Government
& Climate Tech
New York
From the Climate Act to Local Law 97, New York is leading the way on climate policy. Yet understanding the key players and policies can be a challenge.
To make sense of it all, we've put together a starter guide to the policies, government institutions, and acronyms you need to know in the Empire State.
NY Climate Act / CLCPA
The NY Climate Act (Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act or CLCPA) is a state law that was signed in 2019 to address the urgent threat of climate change and its impacts on New York State. The NY Climate Act sets ambitious targets for reducing greenhouse gas emissions, increasing renewable energy sources, improving energy efficiency, and ensuring a just transition for disadvantaged communities.
The Climate Act sets the goals to reduce emissions to 40% below 1990 levels by 2030 and then to 85% below 1990 levels by 2050. The NY Climate Act also establishes a Climate Action Council, a Climate Justice Working Group, and several Advisory Panels to develop and implement a comprehensive plan for achieving the climate goals.
Local Law 97
LL97 stands for Local Law 97, which is a part of New York City's Climate Mobilization Act passed in 2019. LL97 establishes carbon emission limits for NYC's largest buildings, which account for nearly 70% of the city's greenhouse gas emissions. Buildings over 25,000 gross square feet that exceed annual emissions limits will face an annual financial penalty of $268 per ton of CO2 equivalent over the limit based on 2024 energy usage and emissions. The goal is to reduce the emissions produced by the city's largest buildings 40% by 2030 and 80% by 2050.
NYSERDA
NYSERDA (New York State Energy Research and Development Authority) is a public benefit corporation that promotes energy efficiency and the use of renewable energy sources in New York State. NYSERDA was established in 1975 as a result of the energy crisis and has since evolved into a leader in advancing clean energy innovation and investments to combat climate change, improve the health, resiliency, and prosperity of New Yorkers, and deliver benefits equitably to all.
NYSERDA works with stakeholders across the state, including residents, homeowners, renters, businesses, developers, communities, local governments, researchers, utilities, investors, and entrepreneurs. NYSERDA provides information and analysis, technical expertise, financial incentives, and support for various programs and initiatives that aim to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, accelerate economic growth, and reduce customer energy bills.
NY Green Bank
NY Green Bank is a state-sponsored investment fund that works with the private sector to increase investments in clean energy and climate solutions in New York State. NY Green Bank was established in 2014 as a division of NYSERDA (New York State Energy Research and Development Authority) and is the largest green bank in the nation. NY Green Bank provides various forms of financial support, such as credit enhancement, project aggregation, and securitization, to overcome current obstacles and gaps in clean energy financing markets.
NY Green Bank works with clients and counterparties across a wide range of sectors and technologies, such as energy efficiency, renewable energy, grid modernization, clean transportation, and sustainable infrastructure. NY Green Bank's mission is to accelerate clean energy deployment, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and support New York State's ambitious clean energy goals.
Climate Smart Communities program
The Climate Smart Communities (CSC) program is a New York State program that helps local governments take action to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and adapt to a changing climate. The program offers free technical assistance, grants, and rebates for electric vehicles. Registered communities have made a commitment to act by passing the CSC pledge, which outlines 10 goals for climate action. Certified communities are the foremost leaders in the state; they have gone beyond the CSC pledge by completing and documenting a suite of actions that mitigate and adapt to climate change at the local level.
NY Mayor’s Office of Climate and Environmental Justice
The NY Mayor’s Office of Climate and Environmental Justice (MOCEJ) is a new office established by Mayor Eric Adams in 2022 to better integrate justice work within the city's comprehensive approach to climate. The office consolidates and unifies existing agencies focused on resilience, sustainability, environmental coordination and environmental remediation.
MOCEJ works to implement policies that close the gap on environmental and health disparities by taking action to advance access and inclusion for people at every level of the planning and decision-making process, and by pursuing equitable protection from environmental and health hazards. MOCEJ also works to make New York City a global leader in the fight against the climate crisis, shifting the city away from polluting fossil fuels and towards a green and just economy. MOCEJ focuses on issues such as clean air and water, extreme heat and flooding, renewable energy and energy efficiency, green jobs and businesses, waste reduction and recycling, urban agriculture and food justice, and community engagement and education.
Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC)
The Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) is a New York State agency that was created in 1970 to combine all state programs designed to protect and enhance the environment into a single agency.
The DEC guides and regulates the conservation, improvement, and protection of New York's natural resources; manages Forest Preserve lands in the Adirondack and Catskill parks, state forest lands, and wildlife management areas; regulates sport fishing, hunting and trapping; and enforces the state's environmental laws and regulations. The DEC also sponsors and supports various programs and initiatives for climate action, environmental justice, outdoor recreation, waste reduction, and more.
Office of Renewable Energy Siting (ORES)
The Office of Renewable Energy Siting (ORES) is a New York State agency that was established in 2020 by the Accelerated Renewable Energy Growth and Community Benefit Act. The ORES is dedicated to environmentally responsible and cost-effective siting of major renewable energy facilities and associated transmission facilities in New York State.
The ORES consolidates the environmental review and permitting of such facilities in a single forum that takes into consideration local laws, public health and safety, environmental, social and economic factors pertinent to the decision to permit such facilities. The ORES also ensures that renewable energy projects deliver economic benefits to the local communities where they are built.
