“President Trump began his second term by waging an assault on public health, environmental justice, endangered species, and all of us who breathe and drink water. New York has a clear choice: protect our communities and economy or allow corporations to profit by making our air, water, and shared environment dirtier and less healthy. Governor Hochul’s budget is her opportunity to prove our state will safeguard clean water, tackle the climate crisis, and invest in healthier, more resilient communities.
We need $600 million for the Clean Water Infrastructure Act to protect our drinking water and create good-paying jobs. We need robust funding to make homes energy-efficient.. Governor Hochul must provide DEC and DOH the staff they need to protect our air, water, and health. And it’s time to advance the Cap-and-Invest Program.
“This budget is a test of the Governor’s commitment to a livable future,” said Katherine Nadeau, Deputy Executive Director, Policy and Programs at Environmental Advocates NY. “The time for talk is over. It’s time to deliver.”
EANY is calling for:
Cap and Invest
The Cap-and-Invest program was expected to generate revenue this fiscal year. Yet, Governor Hochul’s recent delay could rob New Yorkers of billions of dollars to buffer against high energy bills, invest in safeguarding against extreme heat and unpredictable storms, and support community-level climate solutions. New Yorkers need swift action to reduce asthma-inducing air and climate pollution, and we need to meet the Climate Act’s goal of cutting emissions 85% by 2050. Every day the Governor delays, the risks get bigger and the solutions get harder and more expensive to bring about. The Governor must release DEC and NYSERDA’s already-drafted Cap-and-Invest regulations now and set a clear timeline to see them through.
$600M for Clean Water
New York’s water infrastructure is crumbling and putting our drinking water at risk. Over $80 billion is needed to repair water mains, upgrade sewage treatment plants, and make other critical improvements. Additionally, local governments need more resources than ever to meet new federal regulations to remove toxic PFAS chemicals and replace lead pipes. $600 million for the Clean Water Infrastructure Act (CWIA) will help communities protect their water, create good-paying union jobs, and keep water bills affordable.
Staffing For Success
Environmental and health threats statewide are increasing Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) and Department of Health (DOH) workloads dramatically. DEC needs additional staff capacity for programs to implement the Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act (CLCPA), improve quality, protect source water, and more. DOH’s Center for Environmental Health requires more staff capacity to advance regulations and to address threats related to PFAS and lead pipes. State-level work is more important than ever, and additional staff at both agencies will allow greater protections of human health and the environment.
Fully Fund the EPF – $500M and No Staff Offloads
The Environmental Protection Fund (EPF) has funded projects in every county of New York State to conserve forests and farmland, protect clean water, create parks and trails, support recycling and waste reduction, advance environmental justice, and further environmental education and stewardship. EANY supports $400 million to fund the EPF and encourages a boost to $500 million. EANY opposes any proposal to use EPF funds to pay for agency staffing.
GAP Fund for Emissions Reductions
Much of New York’s housing stock is older and needs repairs before work can be done to weatherize and increase energy efficiency. Low to moderate income households can get state funding for weatherizing and efficiency work, but no support exists for basic repairs. The Green Affordable Pre-Electrification (GAP) Fund would close this gap, making buildings more comfortable and energy more affordable.
