Environmental Advocates NY Responds to Gov. Hochul’s FY 2027 Executive Budget Proposals
Albany, New York – Today, Environmental Advocates NY released the following statement in response to Governor Hochul’s FY 2027 Executive Budget proposals:
“New Yorkers need investments that pay off. EANY is pleased to see funding maintained for the Clean Water Infrastructure Act and the Environmental Protection Fund,” said Katherine Nadeau, Deputy Executive Director of Policy and Programs at Environmental Advocates NY. “But to make New York State more affordable, we’ll need an unequivocal commitment to communities through the Sustainable Future Program, additional investments in our aging water infrastructure, and increased investments in renewables. These are the investments that deliver results quickly, strengthen infrastructure, improve air quality, and create lasting benefits across the state.”
Background on specific topics
Water and Environmental Funding: Governor Hochul confirmed her $500 million/year, five-year commitment to the Clean Water Infrastructure Act, and her commitment of $425 million to the Environmental Protection Fund. These are the kinds of public investments that protect health, strengthen communities, and keep local budgets from buckling. The budget included a new $250 million/year investment for water infrastructure that supports housing development. We know the state’s current clean water programs are oversubscribed to the tune of billions of dollars, and EANY believes new water money can best be used to fix aging infrastructure. Any new use of funds must be clarified with guardrails to support sustainable and affordable development in the final budget adopted in March.
Clean Energy: On clean energy, the Governor expressed a clear desire to address affordability, but she missed the mark. There are some items in her budget that seek to protect New Yorkers from rate changes and some options for New Yorkers to finance investments in cleaner, greener homes. But these piecemeal provisions don’t include real investments in renewable energy, efficiency, or energy infrastructure like cap-and-invest, or in the Sustainable Future Program, or in substantial job-creating programs. The absence of wind, solar, and renewables in the Governor’s budget proposals speaks for itself. With federal clean energy support under attack, New York should be doubling down on solar and wind, not relegating them to a bottom-tier option.
Energy Affordability and Fairness: We are pleased to see the Governor propose $50 million for EmPower Plus, but more funding is needed to support this critical and oversubscribed program. Empower Plus helps low and moderate-income households reduce energy costs and make their homes more comfortable while cutting emissions. The Governor also included a proposal to increase the maximum loan amount under the residential Green Jobs-Green New York program, but New York can go further with additional funding and a commitment to lower-cost financing.
State Environmental Quality Review Act: The Governor’s proposal to exempt certain housing from SEQR review, as well as flexibility for public parks, bike trails, childcare facilities, and certain water and green infrastructure, would be a major shift in direction for the state’s hallmark environmental review law. EANY will continue to monitor the proposal to ensure any changes to the law maintain fundamental environmental protections.
Sustainable Future Program: The Governor did not make a commitment to replenish or extend the Sustainable Future Program — last year’s flagship $1 billion climate investment — at a moment when New Yorkers need more help cutting pollution and lowering energy costs. The Sustainable Future Program puts New York on the path toward cleaner air, lower costs, and stronger communities, and we hope to see this transformative program funded in the final budget that will be agreed on by the Governor and Legislature.
Cap-and-Invest: New York is at a crossroads. And with D.C. stepping back, the Governor has a real opportunity to make New York the climate leader we could and should be, while making our lives more affordable and safer. We have a plan to do this: implementing the Clean Air Initiative, the cap-and-invest program at the heart of our climate law. If New York wants to lead on climate and affordability, the state must act boldly and without further delay.
Environmental Advocates NY is New York’s leading environmental watchdog, working for over 50 years to advance strong environmental laws and hold decision-makers accountable. Learn more at eany.org.
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