The world of environmental and energy law is filled with acronyms. Examples abound like the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC), the Office of Renewable Energy Siting (ORES) or the State Environmental Quality Review Act (SEQRA). We even refer to our section as EELS. This year, however, we have a new acronym: DAC. The term comes from the Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act (CLCPA), enacted into law in 2019 as part of New York’s ongoing efforts to implement the most ambitious climate change agenda in the United States.

The CLCPA recognized that climate change does not affect all communities equally. It therefore required the development of criteria to identify DACs but also to ensure that otherwise underserved communities and those historically disproportionately burdened will benefit from the state’s historic transition to cleaner energy sources, reduced air pollution and economic opportunities.