ALBANY, NY – With budget negotiations underway, Environmental Advocates NY (EANY) is calling on Governor Hochul, Senate Majority Leader Stewart-Cousins, and Assembly Speaker Heastie to deliver a budget that puts New Yorkers’ health, safety, and financial well-being first. The organization urges state leaders to meet this moment with the investments and policies necessary to protect clean water, combat climate change, and build a stronger, more sustainable economy.
“A budget is a reflection of our values—and this year, it’s clear that investing in our environment is an investment in New Yorkers,” said Vanessa Fajans-Turner, Executive Director of Environmental Advocates NY. “The fate of federal funding and programs that New York has long relied on to protect clean air and water—and support our communities—is now uncertain, putting these critical resources at serious risk. With a leadership void in Washington, D.C., New York must step up and set the standard, demonstrating that smart environmental choices are fundamental to the health, safety, and economic vitality of our communities.”
The Key Priorities for a Strong Environmental Budget
EANY has identified several critical policies and investments that must be included in the final budget agreement, an outline of which is detailed below. An open letter detailing these priorities has been sent to Legislative leaders and can be accessed HERE. An easy-to-read table comparing how EANY’s budget priorities are addressed in the three budget proposals can be accessed HERE. Highlights of EANY’s budget advocacy include calls for the following:
Clean Water and Public Health
- At least $600 million for the Clean Water Infrastructure Act, with $100 million specifically for lead pipe replacement.
- Private Well Testing and Remediation: A $15 million investment to protect households from PFAS and other emerging contaminants, ensuring New Yorkers who rely on private wells have access to clean drinking water.
Climate Solutions
- $1 Billion Sustainable Future Fund: Investing in clean energy and climate resilience, with at least $200 million directed to the Green Affordable Pre-electrification (GAP) Fund.
- NY HEAT Act: Ending the “100-foot rule” that forces ratepayers to subsidize new gas hookups and protecting low- and moderate-income households from excessive energy burdens.
- Cap-and-Invest: A strong program that holds polluters accountable, uplifts Disadvantaged Communities, generates billions in revenue for climate solutions, and ensures energy affordability for New Yorkers.
- Climate Risk Disclosure: Requiring major corporations to disclose their climate risks and emissions to ensure transparency and accountability.
Healthy Communities
- PFAS-Free Firefighter Equipment: Protecting first responders by eliminating toxic chemicals in their protective gear.
- Superfund Reauthorization: Ensuring timely cleanup of contaminated sites and holding polluters responsible.
- Environmental Restoration Program & Technical Assistance Grants: Providing communities with the resources to clean up and recover from industrial pollution.
Agriculture and Land Conservation
- $500 Million Environmental Protection Fund: Strengthening investments in farmland protection, local food programs, and land conservation.
- Expanding Farm-to-School Programs: Increasing incentives for schools to buy local food, benefiting both students and New York farmers.
- Title Insurance Reform for Land Conservation: Cutting bureaucratic red tape to accelerate conservation efforts.
As Washington Drags Us Backward, New York Must Drive Environmental Progress Forward
“With federal rollbacks on environmental protection and clean energy investment, New York cannot afford to take a step back. Offshore wind projects are being derailed, clean energy funding is under threat, and climate action is being undermined by federal policies favoring fossil fuels. This budget is New York’s chance to fight back with strong, proactive measures that drive the state toward a cleaner, healthier, and more affordable future,” Fajans-Turner added.
EANY urges New York’s leaders to ensure that the state budget fully funds these critical environmental programs and policies. The decisions made in the coming days will determine whether New York remains a national leader in environmental action or falls victim to the same shortsighted policies dragging progress backward elsewhere.
Join Our Online Briefing: Breaking Down New York’s Environmental Budget Priorities
Environmental Advocates NY invites you to a special online briefing on Monday, March 24 on Zoom, where our policy experts will break down the key environmental priorities in the state budget and what they mean for New Yorkers. Register HERE.
With budget negotiations underway, now is the time to understand what’s at stake and how these critical investments will impact clean water, clean energy, and public health across the state.
The webinar will be held Monday, March 24 at noon. Register HERE.
