Gov. Kathy Hochul on Jan. 5, as part of the 2022 State of the State, announced a plan to achieve two million climate-friendly, electrified or electrification-ready homes by 2030.
Hochul also announced her support for legislation to ensure that all new building construction reaches zero emissions by 2027. She called it an “unprecedented commitment” to curb building emissions, which she said cause more than one-third of New York’s climate pollution.
The proposal would also ensure that more than 800,000 low-to-moderate income households can secure clean energy upgrades.
“To make real progress on climate change, it’s time to tackle major sources of pollution head-on, ensure greener housing is available to all New Yorkers, and pave the way toward a more sustainable future,” Hochul said. “This transformative investment in green infrastructure will cement New York’s status at the forefront of climate action and ensure equity in our transition to a cleaner, greener state.”
Hochul’s plan to achieve a minimum of 1 million electrified homes and up to 1 million electrification-ready homes by 2030 is anchored by a series of core actions:
- Require zero on-site greenhouse gas emissions for new construction no later than 2027
- Upgrade New York’s appliance efficiency standards, reducing energy use while saving New Yorkers billions of dollars in utility costs
- Mandate energy benchmarking for large buildings, making it easier to track energy-efficiency improvements over time
- Convene the finance, mortgage and banking industries to help align private capital with this housing sustainability goal
- Provide the training programs necessary to ensure that New York has a skilled workforce to deliver these services
- Introduce legislation to level the playing field for clean energy alternatives and end the obligation to serve customers with natural gas that currently exists in state law, tailored to maintain affordability for New York’s most vulnerable customers
- Direct New York State Energy and Development Authority (NYSERDA), Homes and Community Renewal (HCR), Department of Public Service (DPS), and Department of State (DOS) to deliver an executable plan to achieve this goal this year, with a funding proposal and strategies to leverage private capital
- Raise the current rate of electrification of approximately 20,000 homes per year more than tenfold by the end of the decade
- Establish a dedicated green electrification fund and electrify low-income homes through HCR’s new $25 billion, five-year housing capital plan, which will advance the state’s goals of creating green affordable housing
Hochul will also put forward a legislative proposal for new construction building codes that will support the effort.
This commitment is part of the governor’s agenda to decarbonize buildings in New York, which also includes bringing green energy solutions to more than 1,000 public schools.