The Blueprint:
The Long Island Lobby Coalition requested over $1 billion in funding from Albany to address regional needs.
The coalition includes small business owners, civic leaders, labor, environmental groups, and transportation advocates.
Funding requests include support for chambers of commerce, wastewater, solar power, affordable housing, and transportation improvements.
The coalition met with bipartisan state senators, assembly members, and Governor Hochul’s policy team.
Off the coast of Long Island, a new chapter in the region’s energy future is already spinning.
The South Fork Wind project — the first utility-scale offshore wind farm serving New York — is now delivering electricity to the East End, demonstrating that offshore wind is no longer theoretical. It’s operating infrastructure.
WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump’s strikes on Iran and ensuing oil price increases are reigniting a debate over the wisdom of ramping up domestic oil drilling while deemphasizing renewable energy sources.
Clean energy advocates say the conflict in Iran — which has increased oil prices by 40% globally since the United States and Israel launched a joint strike on Feb. 28, according to industry monitor GasBuddy — underscores the need to reduce the country’s reliance on oil and gas by investing in renewable energy sources. But Trump and Department of Energy officials maintain that the strikes on Iran will be short-lived and energy prices will quickly stabilize.
In a virtual presentation on March 6, environmental scientists and advocates broke down how long-lasting per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances have infiltrated Long Island produce. Citizens Campaign for the Environment Executive Director Adrienne Esposito along with other experts arranged a study focusing on how these “forever chemicals” impact Long Island farmland.
Help CCE build on our success, and support our campaigns to protect public health and the environment in NY and CT.
Make a contribution today.
Earth Day Advocacy Day in Albany
We headed to Albany for the annual Earth Day Advocacy Day, where we joined our environmental partners to advocate for priority bills to protect our air, water, and health. This year, we pushed for:
The Packaging Reduction and Recycling Infrastructure Act, which requires product manufacturers—not taxpayers—to be responsible for the cost of collecting and recycling the packaging waste they create. If passed into law, this legislation will reduce packaging waste, increase recycling, eliminate toxic chemicals in packaging, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and save local governments across the state hundreds of millions of dollars annually!
Banning the use of PFAS chemicals in a host of everyday products—textile articles, rugs, fabric treatments, cookware, ski waxes, dental floss, and cleaning products. This legislation has passed the NY Senate but still needs to pass the Assembly. Email your NYS Assemblymember and Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie today and urge them to pass this important legislation!
The Accelerate Solar for Affordable Power (ASAP) Act, which would significantly increase NY’s goal for distributed solar power (rooftop and community solar). This would create more clean energy and save ratepayers $1 billion annually when implemented.
South Fork Wind: Promises Made, Promises Kept
We joined our environmental partners, labor leaders, and LIPA to kick off Earth Week by celebrating the success of the South Fork Wind Farm. This is the first utility scale offshore wind farm in America, powering 70,000 homes with clean energy. The wind farm exceeded expectations over the past year, generating clean, safe power 99% of the days. South Fork Wind proved it could help stabilize the grid when energy prices spiked as Summer and Winter energy demand rose, outpacing fossil fuel pricing and saving us money on our energy bills. It’s also created thousands of union jobs, helping to support the local economy. To learn more, watch the press conference here.
U.S. House Passes Bill to Advance Great Lakes and Long Island Sound Protection
The U.S House has passed the American Water Stewardship Act (H.R 6422), which included reauthorization of priority programs including the Long Island Sound Partnership and Great Lakes Restoration Initiative! These programs provide crucial funding to protect and restore our waterways. This bill now moves to the Senate for consideration. New York and Connecticut residents: we encourage you to call your U.S. Senators to urge them to support these key programs!
Fighting to Clean Up the Calverton Navy Plume
For decades, there has been growing concern about toxic plumes originating from the former Navy/Gruman facility in Calverton discharging into Long Island’s sole-source aquifer and local waterways, resulting in fish consumption warnings and groundwater pollution. Continued delays by the Navy have fueled frustration for residents, advocates and county officials who fear the growing health risks associated with our drinking water and surface water bodies. We joined Suffolk County Executive Romaine and the Calverton Restoration Advisory Board (RAB) to hear new data from the Suffolk County Health Department on ground and surface water contamination. We will continue to push the Navy to take action and protect the public from this toxic plume.
