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Highlights
Fighting for our Environment in the NYS State Budget
This year’s New York State budget process is underway. In January, we testified at the Senate and Assembly Joint Hearing on Environmental Conservation and Energy to push for our top budget priorities, including investing $600 million in the Clean Water Infrastructure Act, providing $500 million for the Environmental Protection Fund, increasing state agency staffing, and funding to fight climate change. Watch a recording of our budget testimony here.
Kickstarting Our Campaign to Advance Great Lakes Protection
In January, we celebrated the introduction of federal bipartisan legislation that would accelerate progress to restore our Great Lakes, protect drinking water, and support economic development in the region. The legislation reauthorizes the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative (GLRI), allowing up to $500 million annually in support of actions in New York and throughout the region to clean up toxic pollution, fight invasive species, protect drinking water, and more. We need Congress to pass this vital legislation before the program expires next year. Please contact your representatives in support of the GLRI today!
Pushing to Get Lead Out of Drinking Water
We joined with elected leaders, drinking water suppliers, and others at a press conference in Albany to call for increased funding in the NYS budget for replacing lead drinking water pipes. There is no safe level of exposure to lead, especially in children. New York State has an estimated 494,000 lead service providing drinking water to homes and businesses, from Buffalo to NYC. Federal regulations require that all lead pipes are replaced by 2037. Urge your representatives to support increased clean water funding in the 2025-26 state budget!
Happenings
Calling for Action at Assembly Hearing on Horseshoe Crab Protection
One of biggest legislative priorities in NYS this year is to protect horseshoe crabs. Last month our Executive Director, Adrienne Esposito, provided testimony to the NYS Assembly on the importance of protecting horseshoe crabs. This ancient species is being overharvested by commercial fishermen and the biomedical industry to the point where they face local extinction in New York. Last year, Governor Hochul failed to protect this vulnerable species by vetoing the Horseshoe Crab Protection Act. At the hearing we urged the NYS Assembly to reintroduce and pass the Horseshoe Crab Protection Act, replicate proven, successful protection efforts happening at the local level, and prohibit the taking of horseshoe crabs on state land. Watch a recording of our testimony here.
Updates on Our Work to Advance Offshore Wind:
• Offshore Wind Legislative Breakfast – We joined our partners at the NY League of Conservation Voters Education Fund, Climate Jobs NY, Long Island Federation of Labor, and Nassau and Suffolk Counties last month to host the Long Island Offshore Wind Legislative Breakfast. It was a fantastic event where we spoke with elected leaders, key stakeholders, and offshore wind developers to discuss the future of offshore wind projects in New York and their impact on Long Island. Thanks to Vineyard Wind, Community Offshore Wind and Haugland Group for your presentation and a big thanks to all of the elected officials who attended for a great discussion.
• Follow Wind Works New York - We’re excited to share that Wind Works New York has officially moved to a new public Facebook page! Follow or Like Wind Works New York to get the latest updates on offshore wind news, events, and actions and share with the people you know who care about clean energy.
• A Windy Day on the Water – This past fall, we joined many of our Wind Works NY partners for an incredible trip out to see South Fork Wind, NY’s first offshore wind farm located 35 miles off the coast of Montauk. The project is now supplying clean, renewable energy to 70,000 homes on the south fork of Long Island. In fact, it is generating more power than expected! To find out more about the trip and South Fork Wind, check out our video, A Windy Day on the Water and check out our YouTube Channel for additional Offshore Wind Chats.
• Fighting for Battery Energy Storage - As part of NY’s transition to renewable energy, especially offshore wind, we will need to use battery energy storage systems (BESS). BESS systems store energy from renewable energy sources and deliver it when electricity demand is greatest, helping to create a more reliable grid. In January, we attended an excellent community forum on BESS hosted by Town of Brookhaven. The event featured presentations by NYSERDA and the Energy Safety Response Group followed by Q & A by a panel of experts. If you missed the event, you can watch the video here.
Planting Rain Gardens in Northport, LI
Over the past year, we have been working with the Village of Northport on Long Island to install new rain gardens on Bluff Rd and James Street. These rain gardens prevent polluted stormwater runoff from reaching Northport Harbor and Long Island Sound. They capture, store, and filter contaminants while protecting the shoreline and prevent pollution from entering our local waterways. To learn more, check our new video, Building a Rain Garden in Northport Harbor.
Upcoming: Long Island Water Quality Town Hall
We are joining Operation SPLASH and Assemblywoman Michaelle Solages to co-host a Water Quality Town Hall on March 6. Presenters will discuss critical water quality challenges on Long Island and explore the diverse solutions available to protect and restore our local waterways. This free educational forum will take place at the Valley Stream Village Hall Auditorium at 6pm. Please RSVP here if you’d like to attend.
Upcoming: Long Island Sound Summit
The Long Island Sound Coastal Watershed Network will be hosting its second LIS Summit on March 27 from 11am-2:45pm at Housatonic Community College in CT. The Summit is for everyone who lives, works, and plays in the Long Island Sound region. Clean water advocates, municipal leaders, and local individuals and groups looking for actionable ways to reduce their pollution contributions to LIS might find it especially engaging and helpful. This is a great opportunity to gather in person to learn, network, exchange ideas, and celebrate the work we’ve already accomplished for Long Island Sound. Registration will go live in the coming weeks so stay tuned and mark your calendars.