NYCEDC Celebrates Major Progress Advancing New York City’s Green Economy Action Plan on One-Year Anniversary

Cultivating a Diverse Green Economy: Advancing Climate Technology, Decarbonization, and Renewable Energy Initiatives Across the Five Boroughs

Delivering on Several Commitments Outlined to Solidify New York City’s Status as Global Leader in Green-Collar Jobs and Advance a Just Transition Towards a Clean Energy Future

The Action Plan 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 celebrated major accomplishments and project milestones, one year after releasing New York City’s Green Economy Action Plan—a first-of-its-kind plan that lays out a roadmap to growing the city's green economy. The Action Plan outlines a number of City-led commitments 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.

Over the last year, NYCEDC has made significant strides in advancing the New York City Green Economy Action Plan and the Adams Administration’s ‘Harbor of the Future,’ a transformative effort to reimagine New York City’s waterfront and drive 21st-century growth and innovation. Additionally, these milestones build on Mayor Adams’ “PlaNYC: Getting Sustainability Done,” New York’s long-term strategic climate plan.

“Our Green Economy Action Plan is a forward-looking vision for our city that is helping create the jobs of tomorrow, lead in an emerging sector, and protect our planet,” said New York City Mayor Eric Adams. “One year later, I am proud to say: promises made, promises kept. New York City remains on the right path to lead in the green economy and we've advanced several key commitments to maintain our progress. The Green Economy Action Plan will harness the growth of a new kind of industrial revolution and give New Yorkers the tools they need to build a resilient, prosperous city and thrive in our future-focused economy.”

“The Green Economy Action Plan is a roadmap to create family-sustaining jobs and catalyze economic activity for all New Yorkers while advancing the city's climate goals,” said First Deputy Mayor Maria Torres-Springer. “I am pleased to celebrate the one-year anniversary of this work, the progress made by NYCEDC, Talent and Workforce Development, and other agency partners, and the continued work ahead to position New York City as the global leader in the green economy.”

“The sheer scale of milestones reached in the year since announcing the Green Economy Action Plan speaks volumes to the Adams Administration's priority to establishing New York City as a global hub for sustainable innovation,” said NYCEDC President & CEO Andrew Kimball. “From the creation of the Climate Innovation Hub at the Brooklyn Army Terminal, to the groundbreaking of the nation's largest dedicated offshore wind port at the South Brooklyn Marine Terminal, NYCEDC is driving the city's green transformation while ensuring that this massive economic opportunity benefits all New Yorkers.”

“As we celebrate the 1-year anniversary of the release of the NYC Green Economy Action Plan, we applaud NYC EDC’s progress and partnership as we actively build robust career pathways, beginning in high school, to these good jobs,” said NYC Mayor's Office of Talent and Workforce Development Executive Director Abby Jo Sigal. “Making progress on the action plan helps the city achieve its decarbonization goals, positions New Yorkers for green collar careers that offer family sustaining wages, and strengthens our economy by making it more diverse, resilient, and inclusive.”

“Whether it’s making our buildings greener or switching to renewable energy, the city’s efforts to address the climate crisis are doing more than just making New York a safer place to live - they’re also creating stable jobs with good pay,” said Mayor’s Office of Climate & Environmental Justice Executive Director Elijah Hutchinson. “As we continue to drive an increase in green jobs, we must ensure members of our environmental justice communities are integrated into this workforce so they can reap the benefits of these historic investments.”

“A year into the Green Economy Action Plan, we are seeing real progress in building a more sustainable, resilient, and equitable future for New York City. Investing in climate innovation and clean energy is not just an environmental necessity—it’s a powerful economic driver that will uplift communities and open doors to well-paying careers,” said Majority Leader Amanda Farías. “This ambitious vision is exactly what our city needs, and I remain committed to ensuring that the Bronx and all our neighborhoods reap the benefits of New York’s transition to a green economy.”

“Queens has experienced the devastating impacts of climate change firsthand, and we know how important it is to become global leaders in the fight against climate change because of it,” said Queens Borough President Donovan Richards Jr. “Investing in the creation of green jobs across our city is a vital part of combatting climate change, and I'm glad we're all working together for that goal.”

New York City's green economy will host nearly 400,000 jobs by 2040 as it becomes the anchor of a prosperous, equitable, and just future for New Yorkers, while it simultaneously advances the city's ambitious goals to reduce the city's threats due to climate change. NYCEDC achieved numerous milestones and standout successes in five strategic areas outlined in the Action Plan. Some key highlights include:

