Climate Action Council to hold 10 public hearings across the State

New York State’s nation-leading climate agenda is the most aggressive climate and clean energy initiative in the nation, calling for an orderly and just transition to clean energy that creates jobs and continues fostering a green economy as New York State recovers from the COVID-19 pandemic.

New York State’s 22-member Climate Action Council, established under the Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act (CLCPA), will hold 10 public hearings across the State to receive public input on the Draft Scoping Plan and advance work on a Final Scoping Plan to guide the implementation of the State’s nation-leading climate goals under the CLCPA.

The Council released the Draft Scoping Plan on Dec. 30, 2021, and is accepting public comments on the draft through June 10, 2022. The Council extended the comment period beyond 120 days to allow for additional public input.

The Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) and New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA), Co-Chairs of the Climate Action Council, today announced eight in-person hearings in locations across the State, as well as two virtual hearings. In-person hearings will also be live-streamed to allow for remote viewing of the proceedings.

All persons, organizations, corporations, and government agencies are encouraged to attend the public hearings and to submit oral or written comments.

If in-person hearings cannot be held due to changing COVID-19 health and safety guidelines, hearings will shift to virtual at the same date and time. Each participant will be given two minutes to address the Climate Action Council. Lengthy statements should be submitted in writing and summarized for oral presentation.

PowerPoint presentations are not allowed, but individuals may provide written supporting documents or visuals.

Pre-registration is encouraged but not required for the in-person hearings. Priority in seating and speaking will be given to those who pre-register.

Hearings will be webcast for viewing purposes only, professionally recorded, and transcribed as part of the official record and posted on the Climate Act website.

Members of the public who want to provide oral comment must attend either in-person or join a virtual hearing. Equal weight will be given to oral and written statements.

American sign language and language interpretive services shall be made available upon written request at no charge. Any additional information, including instructions for joining each event remotely to view the proceedings, will be made available prior to each event here.

The virtual public hearings will include live captioning in multiple languages. To view live captioning during the virtual hearings, attendees can join the presentation through PowerPoint Live using a computer or smartphone.

Written comments can be submitted through June 10, 2022, via the online public comment form, via email to scopingplan@nyserda.ny.gov, or via U.S. Mail to Attention: Draft Scoping Plan Comments, NYSERDA, 17 Columbia Circle, Albany, NY 12203-6399.