§ 58-0703. Programs, plans and projects.

1. Eligible climate change mitigation projects include, but are not limited to:

a. costs associated with green building projects, projects that increase energy efficiency or the use or siting of renewable energy on state-owned buildings or properties including buildings owned by the state university of the state of New York, city university of the state of New York, community colleges, and public schools;

b. costs associated with projects that utilize natural and working lands to sequester carbon and mitigate methane emissions from agricultural sources, such as manure storage through cover and methane reduction technologies;

c. costs associated with implementing climate adaptation and mitigation projects pursuant to section 54-1523 of this chapter;

d. costs associated with urban forestry projects such as forest and habitat restoration, for purchase and planting of street trees and for projects to expand the existing tree canopy and bolster community health;

e. costs associated with projects that reduce urban heat island effect, such as installation of green roofs, open space protection, community gardens, cool pavement projects, projects that create or upgrade community cooling centers, and the installation of reflective roofs where installation of green roofs is not possible;

f. costs associated with projects to reduce or eliminate air pollution from stationary or mobile sources of air pollution affecting disadvantaged communities;

g. costs associated with projects which would reduce or eliminate water pollution, whether from point or non-point discharges, affecting disadvantaged communities; and

h. costs associated with the purchase or conversion to zero emission school buses, including costs associated with the supporting infrastructure.

2. The department, the department of agriculture and markets, the office of parks, recreation and historic preservation, the New York state energy research and development authority and the office of general services are authorized to provide state assistance payments or grants to municipalities and not-for-profit corporations or undertake projects pursuant to this section.

3. Provided that for the purposes of selecting projects for funding under this section, the relevant agencies shall develop eligibility guidelines and post information on the department's website in the environmental notice bulletin providing for a thirty-day public comment period and upon adoption post such eligibility guidelines on the relevant agency's website.