Goal 1: Catalyze Innovation in Climate Technologies

• NYCEDC will invest up to $100 million to create and operate the “Climate Innovation Hub” at the Brooklyn Army Terminal—a new state-of-the-art facility that will anchor a growing ecosystem along the New York Harbor for new climate technologists, entrepreneurs, and talent working to develop, pilot, and deploy new solutions to combat the effects of climate change. NYCEDC is reviewing the finalists and expects to make a selection Spring 2025.
• NYCEDC launched the Greenlight Innovation Fund to provide city capital for projects led by nonprofits that create new spaces that drive workforce development, and commercial innovation in future-focused sectors, including the green economy, life sciences, and advanced technology.
• NYCEDC, The Trust for Governor’s Island (TGI), and Brooklyn Navy Yard Development Corporation (BNYDC) held a Climate Technology Showcase—highlighting the collective impact of piloting across the harbor and providing additional opportunities for participating companies to grow and scale their businesses in New York City. Together, the Harbor Climate Collaborative (HCC), with sites along the New York Harbor, are committed to making New York City the global capital of climate innovation through piloting programs, leases, workforce developments, and regulatory wayfinding—with combined investment totaling to over $725 million.

Goal 2: Decarbonize Buildings and Construction

• NYCEDC celebrated the advancement of a key commitment in the Action Plan that seeks to revolutionize a green path forward for cleaner construction and low carbon buildings with the launch of the Clean and Circular: Design and Construction Guidelines. The new guidelines are implemented in all new NYCEDC RFPs.
• As part of the City’s decarbonization efforts, NYCEDC launched a second cohort of the New York City Mass Timber Studio, a technical assistance program to support active mass timber development projects in the early phases of planning and design and announced the studio’s second cohort this week. During the first cohort of the program, The NYC Department of Buildings (DOB) published its first Technical Bulletin on mass timber—clarifying specific requirements of Section BC 602.4 of the NYC Building Code regarding mass timber construction.
• Through the Manhattan Commercial Revitalization (M-CORE) office-to-residential conversion program, NYCEDC facilitates compliance with Local Law 97 emission-reduction targets by using it as evaluation criteria for applicants. To date, the NYC Industrial Development Agency (IDA) has awarded three projects for the M-CORE initiative and launched the next round of applications.
• A component of NYCEDC’s greater development at Willets Point will be the construction of the first fully electric stadium in Major League Soccer, which will also be New York City’s first fully electric professional sports stadium.

Goal 3: Develop a Renewable Energy System

• NYCEDC, Governor Hochul, Mayor Adams, Equinor Wind US, and the Sustainable South Brooklyn Marine Terminal, L.P. (SSBMT) began construction of what will be one of the nation’s largest dedicated offshore wind ports at the South Brooklyn Marine Terminal (SBMT) in Sunset Park, Brooklyn.
• NYCEDC selected Southwest Brooklyn Industrial Development Corporation (SBIDC), in partnership with Business Outreach Center (BOC) Network, as the operator of WeSource NYC, a comprehensive technical assistance and communications program that will support local small-and-medium-sized manufacturers, construction service providers, and local industrial equipment suppliers to capture contract opportunities in the growing offshore wind (OSW) supply chain.
• A key commitment in the Action Plan is to deploy NYCIDA tax incentives to support battery storage capacity and other green economy uses. To date, the IDA has approved more than two dozen battery energy storage sites in four boroughs.
• NYCEDC, UPROSE, and Working Power announced the development of Sunset Park Solar, a project to bring clean, reliable, and affordable solar energy to Sunset Park residents and businesses.

Goal 4: Enable Low-Carbon Alternatives in the Transportation Sector

• NYCEDC announced the renewal of Atlantic Aviation as operator of the East 34th Street Heliport and the selection of Downtown Skyport as the operator of the Downtown Manhattan Heliport; both with electrification requirements to accommodate quieter and cleaner electric aircraft. Additionally, Downtown Skyport will build-out maritime infrastructure to support waterborne freight and last-mile delivery.
• In October, NYCEDC, NYCDOT, and DCAS announced that both NYC Ferry and Staten Island Ferry will begin testing the use of renewable diesel fuel, a petroleum-free alternative to traditional diesel fuel, and NYC Ferry began a pilot in January 2025. Additionally, NYCEDC announced a broader sustainability strategy for NYC Ferry that includes exhaust treatment upgrades on its largest vessels and a study on zero-and reduced-emissions operations.
• NYCEDC announced further Green Economy Action Plan commitments with an RFP that seeks to develop multiple sites across New York City for shared medium-and-heavy-duty (MHD) electric vehicle (EV) and fleet charging hubs, and the unveiling of the three climate technology companies selected to participate in the second cohort of the Pilots at BAT program, including Matcha EV.

