Establishes the green jobs-green New York act of 2009 and establishes the Green Jobs-Green New York fund

24 Co-sponsors

• Neil D. Breslin
• Ruben Diaz
• Brian X. Foley
• Shirley L. Huntley
• Craig M. Johnson
• Kenneth P. LaValle
• Carl L. Marcellino
• George D. Maziarz
• Hiram Monserrate
• Velmanette Montgomery
• Thomas P. Morahan
• George Onorato
• Suzi Oppenheimer
• Kevin S. Parker
• Bill Perkins
• John L. Sampson
• Diane J. Savino
• Eric T. Schneiderman
• José M. Serrano
• William T. Stachowski
• Andrea Stewart-Cousins
• Antoine M. Thompson
• David J. Valesky
• George Winner

Title of bill

An act to amend the public authorities law, in relation to establishing the "green jobs-green New York act of 2009"; and to amend the state finance law, in relation to establishing the green jobs-green New York fund

Purpose or general idea of bill

Establish a "Green Jobs/Green New York" program administered by the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) with a goal of making 1,000,000 homes, businesses, and not-for-profits in New York more energy efficient while creating thousands of new green jobs and training the workers to fill them.

Summary of specific provisions

Section one:

*Provides definitions for the Green Jobs/Green New York program.

*Authorizes NYSERDA to establish the Green Jobs/Green New York Program by implementing a demonstration program to provide funding for the performance of energy audits and energy-efficient retrofits for residential, small business, and not-for-profit property owners in order to reduce dependence on fossil fuels, lower housing costs, support community development and create green jobs to sustain and enhance our economy.

*Requires NYSERDA to establish innovative financing mechanisms such as on-bill financing that allow consumers to pay for these improvements through energy savings over a period of time.

*Requires: selection of target communities for the program through a competitive process and requires applicants to include local community groups in collaboration with contractors, local utilities, including LIPA and NYPA and labor and training organizations; geographic diversity; and, criteria for awards to include preferences to coalitions that include women and minority based businesses and groups based in economically distressed communities.

*Provides $112 million of funding from the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI)

*Establishes a Green Jobs/Green New York advisory council to advise NYSERDA on the creation and implementation of the program.

*Requires NYSERDA to submit an annual report to the Governor, the Temporary President of the Senate, the Speaker of the Assembly, the Minority Leader of the Senate and the Minority Leader of the Assembly concerning the authorities activities related to the Green Jobs- Green New York program.

Section 2 requires NYSERDA to establish rules and regulations to govern the program.

Section 3 requires DEC to deposit $112 million of RGGI funds into the Green Jobs/Green New York fund.

Section 4 establishes the Green Jobs/Green New York fund in the joint custody of the Comptroller and the Commissioner of Taxation and Finance.

Justification

Promoting widespread dissemination of energy conservation and clean energy technologies represents a clear and cost-effective pathway for communities in New York State to curtail emissions of greenhouse gases and harmful air contaminants, reduce dependence on fossil fuels, lower housing costs, support community development and create green jobs to sustain and enhance our economy. Installation of energy efficiency improvements to reduce the loss or waste of energy is a proven method that can pay for itself over reasonable time periods. However, lack of affordable and accessible financing for many owners of residential properties, small businesses and non-profit organizations has hindered progress in fully realizing the promise of these technologies. By enacting a "Green Jobs/Green New York" program, the state will authorize the performance of energy-efficient retrofits at no initial cost to residential property owners, with an ultimate goal of improving at least one million residential units over the next five years, and demonstrate the effectiveness of innovative financing mechanisms in reaching this goal.

Prior legislative history

2009: New

Fiscal implications for state and local governments

$112 million of funding from the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI)

Effective date

This act shall take effect immediately.