New York 's Public Service Commission launched a groundbreaking Clean Energy Standard as part of its strategy to rescue failing nuclear power plants in the state . This plan will subsidise struggling power plants to the tune of several billion dollars , throwing a lifeline to the beleaguered state that has been hit by low quality electricity from natural gas plants . In addition , nuclear plants are under threat from a growing interest in renewable technologies such as solar , wind and wave . State taxpayers will subsidise the continued operation of three to four nuclear power plants through to 2020 at a cost of $ 7.6bn . Nuclear power provides nearly 20 percent of U.S. electricity and 63 percent of its zero-carbon power. This approach will help the state to achieve its clean - energy targets .
New York 's Public Service Commission launched a groundbreaking Clean Energy Standard as part of its strategy to rescue failing nuclear power plants in the state . This plan will subsidise struggling power plants to the tune of several billion dollars , throwing a lifeline to the beleaguered state that has been hit by low quality electricity from natural gas plants . In addition , nuclear plants are under threat from a growing interest in renewable technologies such as solar , wind and wave . State taxpayers will subsidise the continued operation of three to four nuclear power plants through to 2020 at a cost of $ 7.6bn . This approach will help the state to achieve its clean - energy targets .