Video, Audio, Photos & Rush Transcript: Governor Hochul Signs Legislative Package to Spur Energy Efficiency, Consumer Savings, and Greenhouse Gas Emission Reductions While Supporting Prevailing Wage Measures

Earlier today, Governor Kathy Hochul signed a legislative package of three bills that will strengthen New York's commitment to clean energy development and energy efficiency, while reducing greenhouse gas emissions. The Governor signed the bills at Newlab headquarters in Brooklyn alongside State Senator Kevin Parker, State Senator Jessica Ramos, Assemblymember Pat Fahy, Assemblymember Latoya Joyner, and key labor leaders and climate advocates. These three new laws support the Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act goal of an 85 percent reduction in greenhouse gas emissions by 2050 while ensuring a just and equitable transition for New York workers and communities.

VIDEO of the event is available on YouTube here and in TV quality (h.264, mp4) format here.

AUDIO of the event is available here.

PHOTOS are available on the Governor's Flickr page.

A rush transcript of the Governor's remarks is available below:

Thank you. Thank you, everyone. I really appreciate that. Great to see everyone here. Thank you. Thank you.

To my incredible team, I welcome all of you, and I thank the Newlab for hosting us here today. Is this not the coolest space you could ever find? I've been here. I think this is extraordinary. And in just speaking to Sean Stewart, let's give him a shout-out. Sean Stewart, the CEO. Over 900 people working here, over 200 startups. This is exactly what we had in mind when we first were talking about the possibilities of what we could do here. And so I'm energized by this as well. Also, I'm very delighted to be joined by the elected officials who I'll reference again in a couple of minutes, but what great leaders they are as well. I want to thank all of our leaders, Senator Parker is on his way here. He claims there's a little bit of traffic. That's such a New York City excuse. I'm not buying it anymore. Start your day earlier, Senator. Sorry about that. Put the filters back on, Hochul.

Senator Ramos, thank you for getting up in time to be here. And Pat Fahy, who came all the way down from Albany to be here, she's on time, I want to thank her for her leadership as well. And Latoya Joyner, you've been an incredible leader on our labor issues as well, thank you. I know Mike Cusack is getting here, a little bit of traffic too, okay. Brian Cunningham, same excuse. I'd say it's a good thing, it means people are back. I will accept traffic any day of the week because it means this city is back. And so we're okay with it. Bobby Carroll as well. John Murphy, thank you for your leadership of the New York State Pipe Trades, but this is so important, not just to your members, but to all the people who are going to be lifted up by the thousands of jobs created by our continued partnership, but also bringing together the Environmental Community, the Climate Action Community and Labor together. That's when we hit the sweet spot. That's when we say we can get to a better future, but also lifting people up with good-paying jobs, so their families can live the America Dream, just like mine did because of labor. So to John and all of our partners, Gary LaBarbera, Mario Cilento and all their leaders, we so appreciate all their work again. And again, all to all of our brothers and sisters and labor.

I also want to mention a couple of things that we have experienced here today, witnessing as it's unfolding, the horrific shooting in Highland Park, Illinois. And it just seems to go on and on and on. And how many times can hearts be broken? How many more tears have to be shed because the insanity of gun violence and its captivation and its stranglehold on so many individuals and organizations in this country are just appalling.

And it's a national embarrassment for us, as we think about the rest of the world. They have the same challenges in life, they have struggles, they have mental health challenges. And the only difference is the incredible access to weapons, especially weapons of mass destruction that belong nowhere but a battlefield. And I think it's about high time we say that we were safer when there was a national assault weapon ban in our nation, and why we don't have the courage to get back to that place, where we respect the rights of lawful gun owners, this hunting community, the sports community, we understand all this and we'll never touch those rights.

But who said, back when this country was founded, we still celebrate the birth of America, that our founding fathers envisioned that this many years away, that they would expect people to claim a right to an assault weapon? So let's just start talking about how we reclaim our country, how we start saving lives and get back to the nation that we all cherish and love. Thank you.

309 mass shootings thus far this year, twelve this month. Do I need to remind you what date this is? It's July 5th. Twelfth this month. So thank you. Thank you for letting me share that with you, because this has been on my mind, especially as I just spoke to someone up in Buffalo and things are still tough back in our hometown too. So a lot going on, but there's a place of energy here, a place of optimism. That's what I love about this place, that there is no problem that we can't conquer when we put our minds to it, and we have incredible technologists and others who are really working hard to lead us to a different future.

