BILL NUMBER: S5652
SPONSOR: HINCHEY
 
TITLE OF BILL:
An act to amend the public authorities law, in relation to establishing
the natural carbon sequestration research program; and to amend part W
of chapter 58 of the laws of 2021 authorizing the energy research and
development authority to finance a portion of its research, development
and demonstration, policy and planning, and Fuel NY program, as well as
climate change related expenses of the department of environmental
conservation and the department of agriculture and markets' Fuel NY
program, from an assessment on gas and electric corporations, in
relation to funding for the natural carbon sequestration research
program
 
PURPOSE FOR GENERAL IDEA OF BILL:
This bill creates a natural carbon sequestration research program, head-
quartered at New York State's Land Grant College of Agriculture and Life
Sciences. The purpose of this legislation is to implement the goals of
the Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act by conducting
research to develop and verify soil and nature based carbon sequestra-
tion techniques, to establish demonstration projects on Cornell CALS
research and extension owned farms and forests, and to extend knowledge,
and technical transfer utilizing Cornell Cooperative Extension.
 
SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS:
Section 1 establishes the natural carbon sequestration research program.
Research goals will include methods to sequester carbon in soils through
nature-based solutions, improvement or enhancement of photosynthesis in
plant life and delivery to soil to facilitate carbon sequestration,
development and deployment of technologies to measure, model and verify
Carbon storage and overall greenhouse gas benefits considering any
effects on nitrous oxide and methane in natural and working lands, and
research that facilitates productive agroforestry, afforestation, and
reforestation.
Section 2 requires the New York State Energy Research and Development
Authority to implement such program at the New York State College of
Agriculture and Life Sciences and establishes a funding mechanism.
Section 3 states the effective date.
 
JUSTIFICATION:
Natural climate solutions in working lands such as sequestering carbon
in trees, wood products and soil are critically important to help meet
the mandates of the Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act.
Natural climate solutions also provide other valuable environmental and
economic benefits (Fargione et al. 2018). Natural climate solutions are
currently offsetting more than 8% of New York State's annual greenhouse
gas emissions (Hochul & Seggos 2021, Figure 8, Table ES.2). Research has
shown the potential to increase this benefit to more than 12% (Fargione
et al. 2018, < https://nature4climate.org/u-s-carbon-mapper/>). To help
meet mandated reductions of net zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050
the draft Climate Action Council Scoping plan includes natural climate
solutions of 16% of current emissions (NYCAC 2021). Research is urgently
needed to expand upon proven techniques, develop and demonstrate new
technologies, and quantify overall benefits of natural climate
solutions.
Fargione, J. E., S. Bassett, T. Boucher, S. D. Bridgham, R. T. Conant,
S. C. Cook-Patton, P. W. Ellis, A. Falcucci, J. W. Fourqurean, T. Gopa-
lakrishna, H. Gu, B. Henderson, M. D. Hurteau, K. D. Kroeger, T. Kroe-
ger, T. J. Lark, S. M. Leavitt, G. Lomax, R. I. McDonald, J. P. Megoni-
gal, D. A. Miteva, C. J. Richardson, J. Sanderman, D. Shoch, S. A.
Spawn, J. W. Veldman, C. A. Williams, P. B. Woodbury, C. Zganjar, M.
Oaranski, P. Elias, R. A. Houghton, E. Landis, E McGlynn, W. H. Schle-
singer, J. V. Siikamaki, A. E. Sutton-Grier, and B. W. Griscom. 2018.
Natural climate solutions for the United States Science Advances 4.
Hochul, C., and B. Seggos. 2021. 2021 Statewide GHG Emissions Report.
New York State Department of Environmental Conservation, Albany, NYCAC.
2021. New York State Climate Action Council Draft Scoping Plan. NYCAC.
2021. New York State Climate Action Council Draft Scoping Plan. New York
State Climate Action Council, Albany, NY.
 
PRIOR LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:
2023-24: S.1853 - Referred to Energy and Telecommunications
2022: 5.8179/A.9174 - Referred to Energy and Telecommunications/
Referred to Energy
 
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS FOR STATE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENTS:
$1 Million annually.
 
EFFECTIVE DATE:
This act shall take effect immediately.