New York Governor Seeks to Delay State Climate Emissions Targets

New York Gov. Kathy Hochul is seeking to revise emissions-reduction targets in the state's 2019 Climate Act as part of current budget negotiations. The original law set a 40 percent cut in greenhouse gas emissions from 1990 levels by 2030 and an 85 percent cut by 2050.

During a press conference this month, Hochul said the state will change the timeline through the budget process. The new interim target would be a 60 percent reduction by 2040, with the 2050 goal kept in place. Economic policies to reach the targets would not be released until 2028.

Statewide emissions in 2023 stood about 15 percent below 1990 levels, according to the latest state report. Buildings, electricity generation, and transportation remain the largest sources of emissions. The All-Electric Buildings Law, which would have banned gas in many new buildings, has been delayed.

Two gas-fired peaker plants slated to close last year will now stay open until at least May 2029.

Ko, deputy director of the New York City Environmental Justice Alliance, said the original Climate Act aimed to reduce pollution burdens on low-income communities of color. She noted that embedding policy changes in the budget process reduces transparency.

State Sen. Kristen Gonzalez questioned a leaked state energy planning memo that projected higher utility costs under the original carbon-pricing approach. She argued that reliance on imported oil and gas, along with aging infrastructure, drives costs. S.

operations, said long-term planning for clean energy transmission is needed. Noah Kaufman, senior research scholar at Columbia University's Center on Global Energy Policy, said costs can be reduced through advance planning and targeted rebates.