Image by Joel Rollins from Pixabay
Victory! New York’s 2022 Clean Water, Clean Air, Green Jobs Bond Act
On November 8, 2022, New York voters resoundingly supported The Clean Water, Clean Air, Green Jobs Bond Act—passing the measure with 67% of the vote. Now approved by the voters, the Bond Act will allocate $4.2 billion to environmental projects that protect clean drinking water, upgrade water infrastructure, preserve open space and family farms, fight climate change, and keep communities safe from extreme weather. Plus, the Bond Act will provide crucial support for New York’s economy by supporting over 100,000 jobs.
Investments from the Bond Act will be distributed across four categories:
Water quality improvement and resilient infrastructure - $650 million
Restoration and flood risk management - $1.1 billion
Open space land conservation - $650 million
Climate change – $1.5 billion
Protecting Drinking Water and Upgrading Infrastructure
Lead service lines, failing sewage and drinking water systems, harmful algal blooms and polluted runoff are threats to New York’s drinking water. These problems continue to outpace available funding; the Bond Act will help address these threats by investing at least $650 million in water quality improvements and resilient infrastructure.
Protecting Communities from Flooding and Extreme Weather
$1.1 billion of Bond Act funding will be invested in restoration and flood risk management. This funding will strengthen coastal infrastructure and protect communities and ecosystems from extreme flood and storm events. Fortifying New York’s natural and manufactured resiliency systems is essential to protecting vulnerable communities from flooding and severe weather events.
Conserving Open Space and Family Farms
Conserving open spaces benefits wildlife habitats, food production, and outdoor recreation, while reducing polluted runoff and preserving New York’s natural scenery. At least $650 million of Bond Act funding will be invested in conserving open space, preserving farmland, and improving fish hatcheries.
Fighting Climate Change
The impacts of climate change are being felt across the state, we need long-term committed investments to alleviate the costly effects and keep them from worsening. A $1.5 billion investment from the Bond Act will fund projects that reduce greenhouse gas emissions, expand clean energy infrastructure, and increase energy efficiency.