Marking Fifth Anniversary of New York’s Climate Law, Organizations Urge Governor Hochul to Advance Ambitious and Equitable Cap-and-Invest Rules

ALBANY, NY (July 30, 2024) — Marking the fifth anniversary of the Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act’s signing into law, the undersigned climate, environmental justice, and clean energy organizations issued the following statement:

“As we mark the fifth anniversary of the Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act’s (CLCPA) signing into law this month, the undersigned organizations urge Governor Hochul to advance regulations for an ambitious and equitable cap-and-invest program with strong guardrails for disadvantaged communities (DACs) as soon as possible.

A strong cap-and-invest program would be a win for New York’s climate, public health, and economy. But to secure these benefits for New York’s families and workers, the program must include a high-integrity cap aligned with the CLCPA’s greenhouse gas emission targets and prioritize co-pollutant reductions in DACs. Such a program would cut costly pollution and represent a powerful vehicle for economic growth in communities around the state, creating family-sustaining jobs through investment in the kind of infrastructure — such as energy-efficient and electrified buildings, clean manufacturing, and transit — that will be the backbone of a just and equitable clean energy economy.

A program designed to align with the CLCPA’s emissions targets will also maximize revenues that can be invested to ensure energy affordability, particularly for low- and moderate-income households and communities of color — both by scaling programs that accelerate clean energy adoption and returning revenues directly to New Yorkers.

The health and safety of our communities and of future generations depends on bold leadership and meaningful action to implement and fund our nation-leading climate law. Our organizations call on Governor Hochul to propose draft regulations for a cap-and-invest program that delivers on the promise and requirements of the CLCPA without further delay”

350Brooklyn

350NYC

Alliance for a Green Economy

All Our Energy

Association for Energy Affordability

Building Decarbonization Coalition

Citizens’ Climate Lobby, Brooklyn

Earthjustice

Environmental Defense Fund

Green Choices Consulting

Mothers Out Front NY

Natural Resources Defense Council

Network for a Sustainable Tomorrow

New Yorkers for Clean Power

New York Climate Advocacy Project

New York Geothermal Energy Organization (NY-GEO)

New York Lawyers for the Public Interest

New York League of Conservation Voters

NYC 2030 District

People of Albany United for Safe Energy (PAUSE)

Roctricity, LLC

Sierra Club

The Climate Reality Project New York Chapters Coalition

The Nature Conservancy in New York

Third Act Upstate New York

Tompkins County Climate Protection Initiative

Urban Green Council

Vote Solar

WE ACT for Environmental Justice