NYCEDC Announces New York City’s First-Ever Green Economy Advisory Council

The Advisory Council Will Work Together to Advance a Just Transition Towards a Clean Energy Future and Achieve New York City’s Ambitious Climate Goals

This Announcement Builds on NYC’s Green Economy Action Plan That Aims to Supercharge the Economy, Spark Cutting-Edge Innovation, and Support Nearly 400,000 Jobs by 2040

NEW YORK, NY—New York City Economic Development Corporation (NYCEDC) today announced a newly formed Green Economy Advisory Council, and unveiled the initial members selected to be part of the group. The Council stakeholders are tasked with advising NYCEDC on flagship commitments to address the climate crisis, advance a just transition towards a clean energy future, spark new cutting-edge innovation, and generate tremendous economic opportunity for all New Yorkers. The Advisory Council reflects New York City’s diversity of thought and experience, including environmental justice groups, leading community organizations, investors, and industry leaders, who are actively shaping the City's clean energy future.

Today’s announcement builds on Mayor Adams’ “PlaNYC: Getting Sustainability Done”, and New York City’s “Green Economy Action Plan” that aims to fuel inclusive 21st-century growth and innovation. The Action Plan outlines a number of City-led actions that will complement private sector activity to triple the green economy’s economic output and more than double the number of “green collar” jobs by 2040. A key commitment in the Action Plan is the formation of a Green Economy Advisory Council.

“Our Green Economy Action Plan will make New York City an international leader in good-paying, family-sustaining ‘green-collar’ jobs of the future,” said New York City Mayor Eric Adams. “In the six short months since we unveiled our plan, we’ve already made tremendous progress, advancing two generational projects at the Brooklyn and South Brooklyn Marine Terminals that will generate billions in economic impact and create thousands of jobs. The advisory council we’re convening today will bring together a wide range of expertise, from environmental justice advocates to industry leaders to top investors and more, to turn that plan—and those jobs—into reality.”

“I am thrilled by the creation of the city's first-ever Green Economy Advisory Council, a collection of experts from a range of sectors who are united by a shared interest in building an equitable, competitive, and inclusive green economy in New York,” said Deputy Mayor for Housing, Economic Development, and Workforce Maria Torres-Springer. “Congratulations to the NYC Economic Development Corporation and Mayor's Office of Talent and Workforce Development for their continued effective implementation of the Green Economy Action Plan and a special thanks to the advisory council members for their time and dedication to advancing the city's green economy and confronting climate change.”

“We are thrilled to convene the first-ever Green Economy Advisory Council for New York City. This network of world-class climate leaders will work together to advise and help guide decisions to accelerate action toward a just transition for an equitable and prosperous green economy in New York City,” said NYCEDC President & CEO Andrew Kimball. “The private sector is poised to play a transformative role in driving the green economy forward, and the formation of this Advisory Council is another example of how the city is committed to partnering with industry leaders to manifest equitable growth, advance the Green Economy Action Plan and fuel 21st century economic opportunity and innovation.”

“These newly appointed council members are committed to advancing a just transition that brings everyone along and expands innovation and good-paying jobs,” said Mayor’s Office of Climate & Environmental Justice Executive Director Elijah Hutchinson. “With the green economy projected to grow to 400,000 jobs by 2040, we need bold and informed stakeholders like these who are focused on the hard follow through needed to meet the climate moment.”

“Today’s announcement fulfills a core commitment outlined in the Action Plan, which will help decarbonize our environment and ensure the city’s diverse talent can access the nearly 400,00 green collar jobs, including 12,000 green apprenticeships expected by 2040,” said Abby Jo Sigal, Executive Director of the NYC Mayor’s Office of Talent and Workforce Development. “At its core, the Action Plan brings key stakeholders from the public and private sectors together so we can tap into their collective expertise and smartly partner with the communities disproportionately impacted by climate change to co-design strategies to make our city more prosperous, equitable and resilient.”

New York City’s Green Economy Advisory Council, co-chaired by Amanda Kaminsky of Landlease and Rudolph Winter of National Grid NY, will focus on delivering recommendations in several key strategic areas outlined in New York City’s Green Economy Action Plan including buildings, energy & infrastructure, micromobility, finance, climate-tech, workforce and advocacy. The full list of advisory council members and their current affiliations include:

• Amanda Kaminsky, Lendlease (Co-Chair)
• Rudolph Wynter, National Grid NY (Co-Chair)
• Alexander Couzis, The Grove School of Engineering at The City College of New York
• Andrew Shapiro, Broadscale Group
• Bomee Jung, Cadence OneFive
• David Arfin, NineDot Energy
• John B. Rice, Legacy Engineers
• Justin Ginsburgh, JetBlue
• Lauren Brust Moss, Vornado Realty Trust
• Maria Gotsch, Partnership Fund for New York City
• Molly Morris, Equinor Renewables Americas
• Robert Sanchez, Con Edison
• Satish Rao, Newlab
• Shabazz Stuart, Oonee
• Stephen Hammer, The New York Climate Exchange
• Tracey Capers, The Hope Program
• Tonya Gayle, Green City Force
• Vincent Alvarez, New York City Central Labor Council

The Green Economy Advisory Council will have its first meeting on September 12th, 2024. The Advisory Council will meet three times over the course of the year to advise on the best way to implement the commitments in the Green Economy Action Plan.

