NY Renews Coalition Calls for Inclusion of State Facility Decarbonization in the 2023/2024 State Budget
***FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE***: March 23, 2023
Contact: Stephan Edel, stephan@nyrenews.org, 646-644-1845
Web: @NYRenews | www.nyrenews.org
NY Renews Coalition Calls for Inclusion of State Facility Decarbonization in the 2023/2024 State Budget
New York State – NY Renews supports the goal of Upgrade NY: ensuring that New York State buildings, facilities, and campuses rapidly decarbonize by implementing zero-emissions standards while creating hundreds, if not thousands, of union jobs with strong labor standards.
Fully eliminating pollution, including greenhouse gas emissions, from state-owned buildings as rapidly as possible through project labor agreements that prioritize employment for pollution-burdened communities is a win for all New Yorkers. Good union jobs and just labor conditions are a vital part of New York State’s energy transition, which is why NY Renews has included strong labor proposals in the coalition’s budget advocacy.
This legislation would also address the concerns of frontline communities who live nearby state facilities. For example, the Sheridan Hollow Alliance for Renewable Energy (SHARE) has been working in Albany for years to convince the state to stop the decades-long pollution of their neighborhood by the use of fracked gas to heat and cool the State Capitol and Empire State Plaza. The state has taken some steps to alleviate these concerns but must go further through full decarbonization. Community members must be consulted in the design of decarbonization plans that impact their communities.
Now is the time to settle the details, set the mandate, and fund the decarbonization of the people’s buildings with thermal energy networks, electrification, energy efficiency upgrades, and additional tools that will make New York’s state campuses into clean, renewable job creation hubs for years to come.
As part of NY Renews’ 2023/2024 budget demand, we are advocating for state dollars to support Upgrade NY, including via the expansion of thermal energy networks, the decarbonization of state colleges and facilities, and upholding the labor and community benefits standards put forward by Upgrade NY.
With our allies at Renewable Heat Now and across NYS' climate and labor movements, we call for the Upgrade NY proposal to advance in this budget. We will continue to work with Upgrade NY, the Executive, and the NYS Legislature to strengthen the policy and address any potential unintended loopholes or outcomes.
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NY Renews is a coalition of more than 340 environmental justice, community, faith, labor, and multi-issue organizations fighting for just climate policy for New Yorkers. We are the force behind the nation's most aggressive climate law, the NY State Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act, enacted in 2019.The Climate, Jobs & Justice Package is the next step in our fight for climate justice in New York.