Groups oppose state carbon bill

Say legislation would boost fuel prices and create pollution hot spots

Environmental groups are opposing a bill that is intended to reduce carbon intensity but, they said, would end up raising fuel prices and creating pollution hot spots.

The legislation, sponsored by Assemblywoman Carrie Woerner, D-round Lake, and Kevin S. Parker, D-brooklyn, is aimed at tackling pollution by significantly lowering the intensity of on-road transportation by 20 percent by 2030.

But according to memos produced by groups including Environmental Advocates NY, New York City Environmental Justice Alliance, New York Public Interest Research Group Fund and Earthjustice — the proposal is not the way forward in the fight against climate change.

“There is a right way to fund our climate law and a wrong way,” said Peter Iwanowicz, executive director of Environmental Advocates NY. “Regressive policies like this that also continue pollution hot spots are clearly the wrong way.”

Iwanowicz added that this is the first time that the legislation has made it to the committee phase, though it has been introduced previously.

The groups say that the proposed law would raise fuel prices and create pollution hot spots in disadvantaged communities. Iwanowicz argued that the latter point was in direct violation of the state’s climate law.

A memo authored by the New York City Environmental Justice Alliance states: “This policy focuses only on the carbon intensity of a fuel rather than taking into account the overall greenhouse gas emissions and resulting co-pollution.

“By proposing the use of fuels for transportation rather than electrification, this policy would continue to incentivize the combustion of fuels other than fossil gas, which still contribute to climate change and result in severe health impacts, particularly in disadvantaged communities where pollution is concentrated.”

The bill doesn’t apply to aviation fuels due to federal regulations but would pertain to sustainable aviation fuels. If passed, the legislation would regulate all providers of transportation fuels, including electricity.

Providers that exceed the obligations could receive credits toward future measures.