Briefs

New climate-protection laws shift costs away from taxpayer, expands anti-fracking protocol

December 26, 2024 Brooklyn Eagle Staff

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STATEWIDE — A NEW LAW that Gov. Kathy Hochul signed on Thursday, Dec. 26 aims to bolster the state’s efforts to protect and restore the environment. Legislation S.2129-B/A.3351-B creates a ‘Climate Superfund’ to support New York-based projects builds on New York’s resiliency to dangerous climate impacts like flooding and extreme heat by shifting the cost of climate adaptation from New Yorkers to the fossil fuel companies who are deemed most responsible for the pollution. This landmark law creates a Climate Change Adaptation Cost Recovery Program to ensure that energy companies contribute to the funding of critical infrastructure investments, such as coastal protection and flood mitigation systems, to enhance the climate resilience of communities across the state. A second climate law signed by Governor Hochul earlier this week expands upon New York State’s 2014 prohibition of high-volume hydraulic fracturing to extract natural gas. A second new law. Legislation S.8357/A.8866, amends the State Environmental Conservation Law to prohibit the use of carbon dioxide in gas or oil extraction to prevent potential negative health or environmental effects from carbon dioxide fracking in the state.

Several Brooklyn lawmakers co-sponsored the Climate Superfund bill: State Senators Jabari Brisport (D-25), Andrew Gounardes (D-26), Zellnor Myrie (D-20), Kevin Parker (D-21) and Julia Salazar (D-18); and Assemblymembers including JoAnne Simon (D-52), Robert Carroll (D-44), William Colton (D-47) and Rodneyse Bichotte Hermelyn, among others. Many of these also co-sponsored the fracking prohibition bill.