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The State Legislature recently passed several of our priority bills that will improve water quality, protect natural areas, remove toxins from our environment, and encourage clean transportation.

The New York State Energy Research Development Authority recently announced the five winners of the first two rounds of its Future Grid Challenge, which will provide $110 million to adapt the grid to a more sustainable system as well as to climate change threats.

In 2016, New York State enacted the toughest law in the nation to protect public school children from exposure to elevated levels of lead in their drinking water. A new bill introduced in the New York State legislature is proposing to make public school drinking water safer and freer of lead by tightening of existing regulations.

On January 13, 2020, the Department of Public Service Staff issued the Staff Whitepaper Regarding Electric Vehicle Supply Equipment and Infrastructure. Staff proposals are in line with the expected growth of EV industry in the state, and New York’s goal to deploy 850,000 zero-emission vehicles by 2025. 

New York State’s Environmental Protection Fund supports a wide variety of environmental projects through four programs, which focus on solid waste, parks and recreation, open space, and climate change mitigation and adaptation.

Last year was a banner year for the environment, with victories that included the historic Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act (CLCPA), a statewide ban on plastic bags, mandatory food waste recycling for large waste generators, and congestion pricing in New York City. In 2020 we hope to build on those successes and begin to implement the CLCPA, which requires immediate action if we are to meet its ambitious goals.