Gov. Hochul signs package of bills to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, create green jobs

SYRACUSE, N.Y. — New York Governor Kathy Hochul signed a package of three bills Tuesday that will strengthen the state’s commitment to clean energy development and energy efficiency while reducing greenhouse gas emissions.

The three new laws support the Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act's goal of an 85% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions by 2050 while ensuring an equitable transition for New York workers and communities, according to the governor.

“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,” said Gov. Hochul. “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 the state’s regulatory and policy environment to support energy efficiency and greenhouse gas reduction strategies in buildings.

The legislation requires the state Energy Conservation Construction Code to be updated to achieve energy efficiency and greenhouse gas emission reductions.

According to the governor, advanced energy codes could reduce ongoing energy bills, leading to about $4 billion in energy savings for building owners by 2030.

The legislation also authorizes the state Energy Research and Development Authority to adopt efficiency standards for appliances and equipment that reduce energy usage.

Expanding appliance standards will reduce emissions and deliver $15 billion in savings to New Yorkers through 2035, including $6 billion to low- and moderate-income houses, by reducing wasted energy from the use of less efficient everyday products and appliances.

MORE | Supreme Court decision may slow transition to cleaner energy

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.

This legislation allows utilities to own, operate, and manage thermal energy networks as well as supply distributed thermal energy with oversight from the PSC.

According to the governor, heating and cooling networks are a resilient, energy-efficient, and clean solution that can help the state meet its ambitious climate goals.

By using multiple sources of existing waste heat and connecting a diverse set of building types on a shared loop, thermal energy networks can provide significant operating energy cost savings when compared to more traditional heating and cooling methods, while also reducing demand on the electric grid.

The legislation will promote the development of thermal energy networks throughout the state, providing benefits like reducing fossil fuel usage and creating job opportunities.

The governor also signed legislation requiring a prevailing wage for renewable energy projects one megawatt and larger that involve the procurement of renewable energy credits from a public entity.

This legislation supports the governor’s new goal for ten gigawatts of distributed solar by 2030, enough to annually power nearly 700,000 average-sized homes.

New York’s gigawatt map, which was approved by PSC in April, provides a comprehensive strategy to expand the state’s successful NY-Sun initiative into one of the largest distributed solar programs of its kind in the nation.

Watch the full news conference below: