NY Renews, Coalition Behind NY’s Climate Law, Demands $1 Billion in 2020 Budget

***FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE***: November 4, 2019

Contact: Arielle Swernoff | (646) 450-5461 | arielle@nyrenews.org 

Web: @NYRenews | www.nyrenews.org

NY Renews, Coalition Behind NY’s Climate Law, Demands $1 Billion in 2020 Budget 

Coalition says $1 billion is a down payment on a Just Transition for New York State

Albany, NY — NY Renews, the coalition behind the nation’s most aggressive climate law, today announced its demand for a $1 billion Climate and Community Investment Fund in the 2020 New York State budget in a letter to Governor Andrew Cuomo. 

“This year, New York led the nation by passing the Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act, which sets our state on a path to a just and renewable economy. Now, we can realize the potential of a renewable economy: begin to clear the air in communities plagued by pollution, to give communities more control over their energy sources, and to do the real work of reducing our greenhouse gas emissions and creating a livable state. One billion dollars is a down payment on the promises made in the Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act. Let’s put our money where our mouth is and invest in renewable energy and a Just Transition for our state,” said Priya Mulgaonkar, Resiliency Planner at the New York City Environmental Justice Alliance and a member of the NY Renews Steering Committee.  

The Climate and Community Investment Fund would be directed into four programs: 

  • The Climate Jobs and Infrastructure Fund ($300 million) will invest in solar and offshore wind, as well as updating New York State’s energy transmission and grid infrastructure to increase reliability. 

  • Community Just Transition Grants ($300 million) will target investments to catalyze community led planning and projects to increase efficiency and build out local renewable projects.

  • The Worker and Community Assurance Program ($200 million) will fund programs for fossil fuel industry workers and host communities and replace lost tax revenue through direct grants to local governments. 

  • The Preparing for the Future Fund ($200 million) will invest in efficiency programs for buildings and public transportation. Funds will be specifically directed to low-income communities through the low-income heating assistance program, and through partnerships with public and affordable housing developments.

“The climate crisis requires immediate action from every level of government. The Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act set a necessary mandate for New York to get off of fossil fuels while investing in communities most impacted by the crisis. We need major investments to meet our goals as a state, and the Climate and Community Investment Fund is the first step,” said Stephan Edel, Director at the New York Working Families Project and a member of the NY Renews Steering Committee. 

About NY Renews: 

NY Renews is a coalition of nearly 200 environmental, justice, faith, labor, and community groups, and the force behind the nation’s most progressive climate law, New York’s Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act. The coalition fights for good jobs and climate justice in New York State. 

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