New York
New York has long been a leader in climate policy, passing one of the most ambitious climate policies in the country in 2019.
Legislative Profile
Governor: Kathy Hochul (D)
House: Democratic supermajority
Senate: Democratic supermajority
U.S. Climate Alliance Member
Key Resources
New York State Energy Profile — U.S. EIA
NY Climate Portal — NY State Climate Act
New York Legal Profile — Lawyers for Good Government
New York State Disadvantaged Communities Barriers and Opportunities Report — NYSERDA and NYSDEC
Emissions Reduction Targets
By 2030:
40%
By 2050:
85%
By 2050:
Net-zero
All targets relative to 1990 levels
2019 GHG Emissions By Sector (%)
- Commercial
- Electric
- Residential
- Industrial
- Transportation
- Agriculture
Source: EPA State Inventory Tool (SIT)
Use the + icons in each policy area below to explore climate policy that has been passed at the state level, with links to relevant legislation and trackers. Policies in gray have not yet been passed in this state.
Climate Governance & Equity
Climate Governance
Greenhouse Gas Targets
Emissions Reduction Target
40% by 2030 | 85% by 2050 | net-zero by 2050 Relative to 1990 levels
Mandate Source
Mandatory – S.6599 – Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act (2019)
Climate Action Plan
Climate Bureaucracy
Greenhouse Gas Emissions Inventory
Green Bank
Establishing Legislation
Lead by Example
ACEEE Score – 1.5 out of 2 points**
Public Fleet ZEV Requirements
Equity
Environmental Justice Community Designation
Mandate Source
S.6599 – Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act (2019)
Definition
“Disadvantaged communities” means communities that bear burdens of negative public health effects, environmental pollution, impacts of climate change, and possess certain socioeconomic criteria, or comprise high-concentrations of low- and moderate-income households.
Include race? Yes | Include income? Yes | Include pollution burden? Yes
State EJ Mapping Tools
EJ Community Benefit Requirement
S.5699 (2019) – 35%, with a goal of 40%, of investments go to Disadvantaged Communities
EJ Bureaucracy
EJ Advisory Bodies
Environmental Justice Advisory Group (EJAG)
EJ Government Staff
**The ACEEE Energy Efficiency Scorecard analyzes the policies and programs states adopt to save energy in public sector buildings and transportation fleets. States can earn up to 2 points.
Adaptation & Resilience
Electricity
Renewables and Energy Storage
Greenhouse Gas Targets
Renewable Portfolio Standard
Target
70% renewable electricity by 2030 | 100% carbon-free electricity by 2040
Legislation
SB 6599 (2019)
Distributed Generation/Solar Carve-out
SPOT Components – 0 out of 5*
Net Metering
SPOT Components – 7 out of 11*
Energy Storage Standard
SPOT Components – 5 out of 5*
Shared Renewables
SPOT Components – 6 out of 6*
Grid and Utility Reform
Clean Energy Plan
Grid Modernization Plan
The GridWise Alliance’s Grid Modernization Index (GMI) evaluates and ranks the status of grid modernization efforts across all 50 states and D.C.
50-state Ranking – 7th
Interconnection Standards
SPOT Components – 5 out of 6*
Utility Green Power Option
SPOT Components – 2 out of 6*
New Utility Business Model Proceeding
SPOT Components – 5 out of 5*
Carbon Pollution Pricing
*The State Policy Opportunity Tracker (SPOT) breaks clean energy policies down into “components”, which are binary questions to evaluate policy quality. Higher quality policies have more of their SPOT components fulfilled.
Buildings & Efficiency
Building Energy Codes
Residential Codes
SPOT Components – 6 out of 6*
Statewide code – 2018 IECC
Commercial Codes
SPOT Components – 6 out of 6*
Statewide code – 2018 IECC
Stretch or Reach Codes
*The State Policy Opportunity Tracker (SPOT) breaks clean energy policies down into “components”, which are binary questions to evaluate policy quality. Higher quality policies have more of their SPOT components fulfilled.
Efficiency Programs and Incentives
Weatherization Programs
SPOT Components – 3 out of 4*
Energy Auditing Programs
Retrocommissioning Programs
Property Assessed Clean Energy (PACE)
SPOT Components – 7 out of 10*
Energy Savings Performance Contracting
SPOT Components – 4 out of 5*
Standards and Market Mechanisms
Energy Efficiency Resource Standard
SPOT Components – 4 out of 5*
Building Performance Standard (BPS)
Appliance Performance Standard (APS)
Carbon Pollution Pricing
Buildings Data Disclosure
Transportation
Vehicle Standards and Incentives
Low-Emission Vehicle (LEV) Standards
Zero Emission Vehicle (ZEV) Mandates
EV Targets and Sales Requirements
A4302 / S2758 (2021) – By 2035: 100% of new passenger cars and trucks sold in New York State are zero-emission
Medium- and Heavy-Duty Vehicle (MHDVs) Sales Standards
EV Sales Requirements
A4302 / S2758 (2021) – 100% of new medium-duty and heavy-duty vehicles sold in New York State to be zero-emission by 2045
Electric Vehicle Incentives
SPOT Components – 3 out of 5*
Charging Infrastructure Incentives
SPOT Components – 4 out of 5*
Carbon Pollution Pricing
Low Carbon Fuel Standard (LCFS)
State Planning and Investment
Greenhouse Gas Targets
Decarbonization Plan
EV and EV Charging Infrastructure Plans
Multi-State ZEV Action Plan (2018)
EV Transit Bus Deployment
The ACEEE Transportation Electrification Scorecard analyzes the level of investment and policies states adopt to procure electric transit buses. States can earn up to 6 points.
ACEEE Score – 4 out of 6 points
Bicycle Friendly State
The League of American Bicyclists’ State Report Cards evaluate and rank the safety and efficiency of active transportation systems across all 50 states.
50-state Ranking – 13th
*The State Policy Opportunity Tracker (SPOT) breaks clean energy policies down into “components”, which are binary questions to evaluate policy quality. Higher quality policies have more of their SPOT components fulfilled.
Agriculture
Soil Health and Regenerative Agriculture Governance
Financial Incentives
Climate Resilient Farming Program
A 05368A (2021) – Soil Health and Climate Resiliency Act
Technical Assistance & Education Programs
Food Waste Bans and Targets
Food Waste Ban – Required for businesses and institutions that generate 2 tons of food waste per week
Mandate Source
Industry, Materials, and Waste Management
Short-Lived Climate Pollutant (SLCP) Regulations
Carbon Pollution Pricing
Buy Clean Requirements
A 2591A (2021) – Establishes guidelines for the procurement of low embodied carbon concrete and requires the state to set an emissions standard for concrete used in public works.