Walden Conducts CLCPA and LL97 Talk for GNYADA Members

On October 5, 2023 at 11:00 AM, Walden’s President, Joseph Heaney III, P.E. conducted a webinar for members of the Greater New York Automobile Dealers Association (GNYADA). In his presentation, Heaney spoke about New York State’s Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act (CLCPA, or Climate Law) and New York City’s (NYC) Local Law 97 (LL97/2019). Both of these laws have the same major goal of reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and combating the effects of climate change.

In the webinar, Heaney began with an introduction to the CLCPA. Attendees were mostly representatives from auto dealers, so he discussed some of the impacts that the CLCPA is expected to have on dealerships, as well as how they can effectively prepare for upcoming regulatory changes. The webinar concluded with a discussion geared specifically toward dealers located in NYC, covering LL97 and what dealers must do to comply.

This is the latest of many webinars that Walden has presented to GNYADA members. We are proud to be continued supporters of this valuable organization. We are always excited for the chance to share our knowledge about a wide range of environmental and compliance topics with this group and look forward to our future discussions.

About the CLCPA

The CLCPA was signed into New York State law in 2019. Some of its major objectives include:

• Decreasing GHG emissions by 40% (as compared to 1990 levels) by 2030
• Decreasing GHG emissions by 85% (as compared to 1990 levels) by 2050
• Making 70% of electricity renewable by 2030
• Ensuring that all new car sales are electric vehicles by 2035
• Achieving 100% zero-emission electricity by 2040
• Achieving net zero emissions by 2050

In late 2022, a Scoping Plan was published. This document provides guidance on how New York can meet the goals outlined in the CLCPA. It offers a multitude of strategies, including increasing the use of geothermal heat pumps in homes and businesses, providing incentives to minimize economic leakage (the movement of businesses to other states with looser regulations), and diminishing our reliance on fossil fuels for electricity.

At Walden, we are working to spread awareness about the CLCPA, as a large portion of the public is still not even aware of the law’s existence, let alone all of the coming changes. New regulations are already rolling out, and a lot more will follow in order for New York to have the best chance of meeting the CLCPA’s ambitious goals.

The earlier that companies start planning for regulatory changes, the more likely it will be that they will avoid costly fines or other penalties due to noncompliance. Having the platform to speak to GNYADA members was a fantastic opportunity for us to discuss the CLCPA and its effects with a number of people and allowed us to reach those with whom Walden has no relationship.

About LL97

LL97 will affect buildings that are over 25,000 square feet. It will place energy usage limits on certain buildings located in NYC’s five boroughs, where energy overuse will result in considerable fines. LL97 will impose GHG emissions caps on buildings (beginning in 2024 and becoming more stringent in following years), and will also require buildings to submit yearly emissions reports (beginning in 2025 and focusing on the previous calendar year). If you are interested in reading about LL97 in detail, you can visit Walden’s blog on this topic here.

Where Do I Begin?

New York’s GHG emissions reduction legislation can be a lot to digest, and changes are coming quickly. However, the best time to prepare is now. There are many funding opportunities available for the implementation of more energy efficient practices.

Whether or not you are an auto dealer, if you operate a facility, an energy study can be a great place to start. During the study, a professional will assess energy usage and conditions at your facility and will make recommendations for you to improve energy efficiency–which can result in significant cost savings in the long term. Walden is a NYSERDA FlexTech Consultant and can help you secure funding and conduct an energy study at your facility. Contact Walden at 516-518-3705 to discuss any questions or concerns that you have about the CLCPA or LL97, as well as potential energy efficiency upgrades you can make and funding that is available to help cover these changes.