The Citizens Budget Commission (CBC) today submitted testimony on renewable energy and climate adaptation to the New York City Council Committee on Environmental Protection.

The Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act (CLCPA) set ambitious goals for reducing greenhouses gases (GHG) statewide, and Local Law 97 (LL97) is similarly ambitious, aiming to reduce GHG emissions from large buildings in New York City. The Climate Action Council’s Final Scoping Plan (FSP) is expected by the end of the year, while the Department of Buildings (DOB) recently released draft regulations on implementing aspects of LL97, with additional regulations expected this year and thereafter.

Today, CBC shared with the Council our work and perspective on these critical efforts. CBC’s previous work has focused on implementing both the CLCPA and LL97 using the most cost-effective strategies and balancing economic incentives to further these ambitious GHG reduction goals while minimizing potential negative impact on jobs, New York’s economic competitiveness, utility rates paid by residents and businesses, and public finances.