“I applaud EDC and the City of New York for recognizing that the City’s continued economic success and delivering innovative solutions that address the risk of climate change are not mutually exclusive. Thoughtful decarbonization strategy, taking into account existing and emerging technology is a recipe for success to deliver a green transition for all New Yorkers,” said National Grid NY President Rudolph Wynter.

“As dean of The Grove School of Engineering—NYC’s only public school of engineering—I am thrilled to join the Board of the Green Economy Advisory Council and supports its transformative vision that address the existential risk of climate change; drives job creation, investment, and industry diversification. For over a century, the Grove School has been a leader in advancing the city’s technological goals, and today, our diverse student population is at the forefront of addressing climate resilience, renewable energy, and sustainable infrastructure. By partnering with the Mayor’s Office and NYCEDC, we are ensuring that our graduates not only drive innovation but also help create an equitable green economy that benefits all New Yorkers. Together, we are building a future where sustainability and opportunity go hand in hand, making New York a global leader in green technology,” said Alexander Couzis, the Daniel and Frances Berg Dean of the Grove School of Engineering & Professor in Chemical Engineering.

“As a lifelong New Yorker who has worked here in sustainable innovation and investment for 25 years, I am honored and excited to support the City's ambitious Green Economy Action Plan to boost green innovation and climate progress locally that will have positive influence nationally and beyond,” said Broadscale Group Founder & Managing Partner Andrew Shapiro.

“As a climate tech employer motivated by a climate justice mission, Cadence OneFive applauds EDC and the Mayor’s Office of Talent and Workforce Development for their transformative vision for the green economy. The energy and carbon transition is an economy-wide effort; the benefits must accrue to those who are most impacted and to those who make the city run. We're proud to represent NYC's thriving climate tech ecosystem” said Bomee Jung, Co-Founder and CEO of Cadence OneFive.

“I am proud to represent New York's clean energy sector on this important advisory council,” said David Arfin, CEO of NineDot Energy. “At NineDot, we are determined to lead New York's energy transition to address the climate crisis—and to create new, equitable economic opportunities while doing so. I'm honored to serve alongside like-minded business leaders to support NYCEDC's efforts in these areas. NineDot Energy is New York's leading community-scale clean energy developer, with a focus on battery energy storage systems which make the local power grid cleaner, more equitable, less costly, and more resilient. Based at the NYU Future Lab in Brooklyn, NineDot has grown from 3 to more than 60 employees since 2022.”

“I am thrilled to join New York City's Green Economy Advisory Council to help the city achieve its climate and economic goals. With my background leading the launch of Citi Bike and zero carbon delivery programs for Amazon in New York City, I am eager to share my experience to help New York City grow its green economy and decarbonize its logistics and transportation systems. E-commerce and congestion are at unprecedented levels in the city, and I look forward to working with the city and the council to accelerate the adoption of sustainable last-mile transportation models to create jobs and improve the quality of life of the city,” said JetBlue Managing Director of Infrastructure, Properties and Development Justin Ginsburgh.

“Vornado is honored to participate in the Green Economy Advisory Council (GEAC), a pivotal step towards a sustainable and innovative future. We look forward to supporting NYCEDC’s goals, building on the strong relationship we have developed through the redevelopment of Pier 94 and the Penn District. This initiative builds upon NYCEDC’s unwavering commitment to fostering a green economy, where environmental stewardship and economic growth go hand in hand” said Lauren Moss, SVP, Chief Sustainability Officer at Vornado Realty Trust.

“Growing New York City’s green economy is essential as our need to build resilience grows,” said Maria Gotsch, President & CEO, Partnership Fund for New York City. “We look forward to supporting the City as it develops strategies to attract the innovators whose solutions will not only create a greener, more resilient future for all of us, but also create jobs and help to diversify the local economy. New York should be at the center of the global effort to meet the challenges spurred by climate change, and initiatives like this will help get us there.”

“New York City’s Green Economy Advisory Council initiative recognizes that building a true clean energy economy requires collaboration across a diverse group of stakeholders,” said Molly Morris, President of Equinor Renewables Americas. “Innovation, education, and a commitment to job creation are core components of the Empire Wind 1 project and the offshore wind hub that we are currently building at the South Brooklyn Marine Terminal. We are proud to have this opportunity to accelerate New York City's energy transition.”

“We are proud to serve on the Green Economy Advisory Council, which reflects our commitment to building a clean energy economy that will make New York a model for the rest of the country,” said Robert Sanchez, President, Shared Services, Con Edison. “Through infrastructure investments that strengthen the resiliency of our grid in the face of climate change, we create high-paying jobs and prove that the clean energy transition is both an important environmental policy and an economic development driver.”

