Local Law 97
Local Law 97 (LL97) is part of New York City’s Climate Mobilization Act, aimed at drastically reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) / COâ‚‚ emissions from buildings.
Enacted in 2019, LL97 sets strict carbon emissions limits for buildings over 25,000 square feet, with penalties for non-compliance starting in 2025. The law is one of the most ambitious building decarbonization regulations in the world and is designed to help NYC achieve its goal of reducing emissions and becoming fully carbon neutral by 2050.
The challenge – Traditional compliance methods such as heat pumps and direct electrification require expensive electrical upgrades, increased grid demand and tenant disruptions.
StandardRNG: An Easy LL97 Solution.
Standard Carbon offers a turnkey compliance solution for New York City’s Local Law 97 by supplying buildings with StandardRNG™, a Low-Carbon, Renewable Natural Gas (RNG) that requires no disruptive retrofits or capital-intensive work.
New York City has accepted the use of low-carbon fuels in order to offset carbon emissions and remain under their emissions limit. This is a simple path to compliance which involves no retrofits and no capital intensive or disruptive work.
Choose to run your building on StandardRNG™ and reduce your emissions practically immediately.
What is RNG?
Renewable natural gas (RNG) is pipeline-quality natural gas produced from a variety of existing waste streams.
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Standard Carbon has pioneered technology used by energy companies globally which transforms COâ‚‚ emissions into this low-carbon fuel. This COâ‚‚ comes from a variety of industrial sources.
StandardRNG™ is a low-carbon fuel because the energy used to create it comes from renewable sources, such as solar and wind. The result is a drop-in fuel identical to regular natural gas, but with a 65% lower carbon intensity.
The Process
How It Works for LL97 Compliance
LL97 regulations reflect those long practiced by the California Air Resources Board (CARB). The use of these low-carbon fuels has been accepted by New York City in order to offset carbon emissions and remain under their emissions limit.
Since the high-quality, sustainable fuel we produce meets CARB LCFS requirements, it provides market rate properties an immediate, cost effective path to compliance.
It’s as simple as choosing to purchase this low-carbon fuel through a gas purchase agreement with existing utility providers. A blend of StandardRNG™ and natural gas in specific quantities can reduce your emissions below the limit.
Adjustable Low-Carbon RNG Supply to Ensure Compliance
With emissions caps getting tighter and tighter between now and 2050, the quantity of Low-Carbon RNG you’ll need to bring in to offset your COâ‚‚ emissions. We analyze your fuel usage and adjust the supply of StandardRNG™ to perfectly match your minimum requirements for compliance.
On-site Carbon Bridge and RNG Production
Since low-carbon fuels can offset a maximum of 65% of the total COâ‚‚ emissions, an on-site installation will be required eventually in order to reduce building emissions all the way to zero and future-proof your property. In the example building here, that date is 2040 and beyond.
The exact timing on this does vary, however it does still buy time for the vast majority of buildings; between 15-25 years before needing to plan for an in-house deep carbon reduction retrofit.
The Carbon Bridge™ system was engineered for scalability enabling it to be used in buildings of practically any size.
Carbon Bridge Installation Timeline
How Carbon Bridge Achieves Zero-Emissions
The same Carbon Bridge™ technology used by large scale industrial emitters and power companies enables NYC buildings to eliminate your carbon footprint entirely, while preserving all of your existing infrastructure. You’re able to go net-zero while keeping all of your existing equipment including boilers, radiators, cogeneration units, and more. Since all of your infrastructure can stay the same, installing the Carbon Bridge™ results in zero resident disruption.
In a process known as the Sabatier Reaction, we’re able to transform all of your building’s COâ‚‚ emissions in a closed-loop system, with the only energy input being renewable energy. This effectively electrifies your building while preserving all of your existing systems.
Smarter
Electrification
Electrification alone doesn’t ensure lower emissions—timing matters. Heat pumps run whenever heating is needed, even during peak hours when NYC’s grid relies on high-carbon gas plants.
Carbon Bridge™ avoids peak-hour emissions and costs by operating only when cleaner baseload power is available. Actual NYISO data* shows off-peak electricity has a 30% lower carbon index, making Carbon Bridge™ a smarter decarbonization strategy.
By leveraging time-of-use energy storage, Carbon Bridge™ cuts COâ‚‚ emissions and electricity costs, providing a cost-effective, LL97-compliant alternative to heat pumps.
CO2 Emissions Comparison Carbon Bridge™
+ Boiler vs. Gradient Heat Pump
Heat Pump CO2 Emissions (tons)
Carbon Bridge™ CO2 Emissions (tons)
Penalty Abatement
Fines that your building is facing this year can be avoided with a good faith effort (GFE) extension filing before May 1. Think of it as an extension for your tax return.
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A GFE extension eliminates fines and enables you to decarbonize your building.
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We understand that the deadlines for LL97 have blindsided many properties, so this service is one of our core offerings.
We’ve partnered with several firms specializing in compliance, regulations, and building operations to ensure quick and effective filings.
