Emissions Reporting Regulation Prioritized
New DEC chief Amanda Lefton is wasting no time mapping out her priorities. Lefton began at the agency in an acting role on Monday. She listed three priorities including releasing the delayed, already written emissions reporting requirements that are part of the “cap and invest” program that Gov. Kathy Hochul punted on in her State of the State agenda. Lefton wrote that the reporting regulations would be released “this month.”
It’s an early — and easy — win for Lefton, since the regulations had already been drafted and were unexpectedly put on hold by Hochul, according to emails reviewed by POLITICO. Environmental advocates have been pushing for the release of the full suite of regulations to implement the revenue-raising program, including by launching a coalition and pressuring lawmakers to use their budget leverage. Stephan Edel, NY Renews executive director, said the coalition looks forward to reviewing the rule but wants to see the full suite of regulations to implement the program released.
"It’s time to get New York’s polluter pays program up and running and generate upwards of $3 billion to fund the transition toward a clean, green economy that benefits working people across the state,” he said in a statement. “There's no more time for delays. We’ll mark our calendars."