2024 Climate Action and Cap-and-Invest Updates
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NYCI Second Stage Outreach: Preliminary Analysis Overview
Jan. 31, 2024 - Maya Gerber
DEC and NYSERDA are holding three webinars in January to discuss updates to the New York Cap-and-Invest Program (NYCI). The first webinar consisted of providing background information about NYCI and the policies that will help New York lower its emissions towards the Climate Act’s targets. NYCI is in the second stage of pre-proposal outreach, meaning DEC and NYSERDA seek feedback from stakeholders.
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NYCI Second Stage Outreach: Pre-Proposal Outline Overview
Jan. 31, 2024 - Maya Gerber
DEC and NYSERDA are holding three webinars in January 2024 to discuss updates to the planned New York Cap-and-Invest Program (NYCI). The second webinar discussed in more detail the Mandatory Greenhouse Gas Reporting Program and the Cap-and-Invest Program and Auction Rule. The updates made to these two aspects of the program are based on stakeholder input, which both the DEC and NYSERDA are continuing to encourage.
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NYCI Second Stage Outreach: The Role of Cap-and-Invest
Jan. 31, 2024 - Maya Gerber
DEC and NYSERDA are holding three webinars in January to discuss updates to the New York Cap-and-Invest Program (NYCI). The first webinar consisted of providing background information about NYCI and the policies that will help New York lower its emissions towards the Climate Act’s targets. NYCI is in the second stage of pre-proposal outreach, meaning DEC and NYSERDA seek feedback from stakeholders.
2023 Climate Action and Cap-and-Invest Updates
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Cap-and-Invest Stakeholder Feedback Session #7
June 22, 2023 - Lucy Mastrianni
NYSERDA and the DEC co-hosted their last session of this webinar series, focusing on electricity, on June 22. They are seeking input on one specific question: should electricity sources currently subject to RGGI be obligated or non-obligated under NYCI? Currently, no decision has been made regarding this distinction.
Another big design consideration for the program is stability mechanisms. The DEC and NYSERDA are seeking feedback regarding the use of Cost Containment Reserve and Emission Containment Reserve, and if so, how these elements should be designed and used.
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Cap-and-Invest Stakeholder Feedback Session #6
June 20, 2023 - Lucy Mastrianni
DEC and NYSERDA co-hosted their sixth webinar on June 20, this webinar discussed the proposed methods for the analytic modeling that will be conducted to support the development of NYCI. The model that the DEC and NYSERDA are using is one that has been used globally but will be tailored to fit New York.
DEC and NYSERDA plan to use this information to better understand the effects that NYCI will have across the board, including on health and air quality, jobs impacts, benefits and costs, and more. The model consists of iterating over five key steps and model convergence.
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Cap-and-Invest Stakeholder Feedback Session #5
June 15, 2023 - Lucy Mastrianni
DEC and NYSERDA hosted their 5th Cap-and-Invest Feedback Session with a specific focus on waste. Sources of emissions in the waste sector can include landfills, exported waste, waste combustion, and wastewater treatment. They are looking for specific feedback on questions regarding waste.
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Cap-and-Invest Stakeholder Feedback Session #4
June 13, 2023 - Lucy Mastrianni
DEC and NYSERDA hosted their 4th webinar in the series for New York Cap-and- Invest pre-proposal outreach. This webinar had a focus on energy-intensive and trade- exposed industries and their role in the development of New York's Cap-and-Invest Program (NYCI). The program is currently in the pre-proposal outreach stage, and DEC is seeking input from stakeholders.
Energy Intensive and Trade Exposed (EITE) Industries - industries like cement, steel, and paper manufacturers – are responsible for a relatively small percentage of greenhouse gas emissions but a significant number of jobs.
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Cap-and-Invest Initial Comments Submitted
August 9, 2023
ACE NY filed initial comments on August 9, 2023, to the DEC and NYSERDA regarding the proposal of New York’s Cap-and-Invest program. These comments were in response to the seven webinars that took place in June and highlighted different proposed aspects of the Cap-and-Invest program.
ACE NY’s comments are in support of the inclusion of the electric sector in the cap-and-invest policy as well as assurance that the design and implementation of a cap-and-invest policy both addresses equity concerns and ensures that CLCPA mandates will be met. The full comments can be found below.
