2026 Energy and Environment Conference

Registration
Continental Breakfast

Welcoming Remarks

• David Flynn, Partner [BIO]
  Phillips Lytle LLP
• Paul Zuber, Executive Vice President [BIO]
  The Business Council of New York State, Inc.

NYS Energy System: Status and Options

A review of New York’s electric power and natural gas systems and what the state needs to do to assure adequate, reliable and affordable energy within the context of CLCPA and other mandates, and a discussion of the state’s most pressing energy investment needs.

12:00 - 1:30 pm.

Luncheon & Featured Speaker

• Amanda Lefton, Commissioner
  NYS DEC

Building Renewables - Incentives and Opportunities

This will explore progress to date and next steps toward achieving the state’s renewable energy goals, as well as opportunities for businesses to invest in renewable generation to address their own electric power needs, and how state policies and incentives could impact these actions.

Energy, Environment and Economic Development

Data Centers and Other Large Projects – Recent actions – including legislation, Executive Orders and PSC proceedings – are exploring new approaches to addressing how significant energy loads are reviewed and approved in New York State, raising important policy issues for a wide range of businesses.  This session will explore those proposals and discuss business’ response, and discuss how the state can accommodate new large loads without imposing significant new burdens on projects, or cost-shifts to other sectors.

DEC Environmental Quality/Regulatory Program Updates

In this recurring session, the heads of the Departments environmental quality regulatory and enforcement programs will provide an overview of recent activities and future priorities.

Welcome Reception

Welcome and Announcement

CLCPA Amendments and Path Forward
With significant amendments to the Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act adopted in 2026, this session will discuss the impact of recent reforms and explore next steps as the state continues to implement programs to achieve GHG emissions reductions, address disproportionate impacts and advance environmental equity, and promote additional non-emitting electric power.

SEQRA, Wetlands and other Land Use Issues

In 2026, major programs governing land use were impacted by legislative changes and judicial decisions – addressing concerns raised regarding the impact of state regulatory programs on private and public sector investments.  This session will explore those changes, their impact on project reviews and additional pro-growth policy options.

Luncheon & Keynote Address

• Robert Catell, Chair AERTC & NYS Smart Grid Consortium
  SUNY Stonybrook

Environmental Justice and Community Engagement

This session will explore a number of environmental equity initiatives, including the newly appointed Permanent Environmental Justice Advisory Group, the development of state-wide agency EJ policies, SEQRA rule changes, the status of “Chapter 49” and implementation rules, and recent developments in EJ and disadvantaged community impact assessments.

Air Program Update

Given the broad impact of air regulatory programs on the state’s business community, this session will take a deeper dive into recent and pending air program regulations and activities, including: upcoming Title V permitting and fee changes, implementation of the CLCPA community air programs, ongoing “state implementation plan” efforts, among others.

Refreshment Break

Legislative Update: 2026 Review & Key Issues for 2027

Our annual business lobbyist roundtable will provide a review of 2026 and talk about the politics and key policy issues for the 2027 state legislative session.

Closing Remarks