NY A10640

Public Service Commission shall establish an energy efficiency program within 45 days to promote efficient energy use and hiring from environmental justice areas, with cost-effectiveness determined using benefit-cost analysis including social cost of methane and non-energy benefits.

Energy efficiency measures shall be the primary means for meeting new energy demand in residential and small commercial building sectors, including replacement of fossil fuel use with electricity where emissions and energy costs are reduced.

Utilities must allocate job training funding, employee hiring, and energy efficiency program funding proportionally to potential environmental justice areas of concern based on those areas' share of state housing and small commercial building stock.

New York State Energy Research and Development Authority shall require program funding for energy efficiency measures achieving 185 trillion BTUs in energy savings be allocated to environmental justice areas, and may fund related health interventions including mold, lead, and asbestos remediation.

Persons injured by violations of the energy efficiency requirements may bring lawsuits to enjoin unlawful acts and recover reasonable attorney's fees; act takes effect 90 days after enactment.