The League’s top priorities would help the communities in Nassau and Suffolk counties drastically reduce their carbon footprints and move toward a greener, healthier, more environmentally sustainable Long Island.
Long Island, New York – The New York League of Conservation Voters and NYLCV Education Fund (NYLCV/EF) released their 2023 Long Island Policy Agenda today.
The League’s priorities include increasing reliance on offshore wind; constructing new clean energy buildings and converting old buildings to clean energy use; streamlining the permit process to make it easier to use solar power; passing laws to require more EV charging stations; taking aggressive steps to protect Long Island’s drinking water; revamping Long Island’s waste management system; and protecting and expanding parks.
“The policies we put forth in our 2023 agenda are crucial to reducing Long Island’s carbon footprint and necessary if the state is to achieve its nation-leading climate goals,” said NYLCV/EF President Julie Tighe. “Furthermore, these efforts must prioritize environmental justice and consider the impacts of our actions on marginalized communities. Our clean energy future must be equitable and benefit all New Yorkers.”
The full 2023 Long Island Agenda can be viewed here.
NYLCV/EF’s top priorities for Long Island include:
- Climate Smart Communities: Move Long Island towns, cities, and counties up the ladder of certification in the Climate Smart Communities program by committing to more local greenhouse gas-reducing actions.
- Energy: Create more offshore wind projects on Long Island; increase the pace of siting, permitting, and constructing battery storage; expand LIPA’s renewable energy programs; remove municipal barriers to installing solar energy projects; and require green building standards, including zero-emission heating systems, for all new residential and commercial construction.
- Transportation: Alleviate EV range anxiety by passing laws that require all municipal garages and parking lots to include EV charging stations and undertake projects to encourage the use of public transportation and other alternatives to driving.
- Water Quality: Take steps to protect Long Island’s sole-source aquifer by enacting policies to reduce reliance on septic systems; encourage the continued implementation of the Long Island Sound, Peconic, and South Shore Estuary Comprehensive Conservation and Management Plans; and push local municipalities to implement eel grass natural buffers along the coast.
- Waste Management: Advocate for budget allocations and policies from municipalities and county legislatures to expand regional recycling facilities and other measures to put Long Island on a more sustainable path when it comes to waste management.
- Open Space: Advocate to make Plum Island a National Monument, support expansion opportunities of the Pine Barrens in an organized and sustainable fashion, and promote investments that protect parks and green spaces.
While the communities of Long Island have made substantial progress recently in moving towards a greener future, it’s clear that there is still much work to be done. We look forward to working with elected officials from Long Island and at the State level to ensure that our goals are met and that all residents have an environmentally sustainable and healthy future.
About the New York League of Conservation Voters
The New York League of Conservation Voters is the only non-partisan, statewide environmental organization in New York that takes a pragmatic approach to fight for clean water, healthy air, renewable energy, and open space. For thirty years, NYLCV has worked to lobby state and local governments on environmental policy, provide objective information to the public, and hold elected officials accountable. For more information, visit www.nylcv.org.
About the New York League of Conservation Voters Education Fund
The New York League of Conservation Voters Education Fund (NYLCVEF) educates, engages and empowers New Yorkers to be effective advocates on behalf of the environment — from clean energy and funding for parks, to solid waste and green buildings. NYLCVEF educates New Yorkers about environmental issues and the environmental decision-making processes at the local, regional, state and federal government levels; engages all sectors – elected officials, policymakers, businesses, community groups and grassroots citizens – in open, non-partisan discussion about sustainability policies in order to achieve the environmental breakthroughs that New York needs; and empowers New Yorkers to make environmental change by engaging them in the civic process.