Legislative Alert: March 23, 2026

President's Message: Significant and Recurring Investment Needed in Clean Energy

As discussions continue regarding the implementation of the Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act (CLCPA), New York must remain committed to advancing clean, affordable, and renewable energy resources.

To help achieve our goals, we need billions in multi-year investments in clean and renewable energy, and support for the transition of our schools, hospitals and public facilities. We must also ensure that strong labor standards are required, including prevailing rate, bona fide apprenticeship program, project labor agreements, Buy American, and labor peace in the development, construction, operation, and maintenance of these projects. All of this will ensure grid reliability, affordability for ratepayers and employers, and that workers impacted by the energy transition continue to be employed in quality union jobs.

With reduced federal government support and funding for clean energy initiatives, New York must lead the way toward a cleaner, more reliable energy system by investing in climate-resilient infrastructure and scaling up renewable development. We must double our commitment to building and expanding systems necessary to deliver clean energy to homes and businesses.

To meet our climate goals, we support the creation of a recurring investment in the clean energy transition to help to scale decarbonization, modernize our infrastructure, and ensure the transition creates an equitable energy system. This includes a $3 billion recurring investment in the Sustainable Future Fund until Cap and Invest is fully implemented.

We also support the following targeted investments:

Thermal Energy Networks (TENs) for SUNY, CUNY, NYCHA campuses, municipal projects, and utility-scale TENs deployment.
Carbon-Free and Healthy Schools, including expansion of the mechanical insulator program to other technologies to ensure the grant process is not onerous on schools.
Electric grid upgrades, including substations, transmission line upgrades, interconnection, and efficiency upgrades to existing facilities, and conversion fund.
Energy-Intensive, Trade-Exposed (EITE) Energy Transition Fund.
Hospital and public building decarbonization fund.
Large-scale renewable energy investments to lower ratepayer costs.
Municipal climate resiliency and weatherization fund.

These targeted investments will support workforce development, drive emission reduction, protect public health, and help build a resilient and sustainable energy future for all communities in New York.

Mario Cilento, President

Upcoming Meetings

APPRENTICESHIP WORKS EVENT
Tuesday, March 24, 2026, 10 am-2:30 pm
Empire State Plaza, North Concourse