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Cap-and-Invest Stakeholder Feedback Session #3
June 8, 2023 - Lucy Mastrianni
The DEC and NYSERDA co-hosted the third webinar on June 8 in their Cap-and-Invest series. John Binder began the webinar by restating the purpose and goal of the webinar series. Much of the information had been previously covered in the first two webinars.
As an overview, NY’s Climate Action Council recommended an economy wide Cap-and-Invest program in the Climate Scoping Plan, and DEC and NYSERDA are developing this program to set the state on the path toward a carbon neutral economy, meet greenhouse gas emission reductions, and achieve equity requirements and outcomes. The New York-Cap-and-Invest Program (“NYCI”) will require major greenhouse gas emitters, like fuel wholesalers, to buy allowances for their emissions. This will encourage them to shift to low-carbon alternatives. The revenue from these allowances will be reinvested by New York State.
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Cap-and-Invest Stakeholder Feedback Session #2
June 6, 2023 - Lucy Mastrianni
The DEC and NYSERDA hosted the second webinar in their Cap-and-Invest Feedback Session Series focused on the natural gas system. The webinar began with a detailed summary of the proposed New York Cap-and-Invest (NYCI) program, which was covered in the first webinar. They reiterated that they are eager to hear from stakeholders to get feedback through this long process. Visit www.capandinvest.ny.gov/meetings-and-events for more information.
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Cap-and-Invest Stakeholder Feedback Session #1
June 1, 2023 - Lucy Mastrianni
The DEC and NYSERDA are co-hosting a webinar series in which they are eager to share information about the New York Cap-and-Invest program as well as receive input from stakeholders. The first webinar was held June 1, 2023 and Jon Binder began the webinar by covering the process for the development and implementation of the Cap-and-Invest Program. He pointed out that this webinar is the start of the initial stage of pre-proposal outreach.
NY’s Climate Action Council recommended an economy wide cap-and-invest program in the Climate Scoping Plan, and DEC and NYSERDA are developing this program currently to set the state on the path toward a carbon neutral economy, meet greenhouse gas emission reductions, and reach equity requirements.
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New York Defines Disadvantaged Communities
March 27, 2023 - Jeff Jones
In March 2023, the Climate Justice Working Group finished its work to define Disadvantaged Communities for the purposes of implementing the NYS Climate Scoping Plan. You can find the maps of the DACs here.
New York State is undertaking the most ambitious effort in the U.S. to meet the challenge of climate change. Importantly, New York’s Climate Act recognizes that climate change doesn’t affect all communities equally.
2022 Climate Action Updates
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Statement from the Alliance for Clean Energy NY Regarding the Final NY Scoping Plan
December 19, 2022
Today, the New York State Climate Action Council voted to accept the final draft of the Climate Scoping Plan that will serve as a roadmap for climate action in the state to achieve its nation-leading climate goals.
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Climate Action Council Approaches Final Plan
September 29, 2022
New York State’s Climate Council is inching its way towards a final, comprehensive, and economy-wide Climate Scoping Plan, due by law by December 31, 2022.
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Climate Action Council Meeting
September 13, 2022
The Climate Action Council held its bi-weekly meeting on Tuesday, September 13 to bring members up to date on issues regarding transportation, agriculture and forestry, land use, local government, and waste.
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NY Holds Public Hearings on Draft Scoping Plan
May 24, 2022
The Climate Action Council (CAC) held 11 public hearings throughout April and May to receive public input on the Draft Scoping Plan, the initial framework for how the State will reduce greenhouse gas emissions, achieve net-zero emissions, increase renewable energy usage, and do so in a just manner. Written feedback is still possible until June 11th. All feedback will be used to create the Final Scoping Plan, which will guide the implementation the Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act (CLCPA). As the Climate Act requires, the Final Scoping Plan will be posted online and delivered to the Governor and Legislature by January 1st, 2023.
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April 2022 Climate Action Update
April 6, 2022
CAC Co-Chairs President Harris and Commissioner Seggos and members of the Council: My name is Kyle Rabin and I am representing the Alliance for Clean Energy New York. Thank you for the opportunity to comment on the Draft Scoping Plan and for providing numerous options for the public to weigh in. ACE NY will be submitting more detailed comments in writing. I’d like to highlight a few things today.
2021 Climate Action Updates
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Last Climate Action Council Meeting of 2021
By Anne Reynolds
After 18 meetings of the Climate Action Council, and dozens more meetings of the various advisory panels, on December 20th the Council voted to release the Draft Climate Scoping Plan for public review. The Scoping Plan is a lengthy document laying out an extremely ambitious plan to nearly-completely transform NY’s energy sector over a twenty-eight year period. Although the Draft includes a reference case and three additional scenarios, the overwhelming majority of each scenario is the same, and can be partially summarized as: build renewable energy and electrify everything.