Goal 5: Build an Equitable Green Economy Ecosystem

• Building off the Green Economy Action Plan, NYCEDC announced the full, newly–formed Green Economy Advisory Council—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 has met twice since its formation and will meet on a quarterly basis.
• NYCEDC continued to advance the Waterfront Pathways program, which aims to counter documented disparities in public procurement by increasing opportunities for minority-owned, women-owned, and disadvantaged business enterprises in the offshore wind and waterfront industries. Since the program’s launch in 2022, Waterfront Pathways has graduated 44 business participants and has facilitated over $13 million in award opportunities across the 39 active prequalified program graduates. NYCEDC anticipates launching the fourth cohort in Spring 2025.
• Kingsborough Community College’s Division of Workforce Development and Continuing Education, with support from NYCEDC, conducted a free introductory welding program for careers in the green economy, including offshore wind. This pioneering initiative was created to cultivate an inclusive workforce with transferrable skillsets necessary for burgeoning green economy industries and beyond. To date,13 welders have become American Welding Society (AWS) certified.

“Over the last year, we have been working hard to cultivate a greener, more sustainable city where all New Yorkers thrive,” said Brooklyn Navy Yard Development Corporation President and CEO Lindsay Greene. “From expanding our Yard Labs pilot opportunities to laying the groundwork for new workforce development and training to supporting programs for BIPOC, female and other typically under-represented entrepreneurs and developing plans to decarbonize our campus, we're investing in the foundation necessary to grow the City's green economy in an inclusive way. We look forward to continuing this important work with our Harbor Climate Collaborative partners and other stakeholders committed to addressing the climate crisis.”

“We're thrilled to join with our colleagues in celebrating one year of transformative collaboration to grow New York City's green economy,” said Trust for Governors Island President and CEO Clare Newman. “In the past year, we've made extraordinary progress growing Governors Island as a platform for climate research and innovation, and we look forward to continuing to further our city's role as a global leader in climate solutions with our Harbor Climate Collaborative partners.”

“I am so proud to celebrate this milestone with all New Yorkers. In the year since announcing the plan we are seeing real results. From the Harbors to the Innovation Hubs, NYC’s economy is on the move and creating jobs,” said New York City Green Economy Advisory Council Co-Chair Rudolph Wynter.

“We're thrilled to partner with NYCEDC to deliver reliable EV charging to residents and commuters in Sunset Park at the Brooklyn Army Terminal. We've discovered that this area of Brooklyn is a “charging desert” which leaves drivers with almost no options to charge an EV or hybrid vehicle conveniently. We're fixing that. Since launching our pilot, we've been blown away by the positive responses and high utilization, and will accelerate our regional expansion here in Brooklyn as a result,” said Matcha CEO Chris Kluesener.

“New York City's Green Economy Action Plan is a key framework for creating sustainable economic development in NYC. Newlab is proud to work with EDC to help make that vision a reality through the advancement of critical technologies addressing key challenges for a more resilient City of the future,” said Newlab Senior Director Sydnee Grushack.

“By actively recruiting and training skilled welders from varied backgrounds, we are equipping New Yorkers to enter a crucial workforce and positioning them to excel and lead in the rapidly evolving clean energy sector,” said Workforce Development and Continuing Education Kingsborough Community College Vice President Simone Rodriguez. “Our students benefit from hands-on training and mentorship, gaining the confidence and proficiency needed to succeed in the welding industry. The AWS certification they receive is a recognized credential that opens doors to numerous career paths within the green economy and beyond.”

“New York City is at the forefront of the clean energy revolution, and SBIDC is proud to play a role in ensuring that the transition to a green economy is equitable. Through WeSource NYC and in partnership with BOC Network, we will equip small and minority-owned businesses, as well as workers from historically underrepresented communities, with the necessary tools and connections to secure their place in this emerging sector,” said Southwest Brooklyn Industrial Development Corporation Executive Director Jesse Solomon. “This generational opportunity is not just about job creation; it's about building an inclusive and sustainable economy where the benefits of green infrastructure investments extend to all New Yorkers.”

In 2023’s PlaNYC: Getting Sustainability Done, the City committed to creating a “comprehensive green economy industry action plan” that defines the green economy and lays out NYC’s path to seizing its opportunity. This Green Economy Action Plan, jointly developed by NYCEDC and the Mayor’s Office of Talent and Workforce Development (NYCTalent) delivers on that commitment. It is informed by engagement with more than 100 stakeholders and partners from all parts of the green economy—including businesses, unions, workforce organizations, New Yorkers already working in the green economy, and government agencies.

The plan identifies key occupations that are essential to growing the green economy and highlights 21 occupations that provide pathways to economic mobility, many of which do not require higher education degrees.

In his 2024 State of the City Address, New York City Mayor Eric Adams announced the first-of-its-kind “Green Economy Action Plan”, and efforts to develop a “Harbor of the Future,” a multifaceted initiative, to reimagine New York City’s waterfront and fuel 21st century growth. The Harbor of the Future includes emerging innovation centers at the Hunts Point Produce Market, Governors Island, the Brooklyn Navy Yard, the Science Park and Research Campus in Kips Bay, and the North Shore of Staten Island. Additionally, NYCEDC will invest up to $100 million to create the “Climate Innovation Hub” at the Brooklyn Army Terminal. This new hub will serve as a home for clean tech innovation and manufacturing and encourage climate innovation startups.

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.