Draft NYS Energy Plan
On August 10, Governor Paterson announced that the New York State Energy Planning Board has prepared a comprehensive draft State Energy Plan, the first step in redefining how the State approaches and satisfies its energy needs. The draft Plan identifies strategies and provides recommendations that, when implemented, will make energy more reliable, secure and affordable for New Yorkers, address the threat of climate change, and result in a cleaner environment. This will grow New York’s clean energy economy - a core component of Governor Paterson’s New Economy Jobs Plan -and is expected to create tens of thousands of jobs in New York. http://www.state.ny.us/
NYS Greenhouse Gas Emission Promises
On August 6, Governor Paterson signed Executive Order No. 24 setting a goal to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in New York State by 80 percent below the levels emitted in 1990 by the year 2050. The Executive Order also creates a Climate Action Council with a directive to prepare a draft Climate Action Plan by September 30, 2010. The Climate Action Plan will assess how all economic sectors can reduce greenhouse gas emissions and adapt to climate change, as well as identify the extent to which such actions support New York’s goals for a clean energy economy. www.ny.gov/governor/press/
Carbon Trading Soon Comes to NY (Regional Legislation)
from The CUNY Sustainable Cities Blog
Just last week, the ten Regional Green House Gas Initiative (RGGI) states of the Northeast embarked on their first auction of carbon emission allowances. All were sold at a clearing price of $3.07 per allowance.
The next round of auctions comes in December, which might be too far for in the future for bidders. Supplied allowances were far under the demand which was 51,761,000--four times the available allowances. Whether that is a sign of how far we have to go, or a sign that the system works is questionable. But the $38,575,783 that was brought in by the the auction will be used in Connecticut, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Rhode Island and Vermont as these were the states that initially offered allowances. New York will be auctioning in December I believe. The six states that are getting funds will be investing in energy efficiency, renewable technologies, and programs to benefit energy consumers. Whether you are a big fan of trading, would prefer a flat tax, or just think that regulators should not have to offer a scheme to reduce toxic emissions, $39 million is a nice chunk of money to implement much needed energy efficiency, renewable energy and education efforts. New York's auction will hopefully be bringing similar initiatives to the Empire State.
Thanks to Gail Karlsson at Citizens Network for Sustainable Development (CitNet) for this policy update
On August 25, New York's Attorney General Andrew Cuomo announced a lawsuit against the EPA for failing to adopt regulations that control emissions of global warming pollution from oil refineries. Cuomo is leading a group of twelve states, the District of Columbia, and the City of New York in a suit that challenges the EPA's refusal to require new or renovated oil refineries to install technologies that control global warming pollution, in violation of the Clean Air Act.
Coming Soon!
$$$ Green Roof Incentives & Tax Credits for Homeowners!
According to advocates for the bill, applications will begin being accepted in Jan 2009.
Link directly to the State Legislation here
A New York State bill (A10234) passed in 2007--but slated to begin in 2009--requires the commissioner to establish standards and a program of inspection and certification of green roofs prior to and after installation. This includes standards for environmentally acceptable chemical fertilizers and the testing of runoff water for evidence of such fertilizers.
In addition to the standards, the bill further establishes a green roof installation credit in the amount of fifty-five percent of qualified expenditures with a credit maximum of five thousand dollars and provides green roof tax abatement (estimated at 35%) for certain properties in a city of one million or more persons.
Now it is up to building owners, landlords and co-op and condo boards to take the next step and install green roofs on their buildings!
Thanks to Gail Karlsson at Citizens Network for Sustainable Development (CitNet) for the policy updates below
Green buildings: The New York City inventory of greenhouse gas emissions found that 79% of CO2 emissions produced in the city came from buildings. The legislature passed 3 bills to address this issue – S5442, which requires state construction projects to comply with green building standards; S8134, which would provide grants for the construction of green homes; and S7553, which would provide a tax credit for the construction of green roofs.
Brownfields cleanup (S8717): This legislation will streamline the brownfields program and target state resources to projects that really need the tax credits for cleanup and redevelopment. This will help ensure that there is money for desperately needed cleanup in Buffalo and other old industrial cities, as well as in poorer communities here in NYC, as was originally intended by the legislature.
Smart Growth: Suburban sprawl contributes to global warming by reducing our inventory of undeveloped land and by forcing people to travel long distances in polluting autos. This session the legislature passed S8612 which establishes “smart growth” principles, and requires the state to take them into account in the environmental review process.
Net-metering: The legislature passed two bills (S7171 and S8481) to allow consumers to receive credit for solar or wind energy they produce that they send back into the energy grid. This helps the state meet its energy needs while encouraging the expansion of small-scale clean energy production.
The legislature once again failed to reach agreement on expansion of the bottle bill (S1592), and failed to move greenhouse gas limitations (S8100), which would have offered a more comprehensive approach to addressing global warming.