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Climate Justice Working Group Update
By Jeff Jones
The Climate Justice Working Group continued its progress toward a recommended definition of Disadvantaged Communities (DACs), with a final vote scheduled for either the 9th or 13th of December. The definition, mandated under the CLCPA, will go to the Climate Action Council, which is expecting to receive a draft scoping plan from staff, also on December 9th (see Climate Action Council Update, by Anne Reynolds, Dec. 1st). CJWG Chair Alanah Kaddell-Tuckey, Acting Director of DEC’s Office of Environmental Justice, commented that discussions are underway to determine when and how the working group will next engage with the Council.
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Climate Action Council Update
By Anne Reynolds
The November 30th Climate Action Council meeting focused on the jobs study and a discussion of the draft Scoping Plan. Co-Chair Basil Seggos started the meeting by stating that the time has come for the CAC members to give clear direction to the staff team on finalizing the draft plan. He also announced that Haley Vaccaro is the new Strategic Director for Communications for climate issues, including the Scoping Plan and CAC work. Co-Chair Harris mentioned that NYS was well represented in Glasgow for COP 26 and also announced that NYSERDA had filed theREAD MORE petition to the PSC to finalize the two Clean Energy Standard Tier 4 contracts – the two transmission projects to move clean energy into New York City.
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Climate Justice Working Group Update
By Jeff Jones
With statutory deadlines and the anticipated release of the Climate Action Council’s CLCPA-mandated scoping plan due early next year, the CJWG met Nov. 17th to continue refining its definition of disadvantaged communities (DACs). The discussion continued to refine how to categorize communities based on various criteria. In addition, the working group continued its discussion of the nature of funds deployed under the CLCPA, including the difference between investments and benefits. CJWG members continue to raise the concern that various state agencies may count current programs as qualified, which could undercut actual investments in DACs.
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Climate Justice Working Group Update
By Jeff Jones
The most recent meeting of the Climate Justice Working Group (Oct. 21, 2021) focused on finalizing the definition of Disadvantaged Communities (DAC) as required by the Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act (CLCPA). Based on mapping recommendations coordinated by consultants Amanda Dwelley and Alex Dunn of Illume Advising, the working group is narrowing the focus it will present to the Climate Action Council and the public later this year.
READ MORE
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Clean Energy Council Examines Modelling Results
On October 14, the Climate Action Council (CAC) held its 16th meeting to review the latest results of the integration analysis – that is, the modelling of all the recommendations of the various advisory panels, and then some. You can see all the information presented in the lengthy Meeting Presentation [PDF] and yes, it really is 105 slides.
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NY Climate Action Council Meeting Held September 13th
New York’s Climate Action Council (CAC) met on September 13th. Co-Chair Seggos delivered opening remarks, mentioning the gubernatorial transition and welcoming Gov. Kathy Hochul. He also mentioned the brutal recent storms and some recent milestones for the new Governor, including the two recent EV announcements.
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Summaries of the CAC, Advisory Panel and Working Group Meetings
Just Transition Working Group – Thursday, August 5, 2021
By: Anastasia Gordon
The Just Transition Working Group (JTWG) met on August 5 to hear an update on the progress of the jobs study, which will assess the impacts of the transition to clean energy economy on NY’s workforce. NYSERDA’s President and JTWG co-chair also updated the working group on the recently launched $5 million just transition site reuse planning program.
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Summaries of the CAC, Advisory Panel and Working Group Meetings - August 2, 2021
limate Justice Working Group – Tuesday, July 27, 2021
By: Anastasia Gordon
On July 27, the Climate Justice Working Group continued to review and discuss draft scenarios and documentation on indicators considered as they work towards voting on the list of indicators that will identify disadvantaged communities (DAC). This is the mandate of the CJWG under NY’s climate law. The working group also received an outline of the plan for the public process from DEC’s Alanah Keddell-Tuckey.
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Land Use and Local Government Recommendations – Wednesday, July 14, 2021
By Anastasia Gordon
On July 14, Environmental Advocates NY (EANY) and a group of local government leaders sent a letter providing comments on the Land Use and Local Government (LULG) Panel’s recommendations for the consideration of the Climate Action Council. Recognizing the key role of local governments in achieving the goals of NY’s climate law, EANY convened a roundtable of 24 local government leaders and experts to review and build upon the emissions reduction recommendations of the LULG Panel.
