Governor Hochul signs legislation to improve clean energy development and efficiency. Image Credit: Office of Governor Kathy Hochul.
On July 5, 2022, Governor Kathy Hochul signed a legislative package of three bills to further New York’s goal in decreasing greenhouse gas emissions and making clean energy accessible, affordable, and efficient. The bills will support the Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act’s goal in decreasing greenhouse gas emissions by 70 percent come year 2030 and 85 percent come year 2050.
Advanced Building Codes, Appliance and Equipment Efficiency Standards Act of 2022
This first bill, Legislation A.10439/S.9405, was sponsored by Assemblymember Patricia Fahy and State Senator Kevin Parker and was designed to support the Climate Act by achieving energy efficiency and reducing greenhouse gas emissions on both a large scale, by targeting buildings, and a small scale, by targeting consumer basic appliances.
The biggest source of greenhouse gas emissions in New York State is buildings, accounting for nearly one-third of the State’s total emissions. By updating the building codes, greenhouse gas emissions will be reduced.
New Yorkers will also save on energy costs. Expected savings for New Yorkers, by reducing wasted energy, amount to $15 billion among which $6 billion will be saved by low- and moderate-income households.
Through approximately year 2030, there will be a projected $2.5 billion dollars in lifetime savings for homeowners.
Assemblymember Patricia Fahy stated, “Reducing energy and water usage is no longer an if — but a must in addressing climate change. [B]y simply increasing the efficiency and energy standards of appliances and equipment, and adding the state’s climate mandates set forth under the CLCPA into New York’s state energy conservation construction code, we’re continuing to tackle one of the largest sources of our carbon emissions: building stock.”
Utility Thermal Energy Network and Jobs Act
This second bill, Legislation A.10493/S.9422, was sponsored by Assemblymember Latoya Joyner and State Senator Kevin Parker and was designed to allow gas and electric utilities to develop and operate their own thermal energy networks. The New York State Public Service Commission will oversee all thermal energy networks and plans to ensure that it was made with public interest in mind.
Thermal energy networks, like heating and cooling networks, are energy efficient and clean solutions to fulfilling New York’s commitment to reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
New job opportunities will be unlocked because there will be a need for workers to assist building owners in transitioning to more energy efficient systems. Jobs will also increase when underground fossil fuel pipe systems will be replaced with new, clean energy networks.
Approximately 286,000 new clean energy jobs will be created by year 2050.
Assemblymember Latoya Joyner said, “Today we [took] an important step forward in addressing climate change and creating green jobs that will benefit generations of New Yorkers for the future.”
Prevailing Wage for Renewable Energy Projects One Megawatt and Larger
This third bill, Legislation A.9598/S.8648, was sponsored by Assemblymember Latoya Joyner and State Senator Jessica Ramos and was designed to ensure that workers on renewable energy projects of one megawatt and larger will make sufficient money to sustain their own livelihoods and families. Approximately 6,000 solar panel jobs will be created with new solar energy projects.
There is an expected investment of $5.9 billion to achieve ten gigawatts of solar throughout the State.
State Senator Jessica Ramos, Chair of the Senate Labor Committee, stated, “Putting prevailing wages and organized labor at the helm of our State’s transition to renewable energy will allow New York to lift up communities with family-sustaining wages while leading on our efforts to tackle the climate crisis.”
New York State is the leading State in the U.S. in addressing issues relating to climate change by passing necessary legislation. Governor Hochul stated, “This multi-pronged legislative package will not only replace dirty fossil fuel infrastructure, but it will also further cement New York as the national leader in climate action and green jobs.”
Lisa Dix, New York Director for the Building Decarbonization Coalition stated, “New York is again in the national forefront and paving the way to accelerate and build a robust market for clean heating and cooling technologies, decarbonize our built environment with a union workforce at scale, and substantially invest directly into our communities most disproportionately impacted by climate change.”
Present at the signing of these bills and given the opportunity to speak were: State Senator Jessica Ramos, Chair of the Senate Labor Committee, Assemblymember Patricia Fahy, State Senator Kevin Parker, Assemblymember Latoya Joyner, John J. Murphy, International Representative of the United Association of Journeymen & Apprentices of the Plumbing and Pipefitting Industry of the United States and Canada, and Lisa Dix, New York Director for the Building Decarbonization Coalition.
A common theme addressed by all the speakers was the fact that the bills were only able to pass so quickly, in merely two years, with the support of the public, key leaders, and climate advocates as well as all the State leaders who worked together in making this work.
John J. Murphy, International Representative of the United Association of Journeymen & Apprentices of the Plumbing and Pipefitting Industry of the United States and Canada, stated, “We are grateful that Governor Kathy Hochul’s shared vision for a clean energy future was met with enthusiasm by the State Legislature via Senator Kevin Parker and Assemblywoman Latoya Joyner.”
State Senator Kevin Parker, a sponsor of the first two bills, aptly and succinctly stated, “Teamwork makes the dream-work.”
By: Malka Amar (Malka is a CityLaw intern and New York Law School student, Class of 2023.)
Governor: Governor Hochul Signs Legislative Package to Spur Energy Efficiency, Consumer Savings, and Greenhouse Gas Emission Reductions While Supporting Prevailing Wage Measures (July 5, 2022).