We have an opportunity to close a loophole on clean air and climate policy that Mayor Eric Adams opened up on behalf of the real estate lobby. Local Law 97 is NYC’s groundbreaking limit on air and climate pollution from large, existing buildings. The Mayor’s loophole in Local Law 97 allows wealthy building owners to keep polluting the air we breathe and the climate we depend on by purchasing Renewable Energy Credits (RECs) in place of reducing pollution from their properties.
His version of Local Law 97 allows building owners to buy RECs in place of about 50% of the pollution reductions required by the law. This puts the city and planet at risk for millions of tons more pollution, more devastating climate events, more childhood asthma, higher utility bills, and the loss of thousands of good jobs. We need building owners cutting pollution, not buying their way into compliance.
A new policy, Intro 1180, will only let building owners use RECs to offset up to 10% of the pollution, closing the loophole and restoring critical strength to Local Law 97.
Local policies on clean air and climate are more crucial than ever. Tell the Council to get Intro 1180 passed and restore strength to Local Law 97.
