On Wednesday, May 18th, NYLCVEF and our partner, Sustainable Westchester held a virtual Lunch and Learn focused on the Scoping Plan for New York’s Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act (CLCPA). The CLCPA is among the most ambitious climate laws in the world and requires New York to transition to a zero-emission electricity sector by 2040, including 70 percent renewable energy generation by 2030, and to reach economy-wide carbon neutrality by 2050.
On July 18, 2019, the CLCPA was signed into law. The law also created the Climate Action Council which is tasked with developing a Draft Scoping Plan that serves as an initial framework for how the State will reduce greenhouse gas emissions and achieve net-zero emissions, increase renewable energy usage, and ensure climate justice.
The Lunch & Learn focused on several topics within the scoping plan. We heard from the below experts on each of these areas:
- Raya Salter, founder of the Energy Justice Law and Policy Center and member of the New York State Climate Action Council, spoke about A Just Transition & Achieving Climate Justice.
- Nina Orville, Executive Director of Sustainable Westchester; and Leo Wiegman, Director of Solar Programs at Sustainable Westchester; spoke about Electricity.
- Julie Tighe, President of the New York League of Conservation Voters, spoke about Transportation.
- Jared Rodriguez, Principal at Emergent Urban Conceptt and Councilman of The Village of Sleepy Hollow; and Jennifer Metzger, former NY State Senator, and Energy Expert/Speaker; spoke about Buildings & Gas System Transition.
- Resa Dimino, Principal at Resource Recycling Systems, spoke about Waste.
- Finally, Karen E. Meara, Partner at Carter Ledyard & Milburn, LLP, spoke about Land Use.
Read more about the speakers, here: CLCPA BIOS 5.18.22.pdf.
The comment period for the scoping plan is open now and attendees were encouraged to take the information they learned during the session and comment on the plan through NYSERDA’s website. Click here to check out NYLCVEF’s and Sustainable Westchester’s comment guide and to learn more about how to make a comment: CLCPA Scoping Plan Guide.pdf.
If you were unable to attend, watch the recording of the Lunch & Learn here: NYS Climate Act: Understanding the Climate Action Council Draft Scoping Plan Learn and Act Webinar.