New York’s Part 253 reporting rules are coming into focus—here’s what they mean for your organization, including who must report, what data is required, and how to get ready for upcoming deadlines.
What is Required by Part 253 of New York’s Climate Leadership and Community Protection Plan (CLPA)?
Greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions data collection is critical to ensuring New York has the most current, accurate, and reliable information to achieve net-zero emissions throughout the state. This data supports the development of strategies to reduce harmful GHG pollution and to direct clean energy investments to critical areas.
New York’s Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act (CLCPA), enacted in 2019, sets statewide GHG emissions reduction targets and additional directives to address climate change. The law requires emissions to fall to 60% of 1990 levels by 2030 and 15% of 1990 levels by 2050.
The Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) recently adopted Part 253 of the CLCPA, establishing the Mandatory Greenhouse Gas Reporting Program. The program requires certain GHG emissions sources to report data annually through the New York State Greenhouse Gas Reporting Tool (NYS e-GGRT), an electronic platform still being finalized to streamline reporting to DEC.
Although the program is mandatory, it is intended for data collection only; it does not impose emissions reduction requirements or require sources to obtain allowances. Even without an immediate reduction mandate, the data collected will provide current, accurate statewide emissions information to guide climate strategy and investment decisions.
Who Must Report Emissions Data, and What Data is Required?
As NYS e-GGRT is developed, DEC is conducting outreach to clarify which entities must report, what data is required, and how submissions will be made. Facilities can use existing information—such as fuel volumes, utilization, or activity data—to determine whether they meet the 10,000 metric-ton CO2e reporting threshold.
DEC’s GHG estimator can help fuel suppliers and other users approximate emissions using existing fuel-use data. Because Part 253 is an economy-wide reporting program, it applies to stationary sources such as power plants, industrial facilities, and landfills, as well as fuel suppliers and electricity importers and exporters. Since much of this information is already reported under existing state and federal programs, the burden on facilities may be limited.
Facilities that report under the Environmental Protection Agency’s Part 98 must also report under DEC Part 253. Oil and natural gas facilities regulated under NYCRR Part 203 are also subject to Part 253 reporting requirements. Facilities with CO2 budget units subject to NYCRR Part 243 are exempt from verification but must still report under Part 253. Additional reporting categories, requirements, and compliance dates are available through DEC’s Environmental Protection resources.
Part 253 also introduces a significant reporting change by using a 20-year global-warming potential metric to calculate CO2e and by including GHG emissions from imported electricity and fossil fuels. This 20-year approach affects how entities evaluate thresholds and emissions.
What are Large Emission Sources?
To better understand New York’s GHG emissions, Part 253 establishes additional requirements for entities classified as “large emission sources.” Reporting entities that exceed specified emissions thresholds must obtain third-party verification of their emissions reports and submit a monitoring plan to DEC.
Large emission sources are those that meet or exceed 25,000 MT CO2e per year, and include:
- Suppliers of natural gas with 15 million cubic feet or more of natural gas
- Suppliers of liquid fuels and petroleum products with 100,000 gallons or more of affected liquid fuels
- Suppliers of liquefied natural gas and compressed natural gas with 15 million cubic feet or more of liquefied natural gas and/or compressed natural gas
- Suppliers of coal with 500 U.S. short tons of coal
- Waste haulers and transporters with 25,000 MT CO2e
*These thresholds apply to the sum of emissions reported for out-of-state landfill facilities and out-of-state combustion facilities for all waste exported out of New York State.
Key Next Steps for Part 253 Readiness
Reporting entities should monitor NYS e-GGRT for training opportunities and use DEC resources, including the emissions estimator, to assess their obligations. Entities required to report GHG data should also note that large emission sources must verify their annual emissions reports through an accredited third-party verification service.
Verification services must be completed and submitted by the verifier to DEC by December 1, 2027, for emissions year 2026; December 1, 2028, for emissions year 2027; and August 10 for each subsequent emissions year. Because of these deadlines, early screening and contracting are especially important for companies and municipalities with procurement cycles.
As Part 253 moves from framework to implementation, entities will need reported data that is both timely and defensible. For those subject to verification, working with an experienced, DEC-accredited third-party verifier can streamline the process, reduce risk, and support alignment with evolving state expectations. Cameron-Cole, an ADEC Innovation, is currently pursuing accreditation in New York and can help organizations navigate these requirements with clarity and confidence as Part 253 continues to take shape.
