New York League of Conservation Voters President Julie Tighe issued the following statement in response to Governor Hochul’s State of the State address:

Governor Hochul delivered a historic State of the State for the environment, with a bold agenda to combat climate change and make major investments in clean energy infrastructure. The Governor is advancing critical policies to meet our ambitious goals to reduce greenhouse gas emissions; increase clean energy generation and storage; invest in Clean Green Schools; decarbonize our homes; strive toward zero waste; support clean air and water; and much more.  We are thrilled to see the proposal to increase the Clean Water, Clean Air and Green Jobs Bond Act to $4 billion to create green jobs and invest in our communities.  We are especially excited to hear priorities that we have advocated for years: a commitment to electric school buses, and offshore wind to support clean energy goals.

 

There is more that must be done that we will fight for in the upcoming State budget, such as a clean fuel standard and the direct sales of electric vehicles, two priorities that are crucial to reduce our transportation system’s reliance on polluting fossil fuels across New York, and a $500 million Environmental Protection Fund critical to supporting a broad swath of environmental and climate programs. The upcoming budget, bond act, and federal funding from the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act create vital opportunities for investments in climate and the environment.

 

In totality, this is a bold, ambitious, and much-needed agenda to move us toward a green economy. We look forward to working with the Governor, State Senate, and Assembly to deliver results for all New Yorkers in 2022.

 

Major Highlights from the State of the State Address Include:

 

• An additional $1 billion added to the $3 billion Environmental Bond Act, bringing the total to $4 billion. The new funding will include an enhanced Clean Green Schools initiative to serve more than 1,000 schools in disadvantaged communities hosting 1 million school children.
• 100% electric school buses statewide by 2035, with all new purchases required to be electric starting in 2027.
• $500 million investment in ports, manufacturing, and supply chain infrastructure for offshore wind.
• A new procurement of at least 2 GW of offshore wind coming later this year and a planning process to build an offshore wind transmission network capable of delivering at least 6 GW to NYC.
• Incentives for early retirement of New York City’s dirtiest fossil fuel power plants.
• Requiring all new construction to have zero on-site GHG emissions no later than 2027, and have 2 million electrified or electrification-ready homes by 2030.
• $1 billion for electric vehicle adoption and infrastructure.
• Extender producer responsibility legislation for paper and packaging products, and restricting PFAS chemicals and other toxic substances in packaging.
• Enhanced wetlands protections.
• More funding for state parks.
• Multiple projects to reconnect neighborhoods that were harmed by environmental racism in highway siting, including the Cross Bronx Expressway.
• Extension of the Second Avenue subway and Interborough Express train line to connect Brooklyn and Queens, plus other MTA capital projects that will allow more New Yorkers to get around without cars.

The full State of the State book is available here.