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Summaries of the CAC, Advisory Panel and Working Group Meetings - June, 2021
By Anastasia Gordon
The Climate Action Council (CAC) meeting on June 28 focused on feedback from members of the Climate Justice Working Group (CJWG) on final Panel emissions reduction recommendations. The CJWG, which is tasked to define and provide strategic advice on meeting the needs of disadvantaged communities (DACs), narrowed in on the mitigation proposals of the Transportation and Energy Efficiency and Housing (EEH) Panels, specifically. Further engagement with the CJWG is anticipated in the near future to gain feedback on the remaining Panel recommendations. The CAC reconvenes on July 22.
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Climate Justice Working Group - June 15, 2021
By Jeff Jones
Pressure on the CJWG to propose a working definition of disadvantaged communities (DAC), as required by the CLCPA, is growing as the Climate Action Council begins to evaluate proposals from various advisory panels. Staff advised the working group in relation to the CLCPA implementation timetable. To meet its schedule, the CAC needs draft scenarios by early August. This is to accommodate the need for the council’s scoping plan, which is due in early 2022, to go through a mandatory 120-day public comment period.
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Climate Action Council - June 8, 2021
By Jeff Jones
Originally scheduled as a working session with the Climate Justice Working Group (CJWG), this meeting of the CAC featured a report from the Adaptation and Resilience Working Group (ARWG), which has functioned as a subgroup of the Land Use & Local Government Advisory Panel. The first of several meetings with the CJWG is now scheduled for June 28th.
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Summaries of the Climate Action Council, Advisory Panel and Working Group Meetings - April 30 - May 14, 2021
By Anastasia Gordon and Jeff Jones
Recaps: The Land Use and Local Government Panel reconvened for the last time to make discuss and make amendments to draft adaptation and resilience strategies. Among the suggestions made by Panel members included utilizing the latest climate projections, encouraging community-based planning, reducing pollution, and assessing the state of disrepair of dams. NYSDEC’s Mark Lowery noted the adaptation and resilience subgroup agreed to remove and defer a recommendation on maintaining the reliability of the energy system to the Power Generation Panel.
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The Climate Justice Working Group - May 24
By Jeff Jones
The Climate Justice Working Group met May 24th, facing intense pressure to agree on key principles to present at the Climate Action Council (CAC) meeting scheduled for June 8th. Additionally, the working group is expected to have reviewed many of the advisory panel reports that have been filed with the CAC from the perspective of those principles.
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The Climate Justice Working Group - May 12
By Jeff Jones
The Climate Justice Working Group met May 12th to review the status of its reports to the CAC, and to continue working on its primary obligation under the CLCPA, the development of a working definition of disadvantaged communities. Staff reviewed interactions with the CAC and various advisory panels and also reported on efforts underway by NYSERDA and DEC to interact with other state agencies to inventory and assess relevant programs that address existing systems for measuring, tracking and reporting potential DAC benefits.
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The Land Use and Local Governments Advisory Panel - May 10
By Jeff Jones
The Land Use and Local Governments Advisory Panel report to the CAC developed five primary themes. These included:
- Promoting efficient land use and smart growth principles that reduce vehicle miles traveled (VMT).
- Maximizing natural carbon sequestration potential.
- Facilitating responsible siting and adoption of clean energy sources.
- Providing local governments with needed tools and resources.
- And a commitment to environmental justice, disadvantaged communities and a just transition.
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Climate Justice Working Group Update - April 21, 2021
By Jeff Jones
The Climate Justice Working Group met for two hours on April 21st, continuing its efforts to develop a working definition of disadvantaged communities (DACs) as required by the CLCPA. While many Advisory Panels are wrapping up their work and sending final recommendations to the Climate Action Council (CAC), the CJWG is struggling to gather essential data it needs.
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Summaries of the CAC, Advisory Panel and Working Group Meetings - More from April
Land Use and Local Government Advisory Panel – Wednesday, April 14, 2021
By Jeff Jones
The work of most Climate Action Council advisory panels is beginning to wind down. The Land Use & Local Government Advisor Panel, for one, will be delivering its report to the CAC on May 10th. This is after conducting 8 open-to-the-pubic panel meetings since September, with over a hundred comments from the public, 2 public engagement sessions and 2 local government round tables. The panel’s Land Use, Clean Energy and Carbon Sequestration sub-groups delivered their reports for final consideration by panel members at the April 14th meeting.
