Establishes the green affordable pre-electrification program

Showing the cosponsors who are on Agora, A to Z. The official record may list more.

• Democratic11

Shown in neutral colors by design; Agora is non-partisan.

◆ The sponsor's argument

Why Kristen Gonzalez says this is needed

According to the New York State Department of Environmental Conserva- tion, emissions from the construction and operation of buildings comprised 32% of the State's total greenhouse gas emissions (GHGs) in 2022. Of this total, the combustion of fossil fuels in residential buildings accounted for 34%, with an additional 33% deriving from emis- sions from imported fuels. Electrification of existing buildings is key to the reduction of these GHGs and the achievement of the CLCPA's goal of an 85% reduction in statewide GHG emissions from 1990 levels by 2050. Per the New York State Climate Action Council, "switching from fossil fuels to heat pumps for heating and hot water will immediately and significantly reduce GHG emissions and criteria pollutants from buildings". To reach this target, NYSERDA analysis shows the state must electrify 250,000 buildings per year. The State of New York is already investing substantial amounts toward electrifying residential buildings, having committed $250 million over five years to a Climate Friendly Homes Fund which intends to elec- trify 10,000 homes. However, a significant portion of the State's building stock is old and in disrepair, blocking its access to building decarbonization and resi- liency assistance. These buildings may have inadequate electrical systems to handle the Installation of high-efficiency heat pumps, and/or envelope issues that would reduce the efficiency of electrification strategies, and/or environmental hazards like mold, lead-based paint, or asbestos which must be addressed before electrification can begin. State and federal energy efficiency and weatherization programs do not cover the cost to make prerequisite upgrades addressing structural defi- ciencies or mitigating health and safety issues. Thus, there is a crit- ical need to support such improvements for the state to adequately decarbonize the building sector towards our climate goals. This bill would close the gap in current programs by funding prerequi- site upgrades not currently supported by existing funding programs, and help make it possible for our State to meet its climate goals. It would assist low-to-moderate (LMI) households to overcome the barriers to weatherizing and/or electrifying their homes, finally enabling them to take advantage of weatherization and electrification assistance provided through Next Energy NY, the Clean Energy Fund, and the Federal Inflation Reduction Act. In recognition of the significant benefit of the GAP Fund to landlords, the bill requires that participating landlords commit to protections that prevent displacement of existing tenants.

This is the sponsor's own case for the bill, quoted from their memorandum. It is not Agora's description of what the bill does.