demands for democratic participation, fairness and equity to counter the power of
the utility companies and other for-profit actors involved in the proceeding