Climate Jobs NY Update: Diversifying NY’s Clean Energy Economy with Good Union Jobs!

It was an electric start to the week as Governor Hochul signed three clean energy bills that will help ensure a just transition for our communities and workers while diversifying our energy system to help ensure reliability and resilience.

Chiefly, the Governor signed a bill CJNY and its affiliates prioritized which will require prevailing wage on solar projects that are above 1 MW and utilize the procurement of renewable energy credits from a public entity. This increases the number of projects to trigger this requirement and will lead to more family-sustaining jobs throughout the state.

Second, the Utility Thermal Energy Network and Jobs Act is a game-changer in diversifying the types of technologies that will lead us to achieve our carbon emissions while creating a lane for union pipefitters and other skilled trades in the transition to clean energy. This bill requires the Public Service Commission to create the regulatory framework for utility-scale thermal networks. These networks include district geothermal and other community-scale thermal infrastructure projects that can heat and cool homes.

Last but not least, the Advanced Building Codes, Appliance and Equipment Efficiency Standards Act of 2022 bolsters New York's regulatory and policy framework to support energy efficiency and greenhouse gas reduction initiatives in buildings along with expanded appliance standards.