Gearing Up for the Long Island Sound High School Summit
We joined our partners at Atlantic Marine Conservation Society and Friends of the Bay on visits to several high schools to educate students on the importance of protecting the Long Island Sound. We spoke about our ongoing restoration efforts through the Long Island Sound Partnership and our current challenges such as nitrogen loading, habitat destruction, invasive species, climate change and plastic pollution. As part of our upcoming LI Sound High School Summit, students will prepare a project related to protection and restoration of the Sound and then participate in an educational field trip to The WaterFront Center in May to experience hands-on learning about the Sound.
Waters to Peoples: Community Meeting
We co-hosted two more indigenous community meetings focused on protecting the marine life of Long Island Sound. In partnership with The Metoac Indigenous Collective and Atlantic Marine Conservation Society, this event focused on bridging the gap between science and traditional knowledge to protect Long Island Sound. It was great to learn about Indigenous knowledge systems and tribal cultural practices, and how relationship-building between communities and scientists strengthens conservation efforts. Thanks to all who participated.
Upcoming: Planting a Patchogue Pollinator Garden
We are partnering with the Village of Patchogue to design a new pollinator garden, which will help protect our pollinators while reducing polluted stormwater runoff and beautifying the area. We held a community meeting in April to encourage residents to BEE part of the vision! If you live in Patchogue and want to get involved in the planting event on May 29th and 30th, sign up for more information here.
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March 12, 2026
More than 200 middle and high school students from across Long Island gathered at Stony Brook University for the 2026 Long Island Youth Climate Summit, an event designed to motivate and empower the next generation of climate leaders.
Held on March 10 in the Student Activities Center Ballroom, the summit brought together students from 13 schools across Nassau and Suffolk Counties for presentations, panels and sessions focused on climate science, activism, careers and solutions.
The event was hosted by Students for Climate Action and Renewable Energy Long Island, two local nonprofit organizations that promote clean and sustainable energy use across the region, and supported by partners including Stony Brook Workforce Development and Collaborative for the Earth (C4E).’
Melissa Parrott, executive director of Renewable Energy Long Island, welcomed students and addressed the purpose of the event.
“Our theme of the day is climate optimism, and we have a wonderful guest speaker that’s going to really motivate and change the way we think,” Parrott said. She introduced Adrienne Esposito, executive director and co-founder of Citizens Campaign for the Environment, who opened the summit with a talk about activism and the growing problem of misinformation surrounding environmental issues. “By being here, you are also acting as activists,” Esposito told the audience. “What does that mean? Activism gets a bad rap, but it simply means someone who desires change, and that is a good thing.”
Esposito encouraged students to recognize the power of participation and civic engagement.
“You matter. Your voice matters,” she said. “If you ever have a chance to go to a community meeting or a public meeting, even if you’re not the type of person who wants to stand up and speak, that’s fine. Just show up. Just being there in numbers causes elected officials to take notice that people care.
She also urged students to be aware of misinformation, especially on social media.
“Reading it doesn’t mean it’s true,” Esposito said. “Facebook is not a belief system. It’s just a social media tool. It’s really hard right now to fight climate change. But you are the generation we’re fighting for.”
Throughout the morning, students heard from advocates, researchers and industry leaders about the challenges of climate change and the many ways young people can become involved in solutions.
The keynote address was delivered by Heather White, an author, environmental policy expert and founder of One Green Thing, an organization focused on addressing climate anxiety through everyday action.
“Hope and joy are not naive,” White said. “They are defiant. Because we are the ones that are going to get us through this. No one is coming to save us. It’s up to all of us.”
White spoke about the emotional toll climate change can take on young people, a phenomenon often called eco anxiety, the title of White’s book on the topic.
“The American Psychological Association defines this as a chronic fear of environmental doom,” she said. “And in my view, eco anxiety is just a generalized anxiety about the future that my generation is leading you all and the future that you’re leading the next generation.
To help students feel empowered rather than overwhelmed, White introduced a concept she calls a “service superpower,” encouraging individuals to identify the strengths they bring to climate action.
