As the 2026 legislative session came to a close, the State Legislature passed two NYLCV Environmental Scorecard bills that will help strengthen climate resilience and protect public health: Expanding New York’s Commercial Property Assessed Clean Energy (C-PACE) program, and lowering New York’s allowable level of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) — a.k.a. “forever chemicals” — in drinking water to match the more protective federal standard.
The C-PACE loan program is a secure mechanism for property owners to fund energy efficiency, renewable energy, and water conservation upgrades, repaid via annual property tax assessments. It covers up to 100% of project costs with long-term, low-cost capital, often without upfront cash. It is an important financial tool in helping building owners make their properties more resilient and energy efficient while helping to lower greenhouse gas emissions.
The legislation passed by the Legislature would expand the authorizing language for the Commercial Property Assessed Clean Energy program to include water improvements, resiliency improvements, and the use of low-carbon-intensity building components.
“As communities across New York face more frequent extreme weather, this legislation will make it easier for property owners to access the resources they need to make critical clean energy upgrades and ensure their infrastructure is more resilient,” said NYLCV Clean Buildings Campaign Manager Jon Furlong. “We thank Senator Parker, Assemblymember Stern, and leadership in both chambers for passing this NYLCV Scorecard Bill and for supporting a cleaner, safer, and more resilient New York.”
By broadening the authorizing language to the C-PACE program, owners could access capital to enable their buildings to withstand a myriad of extreme weather hazards, as well as make improvements designed to advance energy storage, microgrids, alternative vehicle storage infrastructure, and improve indoor air quality. Changes to the language would also allow for future loans to cover water improvements, thereby allowing owners to prepare their buildings for escalating climate extremes. This would not only prevent or mitigate damage, but keep residents safe.
As New York continues to experience stronger storms, flooding, extreme heat, and other climate impacts, expanding the C-PACE program will allow building owners to invest in measures critical to addressing these extremes.
The Legislature also passed legislation to lower New York State’s allowable contaminant level for PFAS in drinking water to match the more protective federal level.
PFAS are long-standing chemicals that are associated with chronic and lifelong health risks, including cancers, birth defects, hormone deficiencies, and fertility challenges. PFAS are also associated with detrimental environmental impacts because of their longevity, including water and soil contamination and bioaccumulation in the environment. Despite these negative impacts, PFAS are found in items and products New Yorkers use daily.
In 2024, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency finalized the first-ever federal limits on PFAS in drinking water. EPA concluded that there is no safe level of PFOA or PFOS exposure and set Maximum Contaminant Levels of 4 parts per trillion for these chemicals, which are more health-protective than New York’s current 10 parts per trillion standard.
However, the current EPA is now proposing to roll back these science-based public health protections by delaying compliance requirements for water utilities. This legislation will ensure that New York maintains the current, science-based federal PFAS standards and that New Yorkers’ health remains protected.
“With the federal government trying to roll back limits on the levels of forever chemicals in drinking water – our most precious resource – the state must step up to ensure that New Yorkers’ health remains protected, which is exactly what this NYLCV Scorecard Bill will do,” said NYLCV Legislative Advocate Alisha Deen-Steindler. “We applaud State Senator Kavanagh and Assemblymember Lee for sponsoring this legislation and Senate and Assembly leadership in both parties for getting it over the finish line.”
New York has often led the nation on environmental and public health protections. By passing this legislation, lawmakers are ensuring that residents continue to receive strong protections from dangerous “forever chemicals” regardless of federal action.
Together, these two NYLCV Environmental Scorecard bills will help make New York’s buildings more resilient to climate impacts while safeguarding drinking water from harmful contaminants. We applaud the Legislature for passing these measures and urge Governor Hochul to sign both bills into law.