While NYLPI is excited to see the Department of Buildings and Mayor Adams’ Office lay out specific guidance for implementing Local Law 97, we need strict compliance and no buyouts to protect residents who have suffered the consequences of the climate crisis.

The proposed rules include guidance on the use of Renewable Energy Credits (REC) as a way to deduct from a building’s annual emissions. “Limiting RECs to utility-supplied electricity consumption will prevent credits from being used to offset gas consumption such as onsite boilers, making the tradeoff between compliance and RECs a seemingly more equal one, as RECs only apply to electricity,” said Kyra Armstrong, Staff Attorney for NYLPI.

Learn more about NYLPI’s suggestions for Local Lay 97 implementation on our website.