“The fact is, you do matter, because every single one of us are culture change agents,” White said. “You are influential in your family, in your community, in your schools.”
Students then participated in an exercise to identify their own “superpowers,” and joined breakout groups with those who share their superpower to discuss how they could apply their strengths to environmental advocacy community engagement.
Suffolk County Executive Ed Romaine spoke to students about issues critical to the Long Island area, including solar energy, the removal of garbage off Long Island and railroad infrastructure.
The summit also highlighted career opportunities in climate and clean energy fields through a panel discussion featuring industry leaders, advocates and educators.
Chad Marvin of the Long Island Clean Energy Hub encouraged students to begin building experience early.
“When you get to the point when you come out of college, if you’re going to pursue a four-year degree, you are looking at job descriptions that are already requiring X years of experience, and you can fulfill that through the opportunities that are available for youth, which are volunteering and internships,” Marvin said.
Caroline Grattan of Applied Energy Services advised students not to become overwhelmed by the number of career options available.
“So many options are ahead of you, but if you have a bunch, just go with it, explore your options and you’ll figure it out,” she said.
Ryan Stanton of the Long Island Federation of Labor emphasized the importance of growth and learning through new experiences.
“Look at the New York State Department of Labor website for apprenticeships for unions and be coachable,” Stanton said. “Stay humble and put yourself in spaces and places that make you uncomfortable.”
Sydney LeGuillow of the Haugland Group encouraged students to follow their interests.
“Stick to your passions but don’t put too much pressure on yourself,” she said. “That will come over time. Just pursue what you’re passionate about.”
Adam Charboneau, lecturer in Stony Brook’s School of Marine and Atmospheric Sciences, offered more general guidance.
“I say that to slow down, enjoy the moments and see the world,” Charboneau said. “Do it as a child would. It’s a set of gifts. Don’t get over-transactionary or over-transactional.”
Parrott emphasized the importance of collective action.
“This has been such an opportunity to show students that there’s a way forward,” she said. “It could be through education, it could be through passion, it could be through motivation that they’re not alone.”
Parrott also reminded students that the work ahead will require commitment and collaboration.
“There’s a lot of work to do,” added Parrott. “It’s going to be hard, but we can do it.”
— Beth Squire
“Forever chemicals” known as PFAS — cancer-causing pollutants already found in Long Island groundwater — have been detected in vegetables purchased from farm stands across the North and South forks, according to a new study by Stony Brook University.
The Citizens Campaign for the Environment (CCE) hosted a webinar last Thursday, March 5, to discuss the impacts of toxic PFAS chemicals in New York, where scholars discussed their findings regarding the detection of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) on locally grown produce on Long Island.
The online panel follows a collaborative study between Stony Brook University, Public Employees for Environmental Responsibility (PEER) and Citizens Campaign for the Environment, according to the CCE website. The discussion featured PEER director of Science Policy Dr. Kyla Bennett, CCE executive director Adrienne Esposito, Stony Brook University professor Dr. Lokesh Padhye and research consultant Dr. Seven Lasee.
In recent years, many communities across New York State discovered their drinking water sources are contaminated with harmful PFAS chemicals. PFAS are referred to as “forever chemicals” because they are very persistent, meaning they build up in our bodies and don’t break down in the environment. New York State has taken some important steps to address PFAS, however, new science indicates that we must do more in order to protect public health from this growing threat!
What is PFAS?
Per-and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are a group of thousands of manufactured chemicals that have been used in industry and consumer products for many decades, due to their non-stick, grease-resistant and waterproof properties. PFAS is used in cookware, packaging, clothing, furniture, adhesives, paint, firefighting foam, artificial turf, and other products. According to the U.S. EPA, there are 3,500 industrial sites across New York State that may be handling or using PFAS chemicals.
PFAS Pollutes our Environment and Drinking Water
Due to widespread use of PFAS chemicals in numerous products and industries, PFAS chemicals have become ubiquitous in the environment, including our soil, air, and drinking water. Testing has revealed PFAS in water sources in hundreds of communities across New York State, from Western New York to Long Island.