And that's what I'm hoping, with what I just spoke about a different future, where we value life more than guns, but also a place we also protect our environment where we value the lives of future generations, as much as those today. And that is what today is all about, valuing human life.

And I think about why this is so important to me, personally. Because we've been set back a lot by our federal government, our Supreme Court, I should say. And we've tried to have gun laws in place. We had a gun law in place for over a hundred years. Here in New York, a hundred years, restricting who can have a concealed carry weapon. Supreme Court decided "No, you can't do that. You can't restrict that." Well, we'll still figure out the best way we can. And just another Supreme Court decision that talked about taking away rights to women to make decisions about their own bodies. That was last week as well. So we've had the guns, control of our own bodies, liberty, I call that, but also the attack on the Environmental Protection Agencies' responsibilities to protect all of us from pollution. And pollution's almost an old-fashioned word, except that was the world I grew up in. My world was polluted.

My dad worked at the steel plant. My grandpa worked at the steel plant where you drive by by day, and you could not see the color of the sky. In fact, as a little kid, I thought the sky was always orange because that was the smoke, the pollution, the toxins billowing out, and people lived there and worked there and no one paid attention to it. And then there was Lake Erie and other great lakes, the largest freshwater bodies on the planet. And the stench of the dead fish killed by the pollution was so overpowering, and yet that was our place to swim. We went down there and at night you could see, looked like molten lava being dumped into the lake. And no one said a word. It was all about just keeping those factories going.

No one thought of a place like Newlab where you can innovate new technologies to create steel and create factories that were not contaminating the world of the day and also the world of the future. But then something happened, a guy named President Nixon. Who would've thought we'd be talking about him? It's all about comparisons, I guess. 1970, the states weren't doing their job.

Congress wasn't able to stop the assault on our environment. The Environmental Protection Agency was created to protect people and it made a huge difference. They're supposed to have oversight and regulations and be smart about things. Not shut down industries, but also find ways that they can do things in a smarter, cleaner way.

And you know what difference it makes? Not long ago, I was swimming in that lake and I didn't see any dead fish. It was beautiful. You could see to the bottom. The air was pristine. A generation later because the federal government established the Environmental Protection Agency, we live in a better place today.

And yet, the Supreme Court says we don't have enough people carrying guns. Don't think we can make decisions about our own bodies. They also decided we don't need to protect the future, protect our planet from greenhouse gas emissions. So that's the world we live in. But this is New York. Another challenge, another day, we get through it and we figure out solutions.

And so today, we're going to be signing three bills into law. I love bill signings. I have a lot of pens. These bills will be doing a major step forward in reducing our greenhouse gas emissions and also advance the clean energy industry in our state. Because as you all know, we have the most ambitious, renewable energy and reduction goals in the country. 70 percent of renewal by 2030.

You know what? A long time ago, I didn't know if we were all going to make it to 2030. That's just around the corner. That is happening soon. That is tomorrow. 70 percent of electricity from renewables in 2030, 85 percent emission reduction by 2050, and we are on the way to getting there. So these are not just pie-in-the-sky dreams. These are going to become a reality. So we're proud of these goals. And here in New York, we are not letting the Supreme Court block our goals or our bold ambition for our state. And we do need the collaboration. I just spoke about the Environmental Justice Community, the Climate Action Community and Labor all at the same table.

And that's what we're doing today. So bringing together these groups. We're going to be talking about the legislation and why they're so good. And I want to thank Senator Parker. Senator Parker, have you made it here yet? All right, you'll be up soon, Senator Parker. Patricia Fahy, thank you for the Advanced Building Codes, Appliance and Equipment Efficiency Standards Act of 2022. It is a mouthful, but that is going to upgrade. Can you come up with a shorter name for me next time? Next session, new day, New York. We're going to have a little shorter titles.

We're going to be updating our building codes. What does that mean? It's going to help reduce greenhouse emissions from buildings all across the state because the biggest contributor of emissions is buildings. We've known that, we've recognized that and now we're doing something about that. That's one-third of the state's total greenhouse emissions. Also, this will help our New Yorkers save on energy costs. Boy, does that sound good at a time when our citizens are getting slammed with inflation, high cost of living. And any way we can reduce their cost is so important to them.