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April Summaries of the Climate Action Council Advisory Panel and Working Group Meetings
Several Updates:
Transportation Advisory Panel – Friday, April 9, 2021
By Anastasia Gordon
The thirteenth meeting of the Transportation Advisory Panel featured an update from The Cadmus Group on the status of the New York Clean Transportation Roadmap study. This was followed by a last review of the Panel’s draft mitigation recommendations, which will be advanced to the Climate Action Council (CAC) in May for inclusion in the scoping plan to achieve NY’s climate law.
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Climate Justice Working Group Update
By Jeff Jones
The Climate Justice Working Group met March 24th to continue its mandated work to develop the criteria for defining disadvantaged communities under the CLCPA. Consultants continued to report on modeling using a threats and vulnerabilities framework and to draw lessons from similar programs, including the California EnviroScreen, DEC EJ community air quality variables and federal EJ screens. Working group members continued to raise questions to clarify and narrow the criteria being developed.
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Just Transition Working Group Update
By Jeff Jones
The goal of this meeting was to finalize recommendations the JTWG will be presenting to the Climate Action Council (CAC) at its April 12th meeting. The working group focused on its mandated workforce training recommendations and business impacts identified by two subgroups. The working group also heard a presentation on the future of fossil fuel power plants across the country, including a projected timeline for their decommissioning, by Prof. Emily Grubert of George Tech. Her report was followed by a New York State power plant inventory with a focus on site reuse. The meeting ended with a brief update on the on-going NYSERDA Jobs Study.
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Updates of the Climate Action Council and Advisory Panels and Working Group Meetings for March, 2021
By Anastasia Gordon, Clean Energy Policy Fellow and Jeff Jones, Communications Consultant, ACE NY
Transportation Advisory Panel – Thursday, March 18, 2021
On March 18, the Transportation Panel received a presentation from The Cadmus Group on hydrogen and biofuels. The Panel then reviewed draft recommendations on financing and market – based measures as well as received an overview of NYS electric vehicle (EV) programs. Throughout April, the Panel will continue engagement and work towards refining and finalizing its mitigation strategies, which it will present to the Climate Action Council (CAC) in May.
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Updates from Climate Action Council and Advisory Panels - Late February- March 3, 2021
Anastasia Gordon, Clean Energy Policy Fellow and Jeff Jones, Communications Consultant, ACE NY
Climate Action Council – Friday, February 26, 2021
At its eight meeting on February 26, the Climate Action Council (CAC) primarily focused on presentations on electrification from the Transportation and Energy Efficiency and Housing Panels. The CAC, which will be developing a Scoping Plan to implement NY’s climate law, also received updates for state agencies.
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Agriculture & Forestry Advisory Panel - Update from March 16, 2021
By Jeff Jones
Meeting on March 16th, the Agriculture and Forestry Advisory Panel discussed ongoing work to refine its recommendations to the Climate Action Council. The meeting featured staff reports on three main categories: Developing the bio-based economy; agriculture and forest conservation strategies to maintain and expand carbon sequestration; and forest and land management.
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Climate Justice Working Group Update
By Jeff Jones
The main work of the March 12th meeting of the Climate Justice Working Group (CJWG) was to hear a presentation by California environmental justice leaders on the efforts in that state to develop a working definition of disadvantaged and climate impacted frontline communities. To fulfill its mandated task to achieve a working definition to guide mandated resources under the Climate Leadership and Community Preservation Act (CLCPA), the working group has focused on a similar definition and process in California to create the Cal Enviro Screen.
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ACE NY Recommendations to Panels: Power Gen, Transportation, Energy Efficiency and Housing
By Jeff Jones and Anastasia Gordon
In the past two weeks, ACE NY submitted to three Advisory Panels working with the Climate Action Council. Here’s more:
ACE NY submitted its third set of policy recommendations to the advisory panels of the Climate Action Council. The latest set of recommendations is directed at the Power Generation Advisory Panel and discusses key strategies for maximizing the procurement of renewables, making strategic transmission investments, accelerating policies to invest in energy storage, and promoting multi-port infrastructure investment to support the offshore wind industry in New York.
