New Brattle Report Evaluates the Role of Low-Carbon Alternative Fuels in Achieving New York’s Energy and Climate Policy Goals
Prepared for the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA)
In a July report prepared for the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) and just released publicly, Brattle energy experts evaluated low-carbon alternative fuels and their potential role in achieving the state of New York’s energy and climate policy goals. The report, “Considerations for Low-Carbon Alternative Fuel Use in New York State,” was published to support the alternative fuels chapter of New York’s draft 2025 State Energy Plan.
While most emissions reductions in the state are expected to come from electrifying fuel-dependent end uses, alternative fuels – such as renewable natural gas, hydrogen, renewable diesel, and sustainable aviation fuel – can provide an energy backstop for some hard-to-electrify end uses, such as air travel, heavy transport, industrial applications, and electric reliability. In the report, the authors review various alternative fuels from several perspectives, from potential end-uses and production pathways to infrastructure needs, emissions impacts, and the likely structure and geographic scope of markets.
Based on this review, they provide guidelines outlining how New York can direct research, development, and policy to maximize the strategic benefit of alternative fuels. Recommendations include:
- New York should consider new regulatory and market incentives to facilitate and transform today’s nascent alternative fuel markets
- Additional infrastructure to support the low-carbon alternative fuels sector will be needed, but – where possible –New York should optimize the use of existing infrastructure to mitigate potential cost, environmental, and community impacts of building new infrastructure
- The emissions impact of alternative fuels must be considered, quantified, and tracked, at both a local and global scale, including to ensure that disadvantaged communities are not disproportionately impacted
- New York should engage with government and market efforts already underway at several levels and in other jurisdictions to scale low-carbon alternative fuel markets
“Considerations for Low-Carbon Alternative Fuel Use in New York State” was authored by Brattle Principal Dr. Dean Murphy, Senior Associate Josh Figueroa, and Senior Energy Associate Ragini Sreenath, with contributions from Energy Specialist Jadon Grove, Senior Energy Analyst John Gonzalez, and Energy Analysts James Herrigel, Julie Yoon, and Christina Zhang, as well as NYSERDA staff.
(Linked under “Studies Completed by NYSERDA Supporting the 2025 State Energy Plan” header.)
