A coalition of leading environmental groups, including Earthjustice, is urging New York’s top energy officials to confront what they call misleading and harmful messaging from the New York Independent System Operator—the entity that oversees the state’s electric grid.

In a joint letter issued July 7, 2025, the groups accused NYISO of distorting data and narrative in its latest Power Trends report. They argue the report presents a biased view favoring fossil fuel expansion and distracts from New York’s legally mandated shift toward renewable energy.

The 2025 Power Trends summary issued by NYISO is meant to provide insights into the state of the electric grid. However, Earthjustice and its allies say the report fails to provide any new or conclusive evidence supporting the need for new gas plants.

Key criticisms:

• NYISO claims New York may need more fossil fuel generation to maintain reliability, but its own data shows aging gas plants are unreliable, costly, and ill-suited for winter peaks.
• The report references speculative growth in energy demand due to data centers and crypto mining, but offers no solid projections.
• NYISO’s own analysis admits a previously identified reliability shortfall **”no longer exists.”

Advocates argue that NYISO’s true failure lies not in a lack of fossil fuel, but in its slow pace in integrating clean energy sources into the grid:

• Transmission bottlenecks are stalling renewable projects.
• Barriers to interconnection for solar and wind projects are delaying progress.
• NYISO has not kept pace with the mandates outlined in New York’s Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act (CLCPA).

The coalition’s letter was addressed to:

• Governor Kathy Hochul
• Public Service Commission Chair Rory Christian
• DEC Commissioner Amanda Lefton
• NYSERDA President Doreen Harris

Their demands:

• A full review of NYISO’s recent reporting and public messaging
• Reforms to ensure the grid evolves to meet CLCPA requirements
• Removal of systemic barriers slowing clean energy projects

“NYISO’s failure to prepare the grid for a clean energy future is putting our climate goals, our wallets, and our health at risk,” said Rachel Spector, Deputy Managing Attorney at Earthjustice.

“Clean energy is the cheapest, most reliable path forward. NYISO should be speeding it up—not sowing doubt,” added Justin Balik, VP for States at Evergreen Action.

With growing urgency to meet 2030 and 2040 climate benchmarks, environmental groups are expected to increase pressure on NYISO and state regulators. This includes legal challenges, public campaigns, and policy proposals aimed at removing regulatory red tape and holding grid operators accountable.

Observers say the debate over grid reliability versus fossil fuel dependency will remain front and center as New York enters a critical stretch in its clean energy transition.