The Renewable Capitol Act – a bill first introduced in the previous legislative session to make our vision of having state facilities run fully on renewables a reality – has been reintroduced in the current session by Capital District Assemblymember Pat Fahy and by Albany State Senator Neil Breslin. The bill (A5633, S2689A) requires that all operations that power, heat or cool the State Capitol, Empire State Plaza, the State Museum, the Alfred E. Smith Building, the State Education Building and two state buildings on Sheridan Avenue must be run on “renewable energy systems,” such as wind, solar, geothermal, and hydro. The construction work to renovate the existing state facilities must be designed through a planning process with significant public participation, including public hearings, and an advisory committee that must include representatives of environmental justice organizations and other groups representing the impacted community near the State Capitol. We believe that – if passed – the bill will positively impact on the health of area residents, many of which are low income and people of color, contribute to achieving the state’s climate goals, and encourage other state and local governments around the nation to run their facilities on renewables.
More information about the Renewable Capitol Act and its progress through the legislative session will be provided on this as it becomes available.