“It's an honor to participate in The Green Economy Advisory Council, which will be key to developing green jobs and the next wave of innovation that will redefine New York City's climate future. Building from the experience and insights through Newlab's work in the City and globally, with hundreds of critical technology startups and over 50 industry partners, I look forward to collaborating in the Council and participating in this critical initiative,” said Newlab Chief Product Officer Satish Rao.

“On behalf of Oonee, I am honored to participate in the NYCEDC Green Economy Advisory Council. This initiative represents an important step forward in ensuring that the transformative Green Economy can work for everyone our city, regardless of race, class or creed. As streetscape infrastructure startup that hails from New York's Black & Brown community, we are inclined to believe that some of the best and most innovative ideas come from those that are traditionally left out of startup conversations, and who lack access to capital and other forms of enfranchisement that are so crucial to bringing game-changing solutions to market. Thanks to the Mayor's Office of Talent and Workforce Development and the NYCEDC, we are on the path to birding this divide and ensuring a bright, green and sustainable future for our communities,” said Shabazz Stuart Founder & CEO of Oonee.

“I’m honored to have been asked to serve as part of this distinguished group,” said Dr. Stephen Hammer, CEO of The New York Climate Exchange. “The goals of the Green Economy Advisory Council are very aligned with those of The Exchange—to help New York (and New Yorkers) prepare for the economic shifts that lay before us, and in doing so, serve as a sustainable model for the rest of the world.”

“The Green Economy Action Plan demonstrates New York City’s continued commitment to be a national leader of the Green Jobs sector at a scale that will both meet the growing climate crisis, and bring the potential of economic equity to New Yorkers. I'm particularly honored to join the Green Economy Advisory Board during HOPE's 40th anniversary aligning with our goals of heightening community awareness of environmental justice, providing entry level training and employment, positioning graduates for higher wage careers, and ultimately contributing to this ambitious, comprehensive blueprint which will drive NYC future with more economically and environmentally resilient neighborhoods,” said The Hope Program Executive Director Tracey Capers.

“Green City Force trains young leaders to power a green and inclusive economy through service. We are happy to participate as a member of the NYCEDC Green Economy Advisory Council. The Mayor's Office of Talent and Workforce Development and the NYCEDC launch of the Green Economy Action Plan is an important milestone in building the path to a just transition for all New Yorkers. We applaud the efforts to create equitable access to climate careers and economic mobility to those historically left out of such opportunities. We look forward to working in partnership to advise on strategies for ensuring that young adults from frontline communities gain skills and access to inform and build the #futuregreencity,” said Tonya Gayle, Executive Director Green City Force.

“The New York City Central Labor Council, AFL-CIO is pleased to be part of the Green Economy Advisory Council,” said NYC CLC President Vincent Alvarez. “We look forward to working with the full GEAC to ensure that as we invest in our renewable energy future, reversing the effects of climate change and helping to achieve energy independence, we’re also creating good union jobs with strong labor standards and building a resilient economy for all New Yorkers.”

In his 2024 State of the City Address, New York City Mayor Eric Adams announced efforts to develop a “Harbor of the Future,” a multifaceted initiative, and the “Green Economy Action Plan” to reimagine New York City’s waterfront, fuel growth, and position New Yorkers to benefit from nearly 400,000 “green-collar” jobs by 2040.

The Harbor of the Future includes emerging innovation centers at the Hunts Point Produce Market, the Climate Innovation Hub at Brooklyn Army Terminal in Sunset Park, Governors Island, the Brooklyn Navy Yard, the Science Park and Research Campus in Kips Bay, and the North Shore of Staten Island.

Last May, New York City Mayor Eric Adams, New York Governor Kathy Hochul, and the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey today announced an agreement in principle between the City of New York, New York state, the Port Authority, and the New York City Economic Development Corporation (NYCEDC) that will enable the city to transform the Brooklyn Marine Terminal into a modern maritime port and vibrant mixed-use community waterfront hub that will potentially help create thousands of jobs for New Yorkers and generate significant economic impact for New York City.

In June, New York City Mayor Eric Adams, New York Governor Kathy Hochul, NYCEDC President and CEO Andrew Kimball, Equinor Wind US President Molly Morris, and the Sustainable South Brooklyn Marine Terminal, L.P. (SSBMT) announced the start of construction of what will be a nation leading offshore wind port at the South Brooklyn Marine Terminal (SBMT) in Sunset Park, Brooklyn.

About NYCEDC
New York City Economic Development Corporation is a mission-driven, nonprofit organization that works for a vibrant, inclusive, and globally competitive economy for all New Yorkers. We take a comprehensive approach, through four main strategies: strengthen confidence in NYC as a great place to do business; grow innovative sectors with a focus on equity; build neighborhoods as places to live, learn, work, and play; and deliver sustainable infrastructure for communities and the city's future economy. To learn more about what we do, visit us on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, and Instagram.