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New Albany tightens ECOS sustainability requirements tied to CRA tax abatements
Summary
City staff presented revisions to the ECOS program that tie Community Reinvestment Area (CRA) tax abatements to updated sustainability thresholds and verification processes, including a LEED-equivalent pathway and a points-based path with higher baselines and verification by design professionals.
On June 10, 2026, the New Albany Sustainability Advisory Board received an update on revisions to the ECOS (Environmental Criteria and Opportunities for Sustainability) program, which ties sustainability standards to Community Reinvestment Area (CRA) real-property tax abatements for certain industrial and warehouse projects.
Sarah Ziegler, who introduced the program to the board, said ECOS was created in 2011 and is embedded in the city’s economic-development incentives. "ECOS is part of our CRA program," Ziegler said. "Companies know from the beginning of their investment that they will be held to these standards and that building inspectors and design professionals will help verify milestones."
Assistant Building Official Ryan Hannigan described two pathways under the updated program. "Path 1" allows projects that achieve LEED or an equivalent third‑party certification to qualify automatically; "Path 2" is a revised credit‑based system organized into five categories (site, water strategy, energy strategy, materials and resources, and health and wellness) with clearer examples and higher baseline point requirements. Hannigan said the revised thresholds are intended to reflect advancements since 2011 and to reward companies that also prioritize employee well‑being, citing features such as on‑site fitness facilities, pollinator gardens and changing stations in restrooms.
Hannigan explained verification will require more precise documentation from design professionals and sign‑off by certified architects or engineers; for the LEED path, projects must submit final certification at project completion. He said the credits‑based path includes point ranges tied to CRA abatements: the program staff explained a baseline exemption for 25–49 points and a larger, 15‑year abatement for projects that reach 50 points or more. Staff also noted that state law caps most CRA abatements at 15 years.
Staff highlighted local examples of companies already engaging with the updated program. Hannigan said VanTrust is designing shell buildings with ECOS criteria in mind and is exploring a "pocket prairie" on an existing property; staff also pointed to Amgen’s native landscaping, expanded EV charging and a large solar installation as examples of local company sustainability investments.
Board members raised outreach and recognition ideas: creating a public list of ECOS participants, promoting participating companies in city communications, and possibly establishing a "green company" award or sponsorships for sustainability events. Staff said they will share program documents with the board and coordinate further outreach and promotional options.
The board did not vote on program adoption at the meeting; staff indicated the updated ECOS materials are live and that they will continue stakeholder engagement and outreach with planners and prospective companies.
