Enacts the climate change solutions program act

24 Co-sponsors

• Michael Gianaris
• Harvey Weisenberg
• William Colton
• Jeffrey Dinowitz
• Aileen Gunther
• Margaret Markey
• Amy Paulin
• Barbara Clark
• Kevin Cahill
• Ellen C. Jaffee
• Jonathan Bing
• Joan Millman
• Michael Benedetto
• Donna Lupardo
• Steven Englebright
• Linda Rosenthal
• Barbara Lifton
• Crystal Peoples-Stokes
• William Magnarelli
• William Boyland
• Thomas Alfano
• Ginny Fields
• Brian Kavanagh
• Michelle Schimel

11 Multi-sponsors

• Greg Ball
• Robert Castelli
• Sandy Galef
• Earlene Hooper
• Rhoda Jacobs
• George Latimer
• Vito Lopez
• Alan Maisel
• N. Nick Perry
• Audrey Pheffer
• Helene Weinstein

BILL NUMBER:A6321A

Title of bill

An act to amend the environmental conservation law, in relation to establishing the climate change solutions program act

Purpose or general idea of bill

This bill would dedicate any funds raised from the auction of emissions allowances, specifically those associated with the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI), primarily for the purposes of supporting energy efficiency programs, as well as programs that encourage the development of clean, renewable sources of energy, and programs to advance the state's other air quality goals.

Summary of specific provisions

This bill would enact the Climate Change Solutions Program Act, which would:

*provide for detailed programmatic and financial reporting requirements on the use of funds received from the auction of emissions allowances;

*establish a Greenhouse Gas Emissions Reduction Program within the Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) that would make state assistance payments available, on a competitive basis, to municipalities and not-for-profit corporations to install cogeneration systems, purchase clean-fueled vehicles or retrofit existing vehicle fleets to become clean-fueled vehicles, and retrofit existing furnaces and boilers with high efficiency systems that meet certain specifications;

*establish a statutory Energy Efficiency Program within the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) that would make financial assistance available, on a competitive basis, to any electric utility customer to undertake electric energy efficiency projects, provided that priority would be given to projects that result in the highest electricity savings or are conducted in lower income communities;

*establish a statutory Renewable Energy Development Program within NYSERDA that would make financial assistance available, on a competitive basis, to any electric utility customer to install or operate technol- ogies that convert energy sources such as solar, wind or tidal energy into electricity; and,

*establish a Clean Air Technology Program within NYSERDA that would make state assistance payments available, on a competitive basis, to munici- palities to retrofit vehicles with best available emission control devices.

Justification

Global climate change threatens the environment, natural resources and economy of New York State. In an effort to. reduce its contribution to global warming, the state has led the way in developing RGGI, a multi-state cap and trade program to stabilize and reduce carbon dioxide emissions from electric generating facilities. Proceeds from the carbon dioxide auctions should primarily be invested in energy efficien- cy initiatives, as well as programs that increase the state's invest-

ment in clean renewable sources of energy and programs that help meet the state's other air quality goals. Increased investment in energy efficiency will result in decreased local and statewide electricity demand and protect New Yorkers from the harmful effects of air pollution created by fossil fuel-fired power plants. These harmful effects include 'asthma attacks and premature deaths in seniors, increased levels of mercury contamination, destruction of our forest ecosystems by acid rain, as well as wide ranging negative effects associated.with climate change. In addition, investment in energy efficiency will drive down the cost of implementing the ROOT and its impacts on consumer energy bills. Estimates provided for the states implementing RGGI show that doubling energy efficiency spending would reduce annual household bills in the region by $66 in 2015 and by $109 in 2021. Dedicating, these funds for the purposes outlined in this bill will ensure that New York- ers realize the maximum public benefit from RGGI.

Prior legislative history

2009: A.6321 (Sweeney) - Passed the Assembly 2008: A.7365-A (Sweeney) - Passed the Assembly

Fiscal implications

Subject to appropriation.

Effective date

This act shall take effect immediately.