(Albany, NY)Senator Anna M. Kaplan (D–North Hills) and Senate Democratic Majority today introduced legislation to improve the environment, support renewable energies, and strengthen regulatory standards in New York. The bills include agreements on renewable energy development rights for reforestation areas, an exclusion from the requirements to alienate parkland to certain renewable power generating projects, and directives to the state to study, make recommendations, and evaluate renewable energy resources at decommissioned, dormant, electric generating stations.
This legislation is the result of a successful fight for $4.2 billion Environmental Bond Acts in the State Budget. Senator Kaplan and The Senate Majority’s commitment to climate action by reducing carbon emissions and promoting sustainable energies. This legislative package will include provisions about the placement of environmental facilities within minority communities, economically distressed regions, or disadvantaged areas, and establishes the Electric Landscaping Equipment Rebate Program. The “Advanced Building Codes, Appliance and Equipment Efficiency Standards Act of 2021” will promote green buildings and appliances, and allow customers to donate solar energy credit to low income families.
Bill Sponsor Senator Anna Kaplan Climate change can cause major damage to Long Island’s infrastructure and future jobs. It is a simple matter to make sure that new parking structures can be wired for electric vehicle charging. This is what we need to do to ensure that our infrastructure can handle the increasing number of EVs that are on the roads today and tomorrow. I am proud that I sponsored legislation to accomplish this, and I proudly support the Senate Majority’s entire package of environmental legislation. I am grateful to Majority Leader Andrea StewartCousins for bringing these bills up to the floor and for ensuring that we continue to lead in combating climate change.
The legislation includes:
- Cumulative Impacts Bill This bill S8830Majority Leader Andrea Stewart Cusins sponsored the bill. It ensures equitable treatment for economically distressed and minority communities, while also securing environmental facilities. It requires environmental impact reports to determine whether the site will place a disproportionate burden.
- Major violations of the Environmental Conservation Law will be discouragedThis bill S1237,Senator Michael Gianaris sponsored this bill. It states that in addition to the penalties, a person who violates the Environmental Conservation Law could be stopped from continuing to do so. Permits or certificates issued may be revoked/suspended or denied.
- Rebate Program for Electric Landscaping Equipment: This bill S7453ASenator Liz Krueger sponsored this bill. It establishes an electric landscaping equipment rebate programme to reduce greenhouse gas emission, improve air quality, reduce noise pollution, and promote quieter, less-emissions landscaping equipment. It also offers rebates at point of sale to applicants who lease or purchase certain equipment.
- Task Force on Bottle Redemption Fraud This bill S1103AThe bill, sponsored by Senator Todd Kaminsky. It establishes a bottle redemption fraud taskforce to provide information to both the governor of New York and the legislature about the fraud, enforcement and reporting requirements in relation to the New York state’s returnable container act.
- Advanced Building Codes, Appliance and Equipment Efficiency Standards Act This bill S7176Senator Kevin Parker sponsored this bill, which establishes the “Advanced Building Codes, Appliance and Equipment Efficiency Standards Act (of 2021).” It promotes clean energy and implements the climate agenda as set forth in the New York state Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act. It increases the efficiency standards for appliances and equipment through the state energy conservation code, and also increases the energy efficiency standards for appliances and equipment.
- Smart-Share Energy Credit This bill S6919Senator Tim Kennedy sponsored the bill that allows customers who generate solar electricity to give credit for electricity to low-income families. It also requires electric corporations create a low-income energy assistance fund to help with the donation of such credits.
- State Parking Requirements This bill S370AThe legislation, sponsored by Senator Brad Hoylman calls for certain state-owned parking garages and open parking lots to be maintained and installed with charging stations for plug in electric vehicles.
- Expanding Vehicle Charging Stations This bill S23AThe bill, sponsored by Senator Anna Kaplan requires that certain parking facilities be constructed to support electric vehicle charging stations.
- Parkland Renewable Energy Projects This bill S2995The bill, sponsored by Senator Pete Harckham provides an exemption from the requirements for alienation of parkland to renewable energy generating plants with a generating capability not exceeding two megawatts. It is located above real property currently being used for vehicle parking.
- Carpet Collection Program This bill S5027BSenator Brian Kavanagh sponsored the bill. It establishes a carpet collection program, and creates an advisory board on carpet stewardship.
- Renewable Energy on Forested Grounds This bill S659The bill, sponsored by Senator Rachel May allows the state leases or easements to sit or connect renewable energy installations on certain portions of the state’s forested lands.
- Extending Energy Tax Abatement: This bill S3229ASenator Kevin Parker sponsored this bill. It extends an existing tax reduction for New York City residents who installed electric energy storage equipment on their homes after January 1, 2024 or before January 1, 2026.
- Zero Emission State Fleet Plan: This bill S2838CThe bill, sponsored by Senator Kevin Parker directs the Office of General Services and the Department of Environmental Conservation to prepare a state fleet procurement program for the lease or purchase of state agency vehicles. This will ensure that state agency vehicles are zero-emission vehicles for a specified period.
- Land Protection from the Gas Production This bill S1421Senator Jos serrano sponsored this bill, which prohibits the leasing or management of state forests, wildlife management areas, and other unique areas for the purpose gas production.
