Senate Bill S9324

                                 
BILL NUMBER: S9324

SPONSOR: CANZONERI-FITZPATRICK
 
TITLE OF BILL:

An act to amend the environmental conservation law, in relation to
changing the state's metrics for measuring greenhouse gas emissions

 
PURPOSE:

To align New York's definition of "carbon dioxide equivalent" with the
more commonly used metric of considering a 100-year time frame.

 
SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS:

Section 1: Amends subdivision 2 of section 75-0101 of the environmental
conservation law relating to the definition of "carbon dioxide equiv-
alent" to utilize a 100-year time frame instead of 20 years.

Section 2: Provides the effective date.

 
              

JUSTIFICATION:

As New York seeks to make significant changes to its electric grid, it
is imperative that the transition prioritizes the needs of New Yorkers,
especially as the costs-of-living, especially utility rates, have
skyrocketed out of control. As part of the Climate Leadership and Commu-
nity Protection Act (CLCPA), New York established a statutory definition
of "carbon dioxide equivalent" to account for non-carbon greenhouse
gases based on their potency relative to carbon. For instance, methane,
a greenhouse gas emitted largely from agricultural operations, land-
fills, natural gas production, and wastewater treatment, is a far more
potent greenhouse gas than carbon dioxide. However, methane only resides
in the atmosphere for approximately 14 years on average, whereas carbon
remains in the atmosphere for 300 years. Given these timelines, account-
ing for the potency of a greenhouse gas on a 20-year timeline heavily
overweights methane compared to carbon compared to a 100-year time frame
where methane's outsized potency is short lived.  According to the
Empire Center for Public Policy, scientists estimate that methane is
80-100 times as potent carbon over a 20-year period, but only 28 times
as potent over a 100-year period.

Naturally, this choice of standard by New York State incentivizes prior-
itizing methane reductions far more than carbon. In adhering to a
20-year calculation of "carbon dioxide equivalent," rather than the more
common 100-year metric, the state has directly contributed to a transi-
tion that is not only more costly, but arguably overweights less impact-
ful quick fixes over long term reductions. The practical implication of
focusing on methane reductions means targeting buildings' reliance on
natural gas, which is especially concerning since New York's residential
electricity prices are even higher relative to the national average than
the state's natural gas prices.

Further, the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority
recently issued a memo that found, " 
Absent changes, by 2031, the
impact of CLCPA on the price of gasoline could reach or exceed
$2.23/gallon on top of current prices at that time...Upstate oil and
natural gas households would see costs in excess of $4,000 a year and
New York City natural gas households could anticipate annual gross costs
of $2,300. Only a portion of these costs could be offset by current
policy design."

Amending the law to a 100-year equivalent is a critically necessary
change that would relieve pressure on the state to meet the timelines
laid out in the CLCPA-a recent emissions report found that the state
reduced emissions by 15% in recent decades under the 20-year standard,
but by 24% based on the 100-year standard. This change would promote
affordability and realign New York with the standards of the majority of
other states, as well as the international community.

 
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:

New bill.

 
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:

To be deteiniined.

 
EFFECTIVE DATE:
This act shall take effect immediately.