How Much Will My Building Owe in 2030 Under Local Law 97?
By FeeWarden. Updated 2026-10-10. Figures come from the Local Law 97 text and the method we use.
Short answer: The 2030 limits fall about 40% to 74%, so a building with the same energy use can owe a penalty it does not owe today. To estimate it, multiply energy use by the 2030 emissions factors, subtract the 2030 limit, then multiply the overage by $268.
The quick way to estimate it
- Find the building's yearly energy use. Owners file it each year under Local Law 84, and the public version is on NYC Open Data.
- Multiply each source by its 2030 emissions factor and add them up.
- Multiply the building's floor area by the 2030 limit per square foot for its use.
- Subtract the limit from emissions, then multiply any overage by $268.
Or skip the arithmetic: enter your floor area and energy use in the calculator, or search your address if the building is in the city's data.
Why 2030 is the number to watch
The cap drops about 40% to 74% in 2030 for the occupancy groups we cover. Over the same stretch the electricity factor falls from 0.000289 to 0.000145 tCO2e per kWh, a drop of about 50%. So 2030 helps all-electric buildings and hurts buildings that burn gas, oil or steam.
Example: the same building, two periods
An apartment building with 100,000 square feet, 1.2 million kWh of electricity and 6 million kBtu of natural gas a year:
| Period | Emitted (tCO2e) | Limit (tCO2e) | Over (tCO2e) | Penalty a year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024–2029 | 665 | 675 | 0 | $0 |
| 2030–2034 | 493 | 407 | 86 | $22,957 |
It owes $22,957 a year from 2030 because its energy use stays the same while its cap falls. Cutting about 86 tCO2e a year would bring it back to its limit.
What the data shows across NYC
Across the 17,048 New York City buildings we have estimated, about 39% would owe a penalty from 2030 at current energy use. Among those, the middle estimate is $14,101 a year. Every building has its own page: browse buildings by borough.
What to do with the number
Each ton cut saves $268 a year, so a 2030 estimate also tells you what an energy project is worth. See the cheapest ways to cut emissions first and the reporting dates.
Frequently asked questions
When do the stricter Local Law 97 limits start?
The second set of limits applies from 2030 through 2034. For the occupancy groups we cover, they are about 40% to 74% lower than the 2024 to 2029 limits.
Why can a building with no penalty today owe one in 2030?
The cap drops about 40% to 74% while the building's energy use may not. A building that is under the cap now can be over it later on the same energy use.
Does the electricity emissions factor change in 2030?
Yes. It falls from 0.000289 to 0.000145 tCO2e per kWh, which lowers the emissions of buildings that run mostly on electricity.
How accurate is a 2030 estimate?
It is a planning figure. It reuses the energy use from the building's latest benchmarking filing and assumes nothing changes. Real 2030 emissions depend on what the building does between now and then.
Sources
Calculate your own penalty or look up a building by address.