Democratic New York Gov. Kathy Hochul hasn’t followed through on a commitment to set new targets for reducing energy use in state buildings.
Hochul’s administration, at an obscure state council meeting, failed to take actions required under the governor’s signature 2022 executive order on energy. The lack of a new 2030 target comes as the state is unlikely to complete enough work to achieve the current 2025 goal.
“New York State is viewed as a national and global leader on climate, and yet our actions are not lining up,” said Liz Moran, New York policy advocate for Earthjustice. “We need to see words go into action, and there couldn’t be a lower hanging fruit than addressing the buildings that the state is accountable for.”
Why it matters: Hochul’s 2022 executive order, signed with fanfare during Climate Week NYC, aimed to set nation-leading sustainability goals for New York state’s operations. It included a 2030 goal for 100 percent renewable electricity at state agencies and a zero emissions light-duty fleet by 2035.
