Cuomo pledges New York will be coal-free by 2020

By Kyle Feldscher, Kyle Feldscher

Published April 28, 2016

New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo wants his state to be coal-free by 2020.

The Democrat made the declaration in his State of the State address Wednesday, announcing he wants his state's three remaining coal plants to be closed or shifted to renewable energy by 2020.

The coal plants account for 4 percent of New York's energy, and one plant is already scheduled to close this year. Cuomo said public health is the top priority.