Green Lawmakers Pressure Hochul to Speed up Action on Climate Act
Delays in Climate Action Stir Concerns
Delays in moving forward with New York State’s sweeping climate action law are stirring up concerns among its supporters that Gov. Kathy Hochul is seeking to avoid a perceived political price — with echoes of the ongoing battle over congestion pricing.
As part of her State of the State agenda last month, Hochul said state agencies have until the end of 2025 to propose just one element of required regulations. That misses the Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act’s deadline by nearly two years and with no sign of when the rest might follow.
Political Climate
Hochul’s recent announcement indicated the first cap-and-invest rules, related to emissions reporting, would come out by the end of this year. That means the cap-and-invest program wouldn’t likely take effect until late 2026 or sometime in 2027 — after the next election for governor.
Meanwhile, New York is falling behind on two key requirements of the CLCPA: sourcing 70% of its electricity from renewables like solar and wind by 2030, and reducing planet-warming greenhouse gas emissions 40% below 1990 levels by 2030 (and 85% by 2050). New York is about three years behind the first target and has so far reduced emissions about 9% below 1990 levels, according to the latest data available.
Cap and Invest
Cap and invest would raise money for climate-related projects by charging some entities that emit a significant amount of planet-warming gas for the emissions they spew, with a declining cap to drive down carbon over time. The program would also include rebates to low-income utility customers to offset any hike in bills that might come as a result.
Lawmakers’ Concerns
Already, the Department of Environmental Conservation and the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority blew past the January 2024 deadline the CLCPA set for coming up with regulations. Michael Gerrard, director of the Sabin Center for Climate Change Law at Columbia University, contends the governor is violating the law.
“I think Gov. Hochul was exceeding her authority much as she did when pausing congestion pricing, and DEC has a legal obligation to issue the regulations,” Gerrard said. “Cap and invest would generate revenues that could be used to build more renewable energy and more energy efficiency — things that the federal government is pulling back on.”
Conclusion
The delay in implementing the cap-and-invest program is causing concerns among lawmakers and environmental groups, who argue that it is essential for achieving the state’s climate goals. The program would not only reduce emissions but also generate revenue for climate-related projects. The governor’s office has maintained that the program is being developed, but the lack of progress is causing frustration among those who are pushing for action.
FAQs
Q: What is the Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act?
A: The CLCPA is a law enacted in 2019 that requires New York State to reduce planet-warming greenhouse gas emissions and shift away from fossil fuels.
Q: What is the cap-and-invest program?
A: The cap-and-invest program is a key element of the CLCPA that would raise money for climate-related projects by charging entities that emit significant amounts of planet-warming gas for their emissions.
Q: Why is the cap-and-invest program important?
A: The cap-and-invest program is essential for achieving the state’s climate goals and reducing emissions. It would also generate revenue for climate-related projects and help to build a more sustainable economy.
Q: What is the current status of the cap-and-invest program?
A: The cap-and-invest program is still in the development stage, and there is no clear timeline for its implementation. The governor’s office has maintained that the program is being developed, but the lack of progress is causing frustration among those who are pushing for action.