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Just Transition Working Group Update
By Jeff Jones
The Just Transition Working Group continues to focus its work on identifying key elements and sectors that will be evolving with the transition to the clean energy economy mandated by the CLCPA. Changing workforce needs and community impacts highlighted the group’s discussion.
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ICYMI: Summaries of the CAC, Advisory Panels and Working Group Meetings for January
By Anastasia Gordon and Jeff Jones
Past Updates from January and first of February on the Climate Action Council and Advisory Panels, explained in greater detail here. Includes coverage of all of the Advisory Panels.
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Transportation Panel and Energy Efficiency and Housing Panel Updates
By Anastasia Gordon
The Transportation Panel held its 19th meeting on February 18. The meeting began with a discussion on just transition considerations. One of the key issues identified was the technical training that is needed now especially for students and diesel technicians and drivers as we move towards transportation electrification. The Panel then reviewed mitigation strategies on transitioning to 100% zero-emission light-duty vehicles sales, and to zero-emission medium- and heavy-duty, and non-road vehicles.
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Land Use and Local Government Panel - Update on themes within Public Comments, and Waste Panel Updates
By Anastasia Gordon
On February 22 the Land Use and Local Government Panel featured an update on the themes within public comments. Carbon sequestration emerged as a major topic of concern. NYSERDA’s Kara Allen presented 10 just transition principles devised by the Just Transition Working Group intended to guide the work of the advisory panels.
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December/January Updates from Climate Action Council and Advisory Panels
By Jeff Jones and Anastasia Gordon
Land Use and Government
Climate Justice Working Group
Agriculture and Forestry
Power Generation
Transportation and Smart Growth
Electrification and Fuels
Energy Efficiency and Housing
Waste Emissions
2020 Climate Action Updates
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Power Generation Advisory Panel – Friday, November 20, 2020
During the Power Generation Panel’s fourth meeting on November 20, NYSERDA’s Carl Mas and E3’s Kevin Steinberger tagged teamed to give presentations and led discussions on NY climate law’s scoping plan integration analysis approach and on elements of the state’s electricity system including key technology priorities and impacts of electrification.
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Land Use and Local Government Advisory Panel – Thursday, November 19, 2020
DEC’s Dazzle Ekblad gave an overview of Climate Smart Communities at the fourth meeting of the Land Use and Local Government Panel on November 19. Subgroups then reported out on strategies under consideration on land use, clean energy, and adaptation and resilience. These included potential actions to promote smart growth planning, capacity building and coordination of municipalities, establish higher energy codes and building performance mandates, encourage community choice aggregation programs, and develop a climate change adaptation and resilience plan.
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Transportation Advisory Panel – Thursday, November 19, 2020
The Transportation Panel reconvened for a fifth time on November 19. The first half of the meeting was dedicated to a presentation on strategies to manage vehicle miles travelled and optimize system efficiency as well as report outs from subgroups. The rest of the meeting served as a public forum.
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Energy Efficiency and Housing Advisory Panel - Wednesday, November 18, 2020
The Energy Efficiency and Housing Panel heard from the commercial and Institutional buildings subgroup at its fifth meeting on November 18. The subgroup reported out on policy options under discussion like mandates, financing and incentives, training/education on building efficiency and electrification. State staff then gave a presentation on NY building and energy codes, which center primarily on energy efficiency and new construction.
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Energy-Intensive and Trade-Exposed Advisory Panel – Wednesday, November 18, 2020
At its fourth meeting on November 18, the Energy-Intensive and Trade-Exposed Industries (EITI) Panel delved deeper into potential policies to reduce and report on emissions. These policies included competitive funding through a carbon challenge, technical guidance for strategic energy management, economic assistance for abatement technology, aid to procure an energy manager, developing an innovation roadmap, NY Buy Green, and a greenhouse gas reporting rule.
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Agriculture and Forestry Advisory Panel – Wednesday, November 18, 2020
The purpose of the Agriculture and Forestry Panel’s fifth meeting on November 18 was to go over recommendations coming out from subgroups for agricultural emissions reductions as well as land conversions, forestry and bioeconomy related to sequestration. A major recommendation endorsed by several Panel members is developing a Carbon Farm Plan template.
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Just Transition Working Group – Tuesday, November 17, 2020
The Just Transition Working Group (JTWG) reconvened for its fourth meeting on November 17. State staff gave a brief overview of the tasks, scope of work and schedule of the business impacts subgroup, which is comprised of the working group and the Energy-Intensive and Trade-Exposed (EITE) Panel members. The subgroup reported out on its work on a definition and adoption of metrics to identify EITEs in New York State.
