Environmental Advocates of New York supports the measures presented below. Each is an important measure for protection of New York’s natural resources and our families’ health. For a full list of our positions on proposed legislation (posted as bills are put on committee agendas) go to our bill ratings page.

2008 Legislative Priorities for the Environment

Bigger Better Bottle Bill (A. 8044/S. 5856 & S. 3434): This bill would amend New York’s Environmental Conservation Law § 27-1003(1) and the State Finance Law to expand and update the definition of "beverage" in the State Returnable Container Act (the bottle bill) to include non-carbonated drinks other than milk and liquor, and to direct the unclaimed deposit money derived from that program to the Environmental Protection Fund.

Climate Change Solutions Program Act & Fund (A.7365, A.7366/S. 5347, S. 5371): These companion pieces of legislation would ensure that the proceeds from any sale of emissions allowances (CO₂ or NO_x) are invested in energy efficiency, renewable energy programs, and programs that improve air quality.  

State Green Building Construction Act (A.2005-B/S.5442-A – Not Same As): This bill would require that construction of all new state buildings, and the substantial renovation of existing buildings, comply with the energy consumption and resource use standards as established by the Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) in consultation with the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) and other relevant state agencies.

New York State Lighting Efficiency & Toxics Reduction Act (A.8641-B/S.6124 – Not Same As): This legislation would require the DEC to set electrical energy consumption reduction targets related to lighting and would also require the DEC Commissioner to establish a schedule of minimum energy efficiency standards for lighting in New York State.

Net Metering (A.8690-A): This bill would make solar eligible technologies for net metering and would expand the size of all eligible net-metered systems from their current limits to no more than 2,000 kilowatts. New York currently has the most restrictive net metering policy in the Northeast.  The bill would also make the state’s businesses eligible to take advantage of net metering, thus encouraging the use of clean, renewable energy. S.6507-A Wright is not currently active in the 2008 session.

Environmental Access to Justice Act (A.1435/S.5182): This bill restores the original legislative intent of the State Environmental Quality Review Act (SEQRA), by allowing individuals or groups to challenge a SEQRA decision if they can demonstrate that they will suffer injury from the environmental impact of a proposed project, without having to show that the harm they will suffer is different from that suffered by the public at large.

Wetlands Protections (A.7133/S.3835): This bill would amend the state’s Environmental Conservation Law to provide the DEC with regulatory authority over New York’s freshwater wetlands of one acre or more, regardless of whether that wetland has been mapped by the DEC.

Great Lakes Compact (A. 7266-B/S.4324-B): The Great Lakes-St. Lawrence River Basin Water Resources Compact will ratify New York’s participation in a multi-state agreement on the management of Great Lakes water to protect water levels in the Lakes and their tributaries, require New York to establish water conservation measures, prohibit the transfer of Great Lakes water outside of the Basin, and protect New York’s right to set stronger management standards.

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