So help them with their energy costs and rising bills. And New Yorkers is because of this, and I don't know if this was the intent originally, but expected to save New Yorker would save $15 billion. That includes $6 billion for low and moderate-income households at a time when that is so critically important for them. Stronger energy codes also give will give us $2.5 billion in lifetime savings for homeowners and through our measures through 2030. So that is significant. I want to applaud you. I know Senator Parker's on his way, but stand up and take a bow. Assemblymember Pat Fahy, thank you.

Our second bill, the Utility Thermal Energy Network and Jobs Act, a little shorter, a little tighter. I'm liking that one. This will unlock tremendous job opportunities. We're reducing harmful emissions from buildings. It also replaces fossil fuel underground pipe systems for new clean energy systems. And I think the pipe trades like this one as well. They're going to be busy - keep those people trained, Joe, we're going to have a lot more jobs for people. That'll also support 22.5 million dollars in NYSERDA funding to support thermal energy development.

This is an exciting new area, it really truly is when you think about it. Unlocking the possibilities, harnessing that power source and working really in a smart way. $15 million has been committed for future studies, detailed designs and construction projects as well. I know that's going to help protect our environment with lots of good jobs and we like the sound of that.

And, you know, I mentioned jobs a few times. We are anticipating that there'll be over 286,000 clean energy jobs by the year 2050. We are well on our way there already. I talk about this when I meet young people all the time, about how we need to lift people out of their circumstances - you know, neighborhoods where you don't have role models, you need to get people into these job training programs, the apprenticeship programs that I believe in to my core. Also, to diversify this workforce so I start seeing Black and Brown young men and women in these programs. And I'm going to put the emphasis on women, too. I want to see more women in these jobs, and I know there's been an intentionality from the labor unions to make that happen, so I thank them.

We also are going to be talking about our next bill. Bill three will have solar panel jobs filled by union workers that pay really well because now going forth, they'll be subject to the prevailing wage. This is really important to make sure that as we create these new industries, create these jobs, that those jobs are able to sustain families. So having the prevailing wage apply to this work with the solar panels is going to be really important as well. I want to thank everyone involved in that.

So, we're going to continue working to make sure that we don't stand on the sidelines. I think we kind of send out our message here today to the Supreme Court. This is New York. Do what you want, but we're going to do everything we can to protect our lives, our families, our bodies, as well as our planet's future. And I think all of us - I know all of us, I know all of us are proud of being New Yorkers, to continue that mantle of leadership as the rest of the nation looks and wanders, looking for people that'll actually step up and fight back. That's what we're doing here today with this legislation.

We are the first generation to really feel the effects of climate change. We're also the last one that can do anything about it. That's the weight that's on our shoulders. And that is why New York will continue leading our nation into the clean energy future.

We're also building on what we've already started. I need all of your support when we go forth this November with the 4.2 billion clean water, clean air, green jobs, environmental bond act. I think that's critically important that we explain to people what this will do for their families in the short term, but also for the jobs we'll create, the smart decisions we make, but also to protect our environment for the future. This is an investment that's going to say who we are as New Yorkers. This is a priority of ours, and I want everyone to commit their support to fight for this, this November as well.

And also we've been talking about other energy sources - offshore wind, our $500 million commitment for offshore wind to create that supply chain. One reason I really am excited about the supply chain is because I'm sick and tired of being held captive to foreign supply chains when something can't get done. Why aren't we building more electric vehicles? Oh, the chips come from Southeast Asia. Why aren't we making them here? Well, the future says we make them here and that is something I'm working very closely with Senator Schumer on to bring chip fabrication to New York State. I want to make sure that we are independent. I don't ever want to be held captive by anyone else. So, we'll be doing this as well.

Also, major projects. We have 22 major, large-scale energy projects under development. So, these are big. They're bold, they're ambitious, but it's what we do because, as I'm fond of saying, if not now, when? This is our moment, New Yorkers, this is our moment to stand up, meet this challenge and blow right past it and let generations from now look back at us and a place where they say, how did this state, this city, that was hit so hard by the pandemic and had so many other challenges, how did they just rise up and say, we focus on the challenges today, but we still have an eye on the future. Our eyes are still on the future, and that is what we'll be known for and that's how you'll be able to tell your kids and grandkids that you played a major role in making sure that this planet was there, it was safe, it was beautiful - you could swim, you could breathe the air.

It all happens in rooms like this and with bills like this and with leaders. Again, I'm going to call out, Senator Ramos, Pat Fahy, Latoya Joyner, and Senator Parker for their vision. These are today's visionaries. They're making things happen. I'm really proud, as the Governor of New York, to be able to sign into law, very shortly, the bills that they all work so hard on.