S T A T E O F N E W Y O R K
________________________________________________________________________
4224
2023-2024 Regular Sessions
I N A S S E M B L Y
February 13, 2023
___________
Introduced by M. of A. KELLES -- read once and referred to the Committee
on Energy
AN ACT to amend the agriculture and markets law, in relation to estab-
lishing the natural carbon sequestration research program
THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND ASSEM-
BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:
Section 1. The agriculture and markets law is amended by adding a new
section 151-j to read as follows:
§ 151-J. NATURAL CARBON SEQUESTRATION RESEARCH PROGRAM. 1. THERE IS
HEREBY ESTABLISHED THE NATURAL CARBON SEQUESTRATION RESEARCH PROGRAM.
THE PURPOSE OF THE PROGRAM IS TO DEVELOP INNOVATIVE SCIENCE-BASED
SOLUTIONS TO FACILITATE SEQUESTRATION OF CARBON IN NEW YORK'S NATURAL
AND WORKING LANDS IN WAYS THAT DECREASE TOTAL GREENHOUSE GAS EMISSIONS.
IN DEVELOPING THE PROGRAM, THE NEW YORK STATE COLLEGE OF AGRICULTURE AND
LIFE SCIENCES AS NAMED PURSUANT TO SECTION FIFTY-SEVEN HUNDRED TWELVE OF
THE EDUCATION LAW SHALL CONDUCT, SUPPORT, AND DEVELOP TECHNOLOGIES AND
MANAGEMENT STRATEGIES, ALONG WITH VERIFICATION SYSTEMS TO FACILITATE THE
NATURAL DRAWDOWN OF CARBON FROM THE ATMOSPHERE AND STORAGE UNDERGROUND.
2. SUBJECT TO AVAILABLE APPROPRIATIONS, THE PROGRAM SHALL CONSIDER,
BUT NOT BE LIMITED TO, THE FOLLOWING: STABILIZING EXISTING CARBON IN
THE SOIL, INCREASING CARBON SEQUESTRATION THROUGH NEW PRACTICES AND
CROPPING SYSTEMS, PURPOSEFULLY AMENDING THE SOIL WITH BIOCHAR AND
COMPOST TO BOOST TOTAL SOIL CARBON AND PROMOTE GREENHOUSE GAS LIFE CYCLE
BENEFITS, ADVANCING DIRECT AIR CAPTURE OF CARBON DIOXIDE IN FARMLAND AND
LANDSCAPES THROUGH ENHANCED WEATHERING, UTILIZING OTHER INNOVATIVE TECH-
NOLOGIES, AND THE SYNERGIES BETWEEN SUCH APPROACHES, INCLUDING AGROFOR-
ESTRY AND REFORESTATION TO STORE CARBON IN BOTH TREES AND SOIL WHILE
PRODUCING ANCILLARY BENEFITS FOR WORKING LANDS. THE RESEARCH PROGRAM
SHALL ALSO DEMONSTRATE SUCCESSFUL TECHNOLOGIES IN PILOT LOCATIONS
THROUGHOUT THE STATE OF NEW YORK, UTILIZE THE CORNELL COOPERATIVE EXTEN-
EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD03424-05-3
A. 4224 2
SION SYSTEM FOR KNOWLEDGE TRANSFER, AND PREPARE ANNUAL REPORTS WHICH
SHALL BE PUBLICLY DISSEMINATED.
3. THE PROGRAM SHALL INCLUDE, BUT NOT BE LIMITED TO, RESEARCH ON THE
FOLLOWING TOPICS, CONSISTENT WITH NEW YORK STATE'S CLIMATE GOALS:
(A) METHODS TO SEQUESTER CARBON IN SOILS THROUGH NATURE-BASED
SOLUTIONS;
(B) IMPROVEMENT OR ENHANCEMENT OF PHOTOSYNTHESIS IN PLANT LIFE AND
DELIVERY TO SOIL TO FACILITATE CARBON SEQUESTRATION;
(C) DEVELOPMENT AND DEPLOYMENT OF TECHNOLOGIES TO MEASURE, MODEL AND
VERIFY CARBON STORAGE IN NATURAL AND WORKING LANDS;
(D) RESEARCH THAT FACILITATES PRODUCTIVE AGROFORESTRY, AFFORESTATION
AND REFORESTATION, INCLUDING RESEARCH THAT FACILITATES INCREASED
NATURE-BASED CARBON STORAGE IN PEATLANDS AND WETLANDS; AND
(E) RESEARCH THAT QUANTIFIES TOTAL GREENHOUSE GAS BENEFITS, INCLUDING
BUT NOT LIMITED TO NITROUS OXIDE, METHANE AND CARBON, TO ASSURE THAT
THERE ARE OVERALL GREENHOUSE GAS EMISSION BENEFITS.
§ 2. This act shall take effect immediately.