STATE OF NEW YORK
________________________________________________________________________
1584
2017-2018 Regular Sessions
IN SENATE
January 10, 2017
___________
Introduced by Sens. AVELLA, ADDABBO, BRESLIN, DILAN, GIANARIS, HOYLMAN,
KRUEGER, LATIMER, MONTGOMERY, PARKER, PERALTA, PERKINS, RIVERA, SERRA-
NO, SQUADRON, STAVISKY, STEWART-COUSINS -- read twice and ordered
printed, and when printed to be committed to the Committee on Environ-
mental Conservation
AN ACT to amend the environmental conservation law, in relation to
global warming pollution control
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assem-bly, do enact as follows:
1 Section 1. Legislative findings. Global warming poses a serious threat
2 to the economic well-being, public health, natural resources and envi-
3 ronment of New York. The potential adverse impacts of global warming
4 include the exacerbation of air quality problems, a reduction in the
5 quality and supply of water to the state, a rise in sea levels resulting
6 in the displacement of coastal businesses, residents and infrastructure,
7 damage to marine ecosystems and the natural environment, and an increase
8 in the incidences of infectious diseases, asthma, and other human
9 health-related problems. Global warming will have detrimental effects
10 on some of New York's largest industries, including agriculture, tour-
11 ism, skiing, recreational and commercial fishing and forestry.
12 The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, awarded the 2007 Nobel
13 Peace Prize, determined that burning coal, oil and gas has led to higher
14 temperatures that are already impacting physical and biological systems.
15 The panel also projected temperatures would rise more rapidly if green-
16 house gases are not abated. The panel concluded that reducing emissions
17 80 percent below current emissions by mid-century would prevent the
18 worst impacts of global warming.
19 National and international actions are necessary to fully address the
20 issue of global warming. Action taken by New York and other states to
21 reduce emissions of greenhouse gases will have far-reaching effects by
22 encouraging the federal government, and other countries to act including
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[] is old law to be omitted.
LBD00693-01-7
S. 1584 2
1 encouraging the development of sustainable, non-polluting technologies
2 such as solar, wind, geothermal and ocean currents.
3 § 2. Article 19 of the environmental conservation law is amended by
4 adding a new title 13 to read as follows:
5 TITLE 13
6 GLOBAL WARMING POLLUTION CONTROL
7 Section 19-1301. Short title.
8 19-1303. Definitions.
9 19-1305. Greenhouse gas reporting.
10 19-1307. Greenhouse gas limits.
11 § 19-1301. Short title.
12 This title may be cited as the "Global warming pollution control act".
13 § 19-1303. Definitions.
14 When used in this title:
15 1. "Greenhouse gas" means carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide,
16 hydrofluorocarbons, perfluorocarbons, sulfur hexafluoride, and any other
17 gas determined by the department to be a significant contributor to
18 global warming.
19 2. "Greenhouse gas emission source" means any source or category of
20 sources of greenhouse gas emissions and shall include, but not be limit-
21 ed to emissions:
22 (a) associated with fossil fuels used in the state by entities that
23 are manufacturers and distributors of fossil fuels, including, but not
24 limited to, oil refineries, oil storage facilities, and natural gas
25 pipelines;
26 (b) from any utility generating or delivering electricity consumed in
27 the state, whether the electricity is generated in the state, or gener-
28 ated outside the state and imported into the state, and accounting for
29 transmission and distribution line losses; and
30 (c) from any additional entities that are emitters of greenhouse
31 gases, as determined by the department, and appropriate to enable the
32 department to monitor compliance with the emissions limits for green-
33 house gases established pursuant to this title.
34 § 19-1305. Greenhouse gas reporting.
35 1. No later than May 1, 2018, the department shall promulgate rules
36 and regulations requiring annual greenhouse gas emissions reporting from
37 greenhouse gas emission sources. The regulations shall:
38 (a) include greenhouse gas emissions from all greenhouse gas emission
39 sources expressed in tons of carbon dioxide equivalents;
40 (b) ensure rigorous and consistent accounting of emissions, and
41 provide reporting tools and formats to ensure collection of necessary
42 data; and
43 (c) ensure that each greenhouse gas emission source maintains compre-
44 hensive emissions records of any greenhouse gas reported for at least
45 five years.
46 2. The department shall:
47 (a) periodically review and update its emission reporting requirements
48 at least every five years; and
49 (b) make reasonable efforts to make its reporting regulations consist-
50 ent with international, federal and other states' greenhouse gas emis-
51 sion reporting programs.
52 3. No later than January 1, 2020, and every three years thereafter,
53 the department shall issue a report on:
54 (a) the annual greenhouse gas emissions from all greenhouse gas emis-
55 sion sources, including the relative contribution of each greenhouse gas
56 emission source to statewide greenhouse gas emissions; and
S. 1584 3
1 (b) the progress made by the department in achieving the requirements
2 of section 19-1307 of this title.
3 § 19-1307. Greenhouse gas limits.
4 1. No later than January 1, 2020, the department, after a public hear-
5 ing, shall promulgate rules and regulations setting an enforceable limit
6 on the aggregate level of greenhouse gas emissions from all greenhouse
7 gas emission sources provided; however, the aggregate limit shall not be
8 greater than the aggregate level of greenhouse gas emissions for calen-
9 dar year 1990.
10 2. (a) On January 1, 2024 the limit established in subdivision one of
11 this section shall be reduced by 20 percent.
12 (b) On January 1, 2029 the limit established in subdivision one of
13 this section shall be reduced by 30 percent.
14 (c) On January 1, 2034 the limit established in subdivision one of
15 this section shall be reduced by 40 percent.
16 (d) On January 1, 2039 the limit established in subdivision one of
17 this section shall be reduced by 50 percent.
18 (e) On January 1, 2044 the limit established in subdivision one of
19 this section shall be reduced by 60 percent.
20 (f) On January 1, 2049 the limit established in subdivision one of
21 this section shall be reduced by 70 percent.
22 (g) On January 1, 2054, and each year thereafter, the limit shall
23 remain at 80 percent below the limit established in subdivision one of
24 this section.
25 3. Any rule or regulation the commissioner adopts to comply with this
26 section must:
27 (a) not place or increase an additional environmental or health burden
28 on a community that has a significant level of regulated air contam-
29 inant source emissions within the community as compared with the county
30 average;
31 (b) be compatible with other emissions reductions programs; and
32 (c) include a plan to the extent practicable to address adaptation to
33 climate change including but not limited to terrestrial and aquatic
34 habitats, plants and animal species, connectivity of habitats, and
35 ecosystem services provided by natural resources including but not
36 limited to flood control and drinking water supply.
37 § 3. This act shall take effect immediately.