- Second Chance Renewable Energy Sites This bill S1829AThe legislation, sponsored Senator James Skoufis by, directs New York State Energy Research and Development Authority, to study and make recommendations about the location of renewable energy resources on decommissioned or abandoned electric generating stations.
Kate Kurera, Deputy Director Environmental Advocates NYIt was not so long ago that the only thing that made the New York State Senate Earth Day agenda was a short resolution. Today, Majority Leader Stewart-Cousins and Environmental Committee Chair Kaminsky have presented a comprehensive package to honor Earth Day. This legislation will reduce air pollution and improve the lives and communities of those most affected. We are grateful for their continued attention to the environment and look forward working with them to make these bills law.
Julie Tighe is President of the New York League of Conservation Voters The New York League of Conservation Voters said that it applauds the State Senate’s leaders for passing a series of bills designed to protect the environment, take national-leading climate action, support electric car infrastructure, combat the solid trash crisis, and build the future green energy economy. We must reduce the main emitters of fossil fuels, namely our buildings, transportation and energy sources, in order to achieve the ambitious goals of the Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act. Our New York State Senate is a leader in bold action with forward-looking legislation that targets our appliance and building codes. This series of bills is sponsored by Senators Kaminsky (majority leader), Parker, Harckham. Serrano Skoufis and Krueger.
Sonal Jessel MPH, Director of Policy, WE ACT for Environmental Justice We have seen poorer communities in the state experience higher rates of illness, and even death, during the COVID-19 pandemic. Studies have linked the higher incidence of chronic diseases with the adverse health effects of air pollution and other forms, and these studies also link to the cumulative effects of being exposed to these pollutants. These communities must not be considered dumping grounds for pollution or other hazards.
Zack Dufresne, Executive Director, NYSEIAAccording to the statement, the New York State Senate is meeting Earth Day expectations this year with its legislative efforts. We look forward working with the Senate each year to make New York a cleaner and more sustainable place. Every day is Earth Day, when the sun shines upon solar energy.
Rich Schrader is the New York Policy and Legislative director for NRDC (Natural Resources Defense Council). S7176 is a way to save consumers money and create stronger efficiency standards for everyday electronics. S7176 will also help strengthen building codes, directing the state in order to create new codes for buildings that reduce carbon emissions. A stronger building energy code will reduce greenhouse gas emissions from buildings, the largest source of greenhousegas emissions in New York State.
Jessica Azulay, Executive director of Alliance for a Green EconomyWe thank Majority Leader Andrea Stewart Cusins and New York State Senate, for their leadership during Earth Month. They have, among other things passed a foundational bill which will set new standards in buildings and appliances, save New Yorkers money, reduce air-damaging pollution and lower greenhouse gas emissions. The Advanced Building Codes, Appliance & Equipment Efficiency Standards Act, which will save New Yorkers $15Billion by 2035, will reduce greenhouse gas emissions to the same extent as taking 3700,000 cars off of the road for a full year. We look forward to this and other laws to reduce fossil-fuel use in buildings, which were identified as necessary for the full execution of New York’s landmark climate law.
Ned Sullivan, President of Scenic HudsonIt is now that we can take action to protect our drinking water and clean air and create jobs. Senator Stewart-Cousins has been and will continue to be a pivotal leader in achieving these crucial goals.
Adrienne Esposito is the Executive Director of Citizens Campaign for the Environment.CCE commends Senate’s passing of a broad range of bills that will address climate change and our solid waste crisis. It also supports environmental justice throughout the state. New York State continues its efforts to be a national leader in environmental protection. We are grateful to Senator Kaminsky and Majority Leader Stewart-Cousins for their leadership.
Eddie Bautista is the Executive Director of NYC Environmental Justice Alliance (NYC–EJA). NYC Environmental Justice Alliance, NYC-EJA, praised Majority Leader Stewart-Cousins (Senate Majority) for passing strong bills that recognize that climate action is urgently needed. Climate change is costing communities across the state that are most vulnerable. This package will move New York toward true environmental justice.
Kevin Miller, Senior Vice President of Public Policy at ChargePoint. ChargePoint is the nation’s largest EV charging network. The Empire State has always been an environmental leader. With this package, the State Senate is taking New York’s commitment to a sustainable future to the next level. These bills will support public fleets in their transition to electric mobility and ensure that parking lots are ready to accommodate the increased demand for charging.
Betta Broad, Campaign Director, New Yorkers for Clean Power“We are thrilled that the Advanced Building Codes, Appliance and Equipment Efficiency Standards Acts of 2021 will be included within the NYS Senate’s Earth Day bill package,” stated “This legislation will help New York achieve its climate goals in building sector and will also save New Yorkers $15 billion dollars per year by 2035, at an time when so many are struggling to pay their utility bills.”
Jessica Ottney Mahar, The Nature Conservancys New York Policy & Strategy Director The Nature Conservancy commends the State Senate for passing legislation that reduces pollution and advances the transition to renewable energy in celebration of Earth Day. These bills were passed following historic environmental investments in state budgets, including the $4.2billion Clean Water, Clean Air and Green Jobs Bond Act, which provides a $400 million Environmental Protection Fund and $500 million for clean-water projects. We commend the New York Senate, Majority leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins, as well as Todd Kaminsky, chair of the Environmental Conservation Committee for their environmental leadership.