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Climate Justice Working Group – Monday, November 16, 2020
During its third meeting was held on November 16, the Climate Justice Working Group (CJWG) received a presentation from Amanda Dwelley (ILLUME) on a framework and rubric considerations for indicator selection, which will assist the group in developing criteria for disadvantaged communities. This led to a discussion and identification of multiple indicators that will be advanced for evaluation such as disproportionate COVID deaths and proximity to manufacturing sites.
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Power Generation Advisory Panel - Thursday, November 5, 2020
The third meeting of the Power Generation Panel occurred on Thursday, November 5, it was decided that the Panel will address mitigating methane leakages in the natural gas pipeline system. NYSERDA is working on an analysis of methane mitigation and associated costs.
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Just Transition Working Group - Wednesday, November 4, 2020
The third meeting of the Just Transition Working Group was held on Wednesday, November 4. Based on research undertaken by state staff, the Panel received a synopsis of just transition principles organized into several categories: stakeholder engagement, planning long-term goals, cultural sensitivity/recognition, repairing inequities, equitable and high-quality sustaining jobs, community redevelopment, development of a low-carbon supply chain, aligning industrialization and decarbonization, and climate adaptation.
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Transportation Advisory Panel - Tuesday, November 3, 2020
On Tuesday, November 3, the Transportation Panel met for its fourth meeting. The Panel received an overview of MTA’s current sustainability initiatives and on electric vehicle (EV) trends, market barriers and opportunities in NYS from The Cadmus Group’s Geoff Morrison. Subgroups, which are tasked to develop mitigation strategies within four broad policy areas, were designated.
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Agriculture and Forestry Advisory Panel – Monday, November 2, 2020
At its fourth meeting on Monday November 2, the Agriculture and Forestry Panel focused on forestry. They received presentations on the role of and policies that support the carbon sequestration potential of forests. DEC’s Peter Innis also outlined recommendations for the forest sector, which proposed regulations, programs and funding/incentives for conservation/avoid conversion, improving public and private forest management as well as increasing NYS grown harvested products, afforestation/reforestation efforts, wood utilization in urban areas.
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Land Use and Local Government Advisory Panel - Thursday, October 29, 2020
At its third meeting on Thursday, October 29, 2020, Land Use and Local Government Panel reviewed changes made to its the scope and work plan. These included additions of fostering greater intermunicipal collaboration and agreements, improving and ensuring equitable and affordable local community climate resilience as well as considering land use policies that increase sequestration (e.g., through wetland protection, green infrastructure and community gardens), promote smart growth and both mitigation and adaptation outcomes, enable clean energy, and avoid gentrification, displacement, and poverty concentration.
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Energy-Intensive and Trade-Exposed Industries Panel - Wednesday, October 28, 2020
The Energy-Industries and Trade-Exposed Industries (EITI) Panel reconvened for its third meeting on Wednesday, October 28, 2020. The chair began the meeting updating the Panel that the CAC accepted its work plan without revision and thanked Panel members for volunteering in inter-panel collaborations with the Just Transition Working Group’s Business Impacts and the Land Use and Local Government’s Climate Adaptation and Resiliency subgroups.
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Power Generation Advisory Panel - Thursday, October 22, 2020
On Thursday, October 22, 2020 the Power Generation Panel met for a second time. Chair John Rhodes (PSC) revealed a new proposal from Climate Action Council staff for the Panel to address transitioning the power system from natural gas to carbon-free sources and leaks in natural gas infrastructure. There was overall support for the task of transitioning the power sector as it aligns with the NY’s climate law.
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Transportation Advisory Panel - Wednesday, October 21, 2020
The Transportation Panel meeting convened it’s third meeting on Wednesday, October 21, 2020. Chair Commissioner Dominguez (NYSDOT) informed the Panel that could move ahead with its work plan having received no additional comments from the Climate Action Council. NYSERDA’s Adam Ruder gave a presentation on a pending study led by the Cadmus Group on a Clean Transportation Roadmap for NYS, analyses that will feed into Panel’s recommendations.
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Agriculture and Forestry Advisory Panel - Monday, October 19, 2020
On Monday, October 19, 2020, the Agriculture and Forestry Panel reconvened for its third meeting. Panel members first reviewed the final workplan and guidelines for sector recommendation contents before delving into mitigation recommendations for agriculture, specifically. For livestock, these emission reduction strategies included feed management, manure cover and flare, and increasing funding for pollution management and climate resilient farming programs.
