Highlights
- Legislation A.10439/S.9405 Strengthens New York's Building Codes and Appliance Standards
- Legislation A.10493/S.9422 Will Expand Community Heating and Cooling Networks
- Legislation A.9598/S.8648 Extends Prevailing Wage Requirements for Renewable Energy Projects One Megawatt and Larger
- Supports New York State's Nation-Leading Goals in the Climate Leadership andCommunity Protection Act, Including an 85 Percent Reduction in Greenhouse
- Gas Emissions by 2050 and a Just and Equitable Transition for New York Workers
Governor Kathy Hochul today (July 5) signed a legislative package of three bills that will strengthen New York's commitment to clean energy development and energy efficiency, while reducing greenhouse gas emissions. The Governor signed the bills at Newlab headquarters in Brooklyn alongside State Senator Kevin Parker, State Senator Jessica Ramos, Assemblymember Pat Fahy, Assemblymember Latoya Joyner, and key labor leaders and climate advocates. These three new laws support the Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act goal of an 85 percent reduction in greenhouse gas emissions by 2050 while ensuring a just and equitable transition for New York workers and communities.
"The impacts of climate change are felt all over New York State, and in response we are taking bold action and building a stronger, more resilient New York by guaranteeing healthier, greener places to live and work," Governor Hochul said. "Now more than ever, the importance of a cost-effective green transformation is clear, and strengthening building codes and appliance standards will reduce carbon emissions and save New Yorkers billions of dollars by increasing efficiency. 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."
The Advanced Building Codes, Appliance and Equipment Efficiency Standards Act of 2022 bolsters New York's regulatory and policy environment to support energy efficiency and greenhouse gas reduction strategies in buildings along with expanded appliance standards. The Utility Thermal Energy Network and Jobs Act requires the Public Service Commission (PSC) to develop a regulatory structure for utility thermal energy networks - including district geothermal and other community-scale thermal infrastructure projects - for heating and cooling homes, and to direct utilities to launch pilot projects in their service territories. The Governor also signed legislation requiring prevailing wage for renewable energy projects one megawatt and larger that involve the procurement of renewable energy credits from a public entity. Together, with the strong promise held by community thermal systems for existing pipe workers and other skilled trades, accelerated action in building efficiency, and strengthened wage standards for renewable energy development, these legislative measures demonstrate the State's commitment to ensuring projects create quality jobs for New Yorkers in clean energy and planning for a just transition.
Greening New York's building sector by investing in clean heating and cooling solutions presents the greatest prospect to reduce greenhouse gas emissions while realizing a unique workforce development opportunity. Earlier this year, the Climate Action Council's Just Transition Working Group issued a Jobs Study that details the number of jobs that will be created as part of New York's clean energy transition, and found the buildings sector accounted for well over half of all the jobs added in growing clean energy subsectors from 2019 to 2030. The study estimates that overall employment in the buildings sector will grow to approximately 366,000 by 2040, more than doubling the 2019 workforce by adding over 200,000 new jobs. The legislative package signed today is one part of a holistic suite of policies and programs needed to drive decarbonization in the buildings sector at scale and realize these significant opportunities for near-, medium-, and long-term job growth.
