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Highlights
Victory! $1 Million for Suffolk County Coastal Resiliency
Last month we joined Suffolk County Executive Steven Bellone, Suffolk Legislators Bridget Fleming and Al Krupski, our friends at The Nature Conservancy, and others for the launch of the Suffolk County Coastal Resiliency Project Advisory Committee and the announcement of $1 million in additional funding for coastal resiliency. This funding will enable the county to protect over 1,000 miles of shoreline, restore natural barriers to reduce flooding and storm surges, and help mitigate climate impacts to our coastal communities. At the press conference announcing the funding, CCE Executive Director Adrienne Esposito stressed the importance of making Suffolk County more resilient to climate change, stating “We are the most vulnerable. We’re on the frontlines.”
Happenings
Visiting the Shinnecock Bay Kelp Farm
We were honored to be invited to the Hampton Bays to visit a Kelp Farm in Shinnecock Bay this March. The project is a collaboration between the Shinnecock Kelp Farmers and Sisters of St. Joseph that will help restore water quality in the bay. Check out our series of interviews with Darlene Troge and Teela, who are members of the Shinnecock Nation, and Sister Karen Burke from the Sisters of St. Joseph to learn more about this fantastic program!
Leading Great Lakes Days in Washington (Virtually)
Along with our partners at Audubon NY, we lead a series of virtual meetings with members of New York’s congressional delegation to call for increased funding for Great Lakes restoration and clean water infrastructure as Congress develops its FY2023 federal budget. While we successfully fought for a historic $1billion investment in Great Lakes restoration in last year’s federal infrastructure bill, there is more work to do to restore the lakes and we cannot afford to let up on our efforts. While this year’s “Great Lakes Days” were held virtually, we’re looking forward to traveling back to Washington D.C. soon to fight for our federal priorities in person!
Offshore Wind Leases Hit Record Highs in NY Bight
Earlier this year, BOEM designated six offshore wind lease areas in the NY Bight off New York and New Jersey. Now, we have seen a record $4.37 billion sale for these leases after several intense days of auction. These leases are critical to keep up the progress we have made as a state to ensure we achieve 9,000MW of offshore wind by 2035. We think Interior Secretary Deb Haaland summed up this record $4+ billion sale best, stating: "This week's offshore wind sale makes one thing clear: the enthusiasm for the clean energy economy is undeniable and it's here to stay."
Greening the Northport Yacht Club
We are working with the Northport Yacht Club and Village of Northport to install a rain garden on Bluff Rd in Northport on Long Island. The garden will capture 15,000 gallons of storm water and remove harmful pollutants like motor oil, pesticides, and nitrogen fertilizer before the water enters Northport Harbor and Long Island Sound. In March, we joined Assemblyman Keith Brown, Northport Yacht Club, Northport Village, and community members to learn more about this exciting project at a press conference and a community meeting. Thank you to Long Island Sound Study and the Long Island Futures Fund for your support on this project. We can’t wait to see the rain garden this spring!
Protecting Our Pollinators
Declining honeybee populations and contamination of New York’s water resources from toxic neonicotinoid pesticides (AKA neonics) is widespread, threatening our health and environment across the state. Neonic treated corn, soy, and wheat seeds, as well as ornamental uses, pose an unnecessary risk to pollinators and our environment, while providing no net benefit to farmers and gardeners. CCE continues to fight to protect our birds, bees, water, and public health from toxic neonic pesticides by working to ban the most dangerous and unnecessary uses of neonics through passage of the Birds and Bees Protection Act! Help us advance this critical legislation by emailing your elected officials today!
Long Island Lobby Coalition Goes to Albany
After two years away, we headed back to Albany with the Long Island Lobby Coalition. We had great meetings with Senators and Assembly members from Long Island about funding for clean water, the Environmental Bond Act, sewers, transportation, social services, renewables, waste reduction, and more. Our 100+ member coalition fought to make sure this year's budget includes funding for critical programs to protect LI's water, health, and quality of life. Thanks to all who joined us for a very productive trip.
Fighting to hold manufacturers—not taxpayers—responsible for their waste!
New York State is suffering from a solid waste and recycling crisis—recycling costs for municipalities and taxpayers have skyrocketed, recycling rates have declined, and our environment and health are suffering from pollution caused by excessive plastic packaging. Currently, corporate brand owners bear no responsibility in managing the product packaging waste they have created. One of our big NYS priorities this year is Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) for packaging and paper, which will hold producers, not taxpayers, responsible for their waste. We have been fighting for an EPR policy which will reduce packing, eliminate toxins in packaging, encourage more recyclable materials, prevent plastic pollution and save taxpayers money. In March, both Tompkins County and New York City passed resolutions in support of a NYS EPR law and we are in Albany continuing to fight to make sure it gets done this year.
Upcoming: Lunch and Learn on Offshore Wind in NY.
Get the latest on offshore wind in NY! Join us on April 19th from noon-1pm for a virtual Lunch and Learn on NY's Offshore Wind Future. We'll join New York League of Conservation Voters and NYSERDA's Doreen Harris for a presentation on the 5 offshore wind projects that will power over 2 million homes in NYC and LI, followed by a Q&A. Register Now!