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As part of the Reforming Energy Vision initiative, the New York State Department of Public Service, Con Edison, National Express, and the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority are participating in a demonstration project to operate five electric school buses throughout the White Plains public school district. The plan is for school buses to operate normally through the year and charge at night, while in the summer months they will be plugged into the grid and used as energy storage assets.

NYLCV and other state chapters took to Capitol Hill recently to lobby Congress for the Land and Water Conservation Fund's unabridged funding and indefinite reauthorization. At each meeting, legislators were presented with a complete list of projects the LCWF has sponsored in their districts with the intention of collaborating on an event at a cherished LWCF funded project and to serve as a reminder of the essential role the conservation program plays.

The EPA has once again been gaining public attention for recent regulations (or lack thereof) associated with potentially dangerous chemicals found in everyday cleaning products.  Policymakers in New York have worked to implement more strict standards.  However, there is still work to be done to protect our environment and health.

The National LCV's Annual Young Leaders Lobby Day training was jam-packed with information sessions that helped provide the youth with the tools necessary for effective lobbying. One of the many events scheduled was a workshop on how to tell one's story in a compelling manner when meeting with policymakers.

National LCV recently hosted its third Annual Young Leaders Lobby Day training, where youth from across twenty-nine states engaged in programming to teach effective lobbying strategies as well as empower them to find their voice in politics.  One of the many events scheduled was a speech and Q&A with U.S. Senator Brian Schatz of Hawaii.

Early last year, Governor Cuomo announced plans for a regulation that would require manufacturers of cleaning products to disclose all of the ingredients in any cleaning products sold in New York on their websites, as well as disclosure of the ingredients to the State.

Earlier this year the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ Agency for Toxic Substance and Disease Registry (ATSDR) found that toxic chemicals in drinking water can be harmful at much lower levels than the EPA previously reported as safe. Newly disclosed e-mails between members of the EPA revealed that the agency tried to keep this information hidden to avoid conflict with the public and a negative reaction from the media.

A newly released report published by Bloomberg predicts a very promising future for electric buses. The report found that switching from conventional to electric buses would not only be helpful for air quality, it would also save money in the long term.