Gov. Hochul Signs Bills to Ban CO2 Fracking, Make Polluters Pay for Climate Damage

During the final week of 2024, Gov. Kathy Hochul signed several long-awaited environmental bills into law: forcing polluters to pay for climate destruction, expanding the state’s fracking ban to prohibit a a new technique that uses carbon dioxide, and limiting new construction of schools within 500 feet of major highways.

fracking

Mariana Simões

Protestors hold signs outside Gov. Kathy Hochul’s office in January 2024, calling for CO2 fracking to be included in the state’s ban.

During the final week of 2024, Gov. Kathy Hochul signed several long-awaited environmental bills into law—forcing polluters to pay for climate destruction, expanding the state’s fracking ban to prohibit a a new technique that uses carbon dioxide, and halting construction of schools within 500 feet of major highways.

The first, dubbed the “Polluters Pay” or Climate Change Super Fund Act, will require the most prolific oil and gas producers that have business ties to New York pay $3 billion a year for the next 25 years, money that will be used to help bolster the state against the impact of climate destruction.