As lawmakers consider proposed changes to the state’s landmark climate law, we ask you to protect the law’s core goals: reducing air and climate pollution now and through 2050, centering disadvantaged communities in policy and funding, and building a cleaner, healthier NY.
EANY opposes the reported deal from 4/28, which would undermine NYS’ progress toward these goals (the terms of which are bulleted below).
EANY supports the following, as outlined in the 4/24 memo from 80+ groups:
“The legislature must rally around a counter-proposal that preserves the core tenets of the CLCPA, requires regulations by 2027 with mandatory targets in the next decade, rejects changes to GHG accounting method without policies that directly reduce emissions, and includes interim funding until regulations are in place as well as meaningful protections for and investment in disadvantaged communities.”
As reported, the proposal:
Delays implementation and guaranteed emissions reductions
- 5-year delay in implementation regulations (from Jan 1, 2024 to the end of 2028)
- No guaranteed emissions reductions until 2050
- This would delay the actions New York needs to cut air and climate pollution, lower long-term energy costs, transition off expensive gas infrastructure, and deliver benefits to disadvantaged communities.
Weakens the emissions accounting methodology
- Changing both methane accounting and eliminating upstream emissions accounting from imported fossil fuels.
- This would significantly lower the law’s ability to reduce emissions by obscuring the true climate impact of New York’s reliance on fracked gas, make emissions appear lower on paper, and reduce pressure to transition off the costly gas infrastructure that is already driving household energy bills.
Offers no comparable funding commitments or complementary policies in exchange.
- Without the CLCPA, NY would lose an estimated $3 billion to $10 billion a year that could be invested in energy efficiency, infrastructure upgrades, and consumer rebates.
- The deal reportedly includes $1 billion for the Sustainable Future Fund, a fund supported in both houses’ one-house budgets. If Cap-and-Invest doesn’t begin until 2028, NY needs additional funding for climate solutions.
- NY also needs complementary policies and dollars that directly reduce costs and pollution, including policies to end the outdated gas “obligation to serve” advance the ASAP act, and invest in affordability measures like utility bill rebates, support for home energy efficiency upgrades, and pollution reduction.
Please reach out to Katherine Nadeau, EANY’s co-Deputy Executive Director, with any questions at [email protected].
