BILL NUMBER: S2639
SPONSOR: MAY
 
TITLE OF BILL:
An act to amend the state administrative procedure act, in relation to
requiring certain entities to evaluate license applications for compli-
ance with the goals set forth in the New York state climate leadership
and community protection act
 
PURPOSE OR GENERAL IDEA OF BILL:
This bill requires all state licensure under the jurisdiction of the
department of environmental conservation, the department of public
service, the New York power authority, the Long Island power authority,
the office of renewable energy siting, and the New York state energy
research and development authority to be in compliance with the green-
house gas emissions limits set forth in state environmental conservation
law.
 
SUMMARY OF SPECIFIC PROVISIONS:
Section 1: requires the department of environmental conservation, the
department of public service, the New York power authority, the Long
Island power authority, the office of renewable energy siting, and the
New York state energy research and development authority to promulgate
regulations to require an application for a permit, license, certif-
icate, approval, registration, charter, or similar forms of permission
or authority required by law to include information regarding compliance
with the New York state climate leadership and community protection act.
It shall not include bonds or other forms of security, or individual
licenses for practicing a profession or routine licenses or permits for
individual privileges, including licenses for operation g a motor vehi-
cle.
Section 2: sets the effective date.
 
JUSTIFICATION:
The dire warnings from the International Panel on Climate Change contin-
ue to make clear that we have only a handful of years to blunt the worst
effects of climate change. New York has already taken a critical step
towards climate action by putting strong climate goals in law with the
passage of the Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act. But the
state must ingrain climate compliance into every piece of its operations
and evaluate every action for its compliance with the climate goals in
law, to make sure that we can stay on track to cut greenhouse gas emis-
sions by 85% below 1990 levels by 2050.
This bill will require that relevant state agencies assess permits,
licenses, certificates, approvals, registration, charters, or similar
forms of permission or authority required by law for their impact on
greenhouse gas emissions, energy usage and environmental justice. To
meet our climate goals New York must assess climate impacts with every
action and reduce its reliance on fossil fuels.
 
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:
2023-2024 - S.2720 (May)
2021-2022 - S.8766 (May) / A.9514A (Kelles)
 
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:
None to the state
 
EFFECTIVE DATE:
Immediately