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Energy Efficiency and Housing Advisory Panel - Friday, October 16, 2020
The Energy Efficiency and Housing Advisory Panel met on Friday, October 16, 2020 for its third meeting. The chair shared feedback on the workplan from Panel members and from the Climate Action Council (CAC) October 8 meeting, which informed adjustments to the Panel’s scope.
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Climate Action Council - Thursday, October 8, 2020
The Climate Action Council (CAC), tasked with developing a Scoping Plan to implement the NY climate law, held its fourth meeting on Thursday, October 8, 2020. Each Advisory Panel and Working Group chairs reported out on their scope of work and external engagement plans. Recurring concerns Council members had regarding these work plans included the limited role of bioenergy and assessing cost impacts in meeting reduction goals as well as having local government representation on the panels.
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Land Use and Local Government Advisory Panel - Wednesday, October 7, 2020
At the second Land Use and Local Government Panel meeting held on Wednesday, October 7, Panel members received an outline of the proposed sectoral goals and key focus areas of subgroups. These included; (1) land use policies and practices to reduce cross-sector emissions, (2) clean energy policies and practices to promote energy efficiency and clean energy adoption, and (3) policies for sector-specific and cross-sectoral climate adaptation and resilience.
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Energy-Intensive and Trade-Exposed Industries Advisory Panel - Monday, October 5, 2020
The Energy-Intensive and Trade-Exposed Industries Panel met for a second time on Monday, October 5, 2020 to review the emission reduction goals and key assumptions of its work plan. Specifically, the Panel will look at emissions reductions of on-site fuel combustion, on-site non-combustion, and electricity use from manufacturing, construction, and mining.
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Agriculture and Forestry Advisory Panel - Thursday, October 1, 2020
The Agriculture and Forestry Panel meeting held its second meeting on Thursday, October 1, 2020. It began with a presentation from Cornell University’s and Panel member, Peter Woodbury’s on a Carbon Farm Study. He provided an overview of the latest research on sector mitigation actions that could derive the greatest emissions reductions.
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Climate Justice Working Group - Thursday, October 1, 2020
In addition to the six advisory panels set up under the Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act (CLCPA) to support and inform the Climate Action Council (CAC), the law also led to creation of the Climate Justice Working Group. The CLCPA includes the requirement that 35% of investments made to fight climate change must be in disadvantaged, impacted frontline communities.
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Energy Efficiency and Housing Advisory Panel - Wednesday, September 30, 2020
At the second Energy Efficiency and Housing Panel meeting on Wednesday, September 30, Panel members discussed and provided supplementary considerations to incorporate in the Panel’s scope including energy efficiency measures for new construction, retrofit/electrification readiness for affordable housing, equity implications, behavior and usage, market signals needed, building performance metrics, workforce training programs, remediation of old power station sites, among others.
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Land Use and Local Government Advisory Panel – Thursday, September 24, 2020
On Thursday, September 24, the Land Use and Local Government Advisory Panel met for its inaugural meeting. The chair outlined the main objectives of the Panel. In addition to sector-specific recommendations, the Panel is uniquely responsible for providing cross-sectoral proposals on climate resilience and adaptation.
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Energy-Intensive and Trade-Exposed Industries Panel - Thursday, September 24, 2020
The first meeting of the Energy-Intensive and Trade-Exposed Industries Panel was held on Thursday, September 24, 2020. After brief introductions, the Panel received a synopsis of the NY’s Climate Act. E3’s Tory Clark gave a presentation on Deep Decarbonization Pathways at the Energy-Intensive and Trade-Exposed Industries meeting.
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Transportation Advisory Panel – Thursday, September 17, 2020
The Transportation Advisory Panel held its inaugural meeting on Thursday, September 17, 2020. The meeting started with brief introductions from chairs Commissioner Marie Therese Dominguez (NYSDOT) and Deputy Commissioner Jared Snyder (NYSDEC) and the 15 members of the Panel comprising of representatives from the MTA, environmental NGOs, transportation associations and unions, private sector, and academia.
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Just Transition Working Group – Thursday, September 17, 2020
On Thursday, September 17, 2020, the Just Transition Working Group, which will work with the Advisory Panels and Council to ensure the equitable transition of the New York’s workforce to a renewable energy economy, held its first meeting.