Decarbonization Action Plans to Guide Agency Carbon Emissions Reduction
Governor Kathy Hochul today announced the Decarbonization Leadership program, a decarbonization and electrification initiative administered by the New York Power Authority that includes developing energy and emissions profiles of the State’s largest carbon-emitting facilities and decarbonization action plans that will guide state agencies on facility improvements that will reduce carbon emissions in support of the State’s nation-leading Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act.
“To achieve a zero-emissions electricity sector by 2040, we are leading by example and setting the standard for others to follow,” Governor Hochul said. “The Power Authority’s Decarbonization Leadership program will enable New York’s government entities to take stock of their emissions profiles and develop a plan of attack to reduce emissions. These institutions will shape a cleaner tomorrow for future generations of New Yorkers through their climate action leadership and environmental stewardship.”
As part of New York’s 2023-2024 Enacted State Budget, New York Power Authority (NYPA) was authorized and directed to develop decarbonization action plans for 15 of the highest emitting State facilities. As the agencies that operate the facilities implement recommendations laid out in the action plans, we will accelerate progress toward a cleaner building sector will be accelerated. The future decarbonization projects will create clean energy jobs and will include innovative new technologies, such as thermal energy networks that would connect multiple buildings to carbon-free energy sources.
New York Power Authority President and CEO Justin E. Driscoll said, “The New York Power Authority will work with sustainability and facility operations leaders at some of our state’s highest carbon emitting facilities to develop decarbonization action plans that will inform and enable implementation of decarbonization projects. New York’s commitment to secure a clean energy future demands action and the Power Authority is proud to help advance New York’s ambitious climate goals through our unique government customer partnerships.”
The Power Authority is partnering on the new carbon reduction initiative with the City University of New York (CUNY), Department of Corrections and Community Supervision (DOCCS), Office of Mental Health (OMH), the Office of General Services (OGS), and the State University of New York (SUNY).
Extensive decarbonization efforts are actively being planned for the following State facilities:
- The Empire State Plaza
- The W. Averell Harriman State Office Building Campus
- The State University of New York at Albany
- The State University of New York at Binghamton
- The State University of New York at Buffalo
- The State University of New York at Potsdam
- The State University of New York at Oswego
- The State University of New York at Stony Brook
- Buffalo State University
- Brooklyn College
- The City College of New York
- Hunter College
- Attica Correctional Facility
- Pilgrim Psychiatric Center
- Rockland Psychiatric Center
The Decarbonization Leadership program will enable state entities to build decarbonization action plans that will lead to impactful decarbonization and electrification projects.
NYPA already provides a wide variety of energy technology and renewable energy services to state and local governmental entities, including energy audits, project engineering, design, installation, and construction management. Some of the energy efficiency projects implemented with customers by NYPA include high efficiency lighting retrofits, occupancy and daylighting lighting sensors, building and energy management systems, boilers, chillers, air-handling systems, thermal storage, microgrids, solar photovoltaic systems, digester gas systems, and emerging energy technologies. NYPA provides financing with full cost recovery from its customers.
For more information about the Power Authority’s clean energy products and services for governmental customers, visit the Products and Services webpages on NYPA’s website.
New York State Department of Corrections and Community Supervision Acting Commissioner Daniel F. Martuscello III said, “The impacts of climate change are far-reaching and have a unique impact on those who live and work inside of New York’s correctional facilities. DOCCS is proud to be a part of the Decarbonization Leadership program and of our role in setting the standard for clean energy in State buildings. I commend Governor Hochul for her dedication to New York State’s Climate Plan and look forward to working with NYPA to reduce the carbon footprint at Attica Correctional Facility.”
New York State Office of Mental Health Commissioner Dr. Ann Sullivan said, “OMH is proud to join with NYPA and other state agencies to help reduce the State’s carbon footprint. Through our Comprehensive Energy Efficiency Program, OMH has dramatically reduced energy consumption and carbon emissions through the use of high-efficiency heating and cooling systems, LED upgrades, installation of a fuel cell and conversion to high-efficiency natural gas rather than fuel oil at our psychiatric centers. We look forward to working with our State partners to further reduce New York’s energy costs as well as the production of greenhouse gasses.”
New York State Office of General Services Commissioner Jeanette Moy said, “The Empire State Plaza and the W. Averell Harriman State Office Building Campus are two of the largest properties managed by the Office of General Services (OGS) and two of the largest carbon-emitting facilities in New York State. Under Governor Hochul’s leadership, OGS has prioritized integrating sustainability into all of our operations, including real property management. Over the past several years, OGS has worked closely with the New York Power Authority to implement energy efficiency projects throughout our portfolio, including LED lighting conversions and the installation of an electric chiller. We look forward to strengthening that partnership through Governor Hochul’s Decarbonization Leadership Program, as we chart a path to further reduce our carbon footprint and create a cleaner, healthier environment for all New Yorkers.”
CUNY Chancellor Félix V. Matos Rodríguez said, “By taking stock of the energy and carbon emissions profiles of CUNY campuses, we will be helping to address one of the most vital and pressing issues of our time. CUNY is pleased to participate in the Decarbonization Leadership program which will be taking meaningful steps to reduce the impact of our buildings on the environment. We thank Governor Hochul for her leadership and look forward to working with NYPA on this needed initiative.”
SUNY Chancellor John B. King, Jr. said, “SUNY’s focus on mitigating the impact of climate change is all-encompassing—from the courses our faculty teach to the geothermal wells that will heat and cool our lecture halls—and we have benefitted from investments by Governor Hochul and the legislature to reduce the carbon impact of SUNY’s vast footprint. SUNY system and our campuses are proud to partner with NYPA on the new carbon reduction initiative to accelerate our energy transition.”
New York State's Nation-Leading Climate Plan
New York State's nation-leading climate agenda calls for an orderly and just transition that creates family-sustaining jobs, continues fostering a green economy across all sectors and ensures that at least 35 percent, with a goal of 40 percent, of the benefits of clean energy investments are directed to disadvantaged communities. Guided by some of the nation’s most aggressive climate and clean energy initiatives, New York is on a path to achieving a zero-emission electricity sector by 2040, including 70 percent renewable energy generation by 2030, and economywide carbon neutrality by mid-century. A cornerstone of this transition is New York's unprecedented clean energy investments, including more than $35 billion in 120 large-scale renewable and transmission projects across the state, $6.8 billion to reduce building emissions, $1.8 billion to scale up solar, more than $1 billion for clean transportation initiatives, and over $1.8 billion in NY Green Bank commitments. These and other investments are supporting more than 165,000 jobs in New York’s clean energy sector in 2021 and a 2,100 percent growth in the distributed solar sector since 2011. To reduce greenhouse gas emissions and improve air quality, New York also adopted zero-emission vehicle regulations, including requiring all new passenger cars and trucks sold in the State be zero emission by 2035. Partnerships are continuing to advance New York’s climate action with nearly 400 registered and 100 certified Climate Smart Communities, nearly 500 Clean Energy Communities, and the State’s largest community air monitoring initiative in 10 disadvantaged communities across the state to help target air pollution and combat climate change.
About NYPA
NYPA is the largest state public power organization in the nation, operating 16 generating facilities and more than 1,400 circuit-miles of transmission lines. More than 80 percent of the electricity NYPA produces is clean renewable hydropower. NYPA finances its operations through the sale of bonds and revenues earned in large part through sales of electricity. For more information visit www.nypa.gov and follow us on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, Tumblr and LinkedIn.