Part 492, Climate Smart Community Projects - Job Impact Statement

6 NYCRR Part 492, Climate Smart Community Projects
Job Impact Statement

1. Nature of Impact:

The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (Department) proposes to create a new 6 NYCRR Part 492 describing "clean vehicle projects" and "climate adaptation and mitigation projects," authorized by Environmental Conservation Law §§ 54-1521 and 54-1523. "Clean vehicle projects" include rebates available to municipalities for the purchase or lease of eligible vehicles (up to $5,000 per vehicle), and eligible infrastructure projects which support the public charging and/or fueling of eligible vehicles (up to $250,000 per facility). "Climate adaptation and mitigation projects" include competitive state assistance payments available to municipalities for climate adaptation and mitigation projects (up to $2,000,000) including, but not limited to, natural resiliency measures, nature based mitigation projects, relocation or retrofit of existing facilities due to flooding or sea level rise, greenhouse gas emissions reduction outside the power sector, and climate change adaptation planning and supporting studies. The proposed regulations are not expected to adversely impact jobs and employment opportunities in New York State. Application for funding under Part 492 is voluntary. Funding is available for a variety of eligible actions and depending on the specific actions proposed by an applicant, employment opportunities may be created as a result of project implementation. New York State has offered several rounds of state assistance through the Environmental Protection Fund in the past, and the Department is unaware of any significant adverse impact to jobs and employment opportunities as a result of these previous programs.

2. Categories and numbers affected:

This funding program is available to all municipalities in New York State, including counties, cities, towns, villages, and boroughs. The Department does not anticipate any of these areas suffering any adverse employment or economic impact from this regulation.

3. Regions of adverse impact:

This funding program is available to every municipality throughout New York State. Accordingly, there are no regions of the state that would have a disproportionate adverse impact on jobs or employment opportunities as a result of this rulemaking.

4. Minimizing adverse impact:

The proposed regulations are not expected to have adverse impacts on jobs and employment opportunities. Application to these programs is voluntary. Funding is available for a variety of eligible actions and depending on the specific actions proposed by an applicant, employment opportunities may be created as a result of project implementation.