Cap Pollution, Invest in workers
Job Creation from Proposed Clean Energy Policies in New York
Our latest report, “Cap Pollution, Invest in Workers: Job Creation from Proposed Clean Energy Policies in New York,” shows that New York’s stalled pollution-cap program could create nearly thirty thousand jobs each year across regions of the state and economic sectors, helping to rapidly transition the state to clean energy and strengthening the union workforce. The pollution cap program, dubbed the Clean Air Initiative, was scrapped by Governor Hochul this past year in direct violation of NY’s climate law.
The report’s analysis shows that the Clean Air Initiative—a carbon cap-and-trade program—would, in its first year, create nearly 10,000 jobs in heat pump installation, building shell upgrades, vehicle recycling and scrappage, and in electric vehicle and charger investment. The report also models two programs proposed by NY Renews that could be funded by revenues from corporate polluters participating in the Clean Air Initiative: the Climate Ready Homes program and the Community Grants Program. Together, these programs create more than 20,000 jobs annually statewide. Moreover, CTI creates an opportunity to put money back in New Yorkers’ pockets in the form of rebates at a time when affordability is a foremost concern among everyday New Yorkers.