PFAS Threatens our Health
Studies show that human exposure to PFAS is widespread and that nearly all people in the United States have some PFAS compounds in their blood. Exposure to PFAS can lead to higher rates of kidney and testicular cancer, higher cholesterol levels, thyroid problems, adverse developmental effects and decreased immune response in children, and other adverse health impacts.
EPA Adopts Strong National Drinking Water Standards, But is Now Moving to Roll them Back
In 2024, after establishing that there is no safe level of exposure to certain PFAS chemicals in drinking water, the U.S. EPA finalized a rule to establish the first nationwide enforceable limits on the amount of six highly toxic PFAS chemicals allowed in drinking water. For PFOA and PFOS, EPA adopted individual drinking water limits (known as Maximum Contaminant Levels or MCLs) of 4 parts per trillion (ppt) per chemical. This is much stronger than New York’s current drinking water standards for PFOA and PFOS, which were set at 10 ppt in 2020.
The EPA also established MCLs of 10 ppt for PFHXS, PFNA and Gen X; and a hazard index of 1 for mixtures containing two or more of PFHxS, PFNA, Gen X and PFBS (designed to address those chemicals’ combined effects as a mixture). While we want to ultimately eliminate PFAS in drinking water, EPA’s standards represent the strongest standards that are currently technically feasible.
In 2025, the EPA, under a new federal administration, indicated that they intend to roll the PFAS drinking water standards back. The EPA announced its intentions to delay implementation of its drinking water standards for PFOA and PFOS back an additional two years and to rescind and reconsider the drinking water standards for the four additional PFAS chemicals.
Peer-reviewed science has made clear that there is no safe level of exposure to PFAS in drinking water, and delays in taking action will put public health at risk to serious health impacts, including cancer. According to recent analysis by the Environmental Working Group, rolling back these standards would put at least 1.3 million New Yorkers, the majority of whom are on Long Island, at risk to higher levels of dangerous PFAS chemicals in their drinking water. CCE continues to advocate that the EPA moves forward with implementation of the drinking water standards it established in 2024.
It’s Time to Turn Off the Tap to PFAS!
As we make important progress to remove PFAS from our drinking water, it does not make sense to continue using more PFAS and allow more contamination to occur. New York must get serious about limiting further PFAS contamination by banning unnecessary uses of PFAS in products. New York has already enacted laws to limit PFAS in firefighting foam, food packaging, carpets, and apparel; however, there are numerous other products that continue to use PFAS unnecessarily. Learn more about our campaign to ban PFAS in a range of household products in New York State.
Check out our Executive Director, Adrienne Esposito’s interview with Capitol Pressroom on PFAS.
Brookhaven is asking state regulators to approve a five-year extension of the town's landfill operating permit as the town moves to complete the oft-delayed shutdown of the lucrative but troubled dump.
Town officials and the state Department of Environmental Conservation, the latter which is weighing the town's request for a new permit that would expire in 2031, say the landfill is expected to close when it runs out of room for deposits of trash, primarily ash from Long Island incinerators operated by New Jersey-based Reworld.
A new study shows toxic forever chemicals known as PFAS may be entering the food chain on Long Island through contaminated soil, water and air.
PFAS have leached into our food from packaging and cookware. Now the risk may also be reaching our crops themselves.
U.S. Rep. Tom Suozzi stood along the waterfront in Glen Cove on Tuesday, Feb. 17, warning that Long Islanders cannot afford to ignore what he described as a sweeping rollback of federal climate protections.
“Climate change is real,” Suozzi repeated several times during the news conference, held just days after President Donald Trump and the Environmental Protection Agency rescinded the 2009 “endangerment finding,” a policy that concluded greenhouse gases endanger public health and welfare.
Nearly 3,000 drinking water fountains, ice machines, classroom sinks and other fixtures in Long Island schools exceeded the state's standard for lead, a Newsday review of school testing reports found — more than twice as many as reported in a state database.
Districts said these noncompliant fixtures, tested over the past three years, were immediately shut off, replaced or marked for hand-washing only, following state law. But the results, according to public health experts, show that thousands of schoolchildren could have been exposed to water with harmful lead levels for years.
