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| Local Law 97 Coalition | |
|---|---|
| Name | Local Law 97 Coalition |
| Type | Coalition |
| Founded | c.2019 |
| Location | New York City |
| Focus | Building emissions, policy advocacy, lobbying |
Local Law 97 Coalition The Local Law 97 Coalition is a New York City-based alliance formed in response to Local Law 97 of 2019 aimed at reducing carbon emissions from buildings. The coalition engages with stakeholders across New York City Council, New York State Assembly, New York State Senate, and municipal agencies such as the New York City Department of Buildings and the New York City Mayor's Office of Sustainability to influence implementation, compliance timelines, and cost impacts.
The coalition emerged amid debates following the passage of Climate Mobilization Act of 2019, which included Local Law 97 of 2019 as a landmark measure targeting large buildings in Manhattan, Brooklyn, Queens, Bronx, and Staten Island. Its stated purpose is to represent building owners, real estate firms, trade associations, and community groups before regulators such as the New York City Department of Environmental Protection and bodies like the New York City Council Committee on Environmental Protection. The coalition frames its work within frameworks advanced by organizations including the Urban Land Institute, the Real Estate Board of New York, and the American Institute of Architects.
Members include major industry participants and institutional stakeholders: REITs and developers tied to Vornado Realty Trust, Related Companies, and Silverstein Properties; trade groups such as the Real Estate Roundtable, Building Owners and Managers Association International, and the National Multifamily Housing Council; labor organizations like the New York Building Congress and the International Union of Operating Engineers; and financial institutions such as Goldman Sachs, JP Morgan Chase, and BlackRock with interests in compliance financing and retrofits. The coalition also interfaces with advocacy groups like Natural Resources Defense Council, Sierra Club, and environmental justice organizations active in South Bronx and East New York.
The coalition advocates adjustments to thresholds, phase-in schedules, and cost-recovery mechanisms, engaging with legislation debated in venues such as the New York State Assembly Committee on Energy and the New York City Council Finance Division. It promotes policy instruments used by actors including the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, municipal utilities like Con Edison, and federal programs under the Department of Energy to support energy-efficiency retrofits. Positions often reference standards and methodologies from ASHRAE, International Energy Agency, and the U.S. Green Building Council.
The coalition conducts technical analyses, white papers, and comment letters submitted to agencies including the New York City Department of Buildings and the New York City Mayor's Office of Sustainability, and participates in public hearings hosted by the New York City Council. It organizes workshops with professional bodies such as the American Society of Civil Engineers, the American Planning Association, and the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy to discuss retrofit pathways, financing tools like Property Assessed Clean Energy used in cities including Los Angeles and Chicago, and pilot programs modeled after initiatives by the City of Boston and the District of Columbia. The coalition also coordinates with utilities including Con Edison and National Grid on electrification and grid readiness.
Legal strategies have included filing amicus briefs, administrative comments, and participating in rulemaking processes overseen by entities such as the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation and the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority. The coalition has been involved in litigation trends comparable to disputes involving California Energy Commission rules and cases before the New York Court of Appeals. It engages law firms experienced with matters before the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission and municipal regulatory tribunals.
Supporters argue the coalition helps refine implementation to avoid unintended consequences for affordable housing developments like those financed by NYC Housing Authority and New York State Homes and Community Renewal, while critics compare its tactics to lobbying by groups such as the U.S. Chamber of Commerce or the American Petroleum Institute. Environmental advocates from Greenpeace USA, 350.org, and local chapters of Sierra Club have accused industry coalitions of seeking loopholes and delaying ambition. Academic assessments from Columbia University, New York University, and Cornell University have analyzed cost-benefit scenarios, while investigative reporting by outlets like The New York Times and Gothamist has scrutinized influence and transparency.
Funding comes from member dues, in-kind contributions from firms including Skanska, Turner Construction Company, and private capital managed by firms such as Brookfield Asset Management. The coalition operates through working groups specialized in finance, engineering, legal affairs, and community outreach, collaborating with consultants and think tanks including the Brookings Institution, the Center for an Urban Future, and the Rockefeller Foundation on policy research and pilot programming.
Category:Organizations based in New York City Category:Environmental policy organizations