NYLCV is applying to NYSERDA's Clean Transportation Prize to continue our work on electrifying school buses. We are working with NYCSBUS, a nonprofit that owns 10% of the buses in NYC, to help deploy and scale electric bus fleets in the City. The goal is to create the first (of hopefully many!) depots in the City to work with ESBs and help lower transportation emissions.

Summary

In particular, this project aims to transform a bus depot in the Bronx into an electric school bus center for the community. It will do this by deploying a fleet of 30 green buses to reduce emissions, installing charging infrastructure that connects to the grid, and training bus drivers, technicians, and students on this technology. 

Benefits

We would like to see this project bring zero-emission school bus rides for children, clean up the air in Bronx communities, and accelerate workforce training in clean technology.

• Children riding NYC’s diesel and gasoline school buses breathe toxic pollutants that are detrimental to their lung development, school performance, and overall health. Diesel emissions from buses expose kids to exhaust 23-46x higher than levels needed for significant cancer risk, and aggravate asthma in children, which leads to more school absences. 
• Zerega Avenue in the Bronx is NYC’s commercial vehicle and bus district with heavy traffic, surrounding highways, and poor air quality. 
• Electric school buses will help eliminate diesel exhaust emissions and produce significantly lower GHG emissions than other buses, which improves the air quality in our communities. 
• Creating an electric school bus hub will also allow for the Bronx to be a leader in this space. Through creating physical training centers, establishing curricula, and engaging in workforce recruitment activities, this project will bring the benefits of clean job investments to the community members of the Bronx.

Sign a letter of support showing that NYC residents want electric school buses and clean rides for kids!

For further information about electric school buses check out our NYC Clean School Bus Coalition, our Interactive NYC Bus Depot Map and our Clean Bus Guide!

On Wednesday, March 2nd, NYLCV held a ride and drive event for New York State Legislators with some electric school bus manufacturers. Electric school buses from Blue Bird, Lion Electric Company, and a retrofitted diesel to electric school bus done by Unique Electric Solutions and operated by Logan Bus Company, all made the trip to Albany to showcase the electric school bus market. 

The day was kicked off by a press conference with speakers Julie Tighe, President of NYLCV; Justin Balik, Senior Manager of State Policy for Transportation