New York Certifies its Forests & Promotes Green Building

New York is the first state to certify its forest lands – over 700,000 acres – by SmartWood, a Forest Stewardship Council certifier. The FSC label can now be stamped on products from NY’s $2 billion wood products industry.

It looks like New York State’s Green Buildings Tax Credit is moving closer to reality. In his State of the State address this month, Governor Pataki announced the measure as part of his fiscal year 2001 budget. Buildings larger than 20,000 square feet would be awarded tax credits when renovated or constructed using a qualified list of green building technologies.