Labor, Industry, and Environmental Justice Leaders Unite: “Battery Storage Creates Good Jobs, Improves the Grid, and Brings Clean Air”
ALBANY, NY – A coalition of New York labor organizations, battery storage industry leaders, environmental advocates, and environmental justice groups today called on the State Legislature to support Battery Energy Storage, by including a Sales Tax Exemption for commercial energy storage with labor protections (S.1527a/A.313a) in the 2026-27 Enacted Budget, and opposing unnecessary restrictions on battery deployment. The diverse coalition argues that battery storage is the essential “missing link” to controlling costs for New York’s grid, meeting growing demand quickly, creating family-sustaining union jobs, and finally cleaning the air in the state’s most vulnerable communities.
Voices from the Front Lines: Labor and Justice
“Including a sales tax exemption for commercial energy storage with strong labor standards attached not only assists New York State with strengthening the reliability of our power grid, it will create good, family-supporting union jobs for deserving New Yorkers,” said Donato A. Bianco, Jr., LIUNA Vice President and New England Regional Manager. “As always, the skilled members of LIUNA stand ready to build now, and designating battery storage under ORES jurisdiction will streamline the process and get these critical projects approved, sited and under construction.”
Daniel Chu, Senior Energy Planner at the New York City Environmental Justice Alliance stated, “For too long, our neighborhoods have borne the brunt of energy production through toxic peaker plants. Battery storage allows us to finally turn the page. This isn't just a policy request; it’s a public health and energy reliability necessity. We need these projects to move forward without unfair setbacks, so our families can breathe clean air while our neighbors can access the goodpaying jobs in this industry.”
Ending the Era of “Peaker” Pollution
“Installing battery storage is the most effective way to displace the polluting peaker plants that are standing in the way of healthier air for New Yorkers,” stated Betta Broad, Campaign Director for New Yorkers for Clean Power. “By storing electricity and deploying it when demand is high, we can meet demand for power at peak times, and without using polluting peaker plants as frequently. New Yorkers can breathe easier in more ways than one.”
Strengthening the Grid, Lowering Costs
Beyond environmental and labor benefits, the coalition emphasized that battery projects are the backbone of a reliable electrical grid. By stabilizing the flow of electricity, these projects prevent blackouts, reduce reliance on the most expensive peak power sources, and help drive down electricity costs for families and businesses across the state, thereby supporting the long-term economic growth of New York’s digital and industrial sectors.
In addition to the sales tax exemption, this coalition supports S.5506/A.8378, which would bring large-scale energy storage projects under the jurisdiction of the Office of Renewable Energy Siting (outside of NYC). A more standardized and efficient siting process for storage would create parity with wind, solar, and fossil fuel power plants, all of which are reviewed and permitted at the state level. The coalition also opposes measures that would unfairly restrict project development.
Dr. William Acker, Executive Director of NY-BEST stated, “The grid battery industry is ready and willing to install projects to meet New York State's grid affordability and reliability needs – including the reliability needs recently identified in New York City. Energy storage is one of the fastest and best options for fixing that problem, but we need to remove barriers to build projects more efficiently.”
A Blueprint for Economic Growth and Labor Protection
The proposed Sales Tax Exemption is coupled with an agreement between labor and industry to ensure the green transition is built on a foundation of worker rights. The coalition is calling for:
• Family-Sustaining Jobs: Growing the battery industry to create thousands of roles in construction, electrical work, and maintenance.
• Labor Peace & Domestic Materials: Requiring projects over 5 MW to enter into labor peace agreements and use U.S.-produced iron and steel.
• Prevailing Wage & Equity: Requiring projects 1 MW or greater to comply with prevailing wage and MWBE/SDVOB requirements, while ensuring contractors utilize certified apprenticeship programs.
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