Draft Eligibility Guidelines on Clean Green Schools Environmental Bond Act Now Available For Public Comment

Public Comments Accepted Until December 8, 2023, at 5:00 p.m.

November 8, 2023

The New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) today released proposed eligibility guidelines for public comment for the Clean Green Schools Initiative being designed under the historic $4.2 billion Clean Water, Clean Air and Green Jobs Environmental Bond Act of 2022. Once finalized, the criteria will guide funding for advancing construction projects to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and help public schools improve environmental sustainability and decarbonization of school buildings – leading to improved air quality, increased resiliency, and a pathway toward electrification. Today’s announcement supports the Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act (Climate Act) requirements to reduce greenhouse gas emissions 85% by 2050 and ensure at least 35%, with a goal of 40%, of the benefits from investments be directed to disadvantaged communities.

Doreen M. Harris, President and CEO, NYSERDA said, "The Environmental Bond Act provides another opportunity to create healthy learning environments for New York children and improve air quality for surrounding communities through the implementation of the Clean Green Schools Initiative. The newly released draft eligibility guidelines, which we are excited to receive public input on, will give school districts, especially those in underserved communities, the tools they need to identify ways for making meaningful changes to their school buildings to reduce emissions and energy use, while improving community resiliency to climate change.”

Basil Seggos, Commissioner, New York State Department of Environmental Conservation said, “New York State is committed to advancing climate action to decrease emissions and combat climate change and the Clean Water, Clean Air and Green Jobs Environmental Bond Act provides a generational opportunity to support a cleaner and healthier environment for all New Yorkers. Released today for public comment, these draft eligibility guidelines to advance Bond Act resources will help implement the Clean Green Schools Initiative investments in schools across the state, particularly in disadvantaged communities overburdened by environmental pollution, ensuring schools have the resources to reduce emissions, embrace sustainability, and increase resiliency for future generations.”

The Clean Green Schools Initiative provides technical, financial, and human resource support to help public schools located in disadvantaged communities and/or those designated as high-needs as defined by the New York State Education Department to assess and implement energy efficient heating and cooling projects that benefit vulnerable students across the state. The Bond Act requires that disadvantaged communities receive no less than 35%, with a goal of 40%, of the benefit of total Bond Act funds. In line with this goal, NYSERDA will direct program funding towards public schools in disadvantaged communities .

The draft Clean Green Schools Initiative eligibility guidelines now out for comment enables the public to weigh in on the implementation of Bond Act funding directed towards public schools as part of the $400 million directed towards Green Buildings for Climate Change Mitigation in the Environmental Bond Act.

The full eligibility guidelines are available on the Environmental Notice Bulletin web page. Public comments will be accepted until December 8, 2023 at 5:00 p.m. Submit written comments to Hannah Morgan, NYSERDA, 17 Columbia Circle Albany, NY 12203, Email: [email protected] .

One year ago, today on Nov. 8, 2022, New Yorkers overwhelmingly approved the $4.2 billion Environmental Bond Act. State agencies, local governments, and partners will be able to access funding to protect water quality, help communities adapt to climate change, improve resiliency, and create green jobs. Bond Act funding will support new and expanded projects across the state to safeguard drinking water sources, reduce pollution, and protect communities and natural resources from climate change.

Over the past year, an inter-agency working group comprised of multiple state agencies has been implementing a transparent and collaborative process with stakeholder buy-in, including holding 10 Listening Sessions and using a project survey to identify needs for environmental funding across the state to help develop program logistics. The State is developing eligibility guidelines for how projects will be selected and delivered, through a transparent and collaborative process. The first outcome of these efforts was supported by both the Environmental Bond Act and the Water Infrastructure Improvement Act (WIIA) as well as the Intermunicipal Grants (IMG) programs. The State also released draft guidelines and made $100 million available for zero-emission school buses. The draft Clean Green Schools Initiative eligibility guidelines now out for comment enables the public to weigh in on the implementation of Bond Act funding directed towards public schools as part of the $400 million directed towards Green Buildings for Climate Change Mitigation in the Environmental Bond Act.

Today’s announcement complements Governor Kathy Hochul’s ongoing investments to modernize the state’s building stock. Buildings are one of the largest sources of greenhouse gas emissions in New York State, and integrating energy efficiency and electrification measures in existing buildings will reduce carbon pollution and help achieve healthier and comfortable buildings. Through NYSERDA and utility programs, over $6.8 billion is being invested to decarbonize buildings across the State. By improving energy efficiency in buildings and including onsite storage, renewables, and electric vehicle charging equipment, the State will reduce carbon pollution and achieve the ambitious target of reducing on-site energy consumption by 185 TBtu by 2025, the equivalent of powering 1.8 million homes, which will result in an additional $1.8 billion in societal and environmental benefits.

New York State's Nation-Leading Climate Plan

New York State's nation-leading climate agenda calls for an orderly and just transition that creates family-sustaining jobs, continues to foster a green economy across all sectors and ensures that at least 35%, with a goal of 40%, of the benefits of clean energy investments are directed to disadvantaged communities. Guided by some of the nation’s most aggressive climate and clean energy initiatives, New York is on a path to achieving a zero-emission electricity sector by 2040, including 70% renewable energy generation by 2030, and economywide carbon neutrality by mid-century. A cornerstone of this transition is New York's unprecedented clean energy investments, including more than $55 billion in 145 large-scale renewable and transmission projects across the state, $6.8 billion to reduce building emissions, $3.3 billion to scale up solar, more than $1 billion for clean transportation initiatives, and over $2 billion in NY Green Bank commitments. These and other investments are supporting more than 165,000 jobs in New York’s clean energy sector in 2021 and over 3,000% growth in the distributed solar sector since 2011. To reduce greenhouse gas emissions and improve air quality, New York also adopted zero-emission vehicle regulations, including requiring all new passenger cars and light-duty trucks sold in the State be zero emission by 2035. Partnerships are continuing to advance New York’s climate action with nearly 400 registered and more than 100 certified Climate Smart Communities, nearly 500 Clean Energy Communities, and the State’s largest community air monitoring initiative in 10 disadvantaged communities across the state to help target air pollution and combat climate change.

About NYSERDA

NYSERDA, a public benefit corporation, offers objective information and analysis, innovative programs, technical expertise, and funding to help New Yorkers increase energy efficiency, save money, use renewable energy, and reduce reliance on fossil fuels. NYSERDA professionals work to protect the environment and create clean-energy jobs. NYSERDA has been developing partnerships to advance innovative energy solutions in New York State since 1975. To learn more about NYSERDA’s programs and funding opportunities, visit nyserda.ny.gov or follow us on Twitter , Facebook , YouTube , or Instagram .