NYLCV reacts to the end of the 2022 State legislative session

06.04.22 // Brett Spielberg

NYLCV reacts to the end of the State legislative session

NYLCV released the following statement in response to the end of the 2022 State legislative session.

Julie Tighe, President of the New York League of Conservation Voters, said:

“We commend the State Legislature for passing critical legislation this session to protect the environment, preserve open spaces, and advance other NYLCV priorities. Among key policy wins that were part of NYLCV’s 2022 Policy Agenda: 

  • 30×30 protects 30% of our land by 2030; 
  • a moratorium on proof-of-work cryptocurrency mining is a thoughtful approach to ensure New York isn’t taking a step back on climate through an unregulated emerging technology; 
  • 24/7 speed cameras in NYC are a common-sense proposal to protect our streets and support micromobility; and 
  • the utility thermal networks bill will create green jobs building district geothermal systems to decarbonize heating for building clusters in every utility service area in the state;
  • stricter building and appliance codes and standards are a forward-looking policy to reduce emissions and save New Yorkers money on energy bills. 

Additional victories for the environment include passage of legislation that will establish extended producer responsibility for carpets, provide new protections for Class C streams, establish the Digital Fair Repair Act, and ban PFAS chemicals in apparel. 

However, we are disappointed that other bills to address pressing environmental issues failed to advance. NYLCV strongly supports a clean fuel standard to reduce the impact of transportation on greenhouse gas emissions, legislation to implement extended producer responsibility for paper and packaging, and the All-Electric Buildings Act to phase out fossil fuels in new construction by 2027. These policies are necessary to achieve the goals of the Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act and will also create green jobs. We will continue to work with advocates and legislators to build support for these bills so that we can pass them when the next legislative session convenes in January. 

We thank Majority Leader Stewart-Cousins, Speaker Heastie, Senator Kaminsky, Assemblymember Englebright, and all of the sponsors of NYLCV priority bills for their leadership.”

 

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