For Immediate Release: May 15, 2014

Contact: Amanda Wallwin 212.605.0937

New York State Fails to Fund Critical Heating Fuel
Upgrades
Assemblymember Quart Responds to NYSERDAs Report


NEW YORKAssemblymember Dan Quart (D New York City) issued the following
statement today, in response to NYSERDAs report released on May 15, Review of
Existing Energy Efficiency Programs Pursuant to Chapter 57 of the Laws of 2014:

Im pleased to see NYSERDA recognize that New York State has failed to prioritize
spending on emissions reduction. Despite clear evidence that boilers burning dirty
heating oils are a significant contributor to air pollution in New York City, our state has
refused to target funding at this problem. Instead, owners of large multifamily buildings
must submit to time-consuming reviews of their entire property and commit to making
additional costly upgrades to be eligible for state financing for boiler conversions.

Theres no question that burning dirty heating oils leads to the emission of fine
particulates (PM
2.5
), a dangerous pollutant. PM
2.5
is particulate matter found in the air
that is smaller than 2.5 microns in diameter. It can stay in the air for weeks after being
emitted. Because of its small size, PM
2.5
can travel deeply into the lungs, causing health
problems that include coughing, wheezing, shortness of breath, asthma and lung


damage. In people with existing heart and lung conditions, PM
2.5
can lead to premature
death.

In recent years, New York City has made great strides in reducing PM
2.5
emissions. Under
Mayor Bloomberg, the New York City Department of Environmental Protection
introduced strong regulation to eliminate the two heating oils with the highest levels of
PM
2.5
emissions: #6 oil, to be eliminated by 2015 and #4 oil, to be eliminated by 2030.
These mandates to reduce PM
2.5
began a positive trend in air quality that is continuing
under Mayor de Blasio. New York Citys air is currently the cleanest its been in over 50
years, bringing all of New York State into compliance with the EPAs fine particulate
standards. However, despite this progress, there is still more to do. Many building
owners are only choosing to convert from #6 oil to #4 oil at their mandated conversion
date, resulting in unnecessarily elevated emissions. Until we eliminate the use of both
#6 and #4 oil altogether, we wont have achieved our ultimate goal: truly clean air.

It is undeniable that the costs of converting to cleaner-burning fuels are simply out of
reach for many building owners. Without support from the state, these building owners
may wait until 2030 to finally make the change to clean fuel, leaving the citizens of New
York City to breathe dirty air for sixteen more years. I will continue to fight to pass
legislation that will incentivize owners to pursue cleaner conversions. Clean air is worth
the cost.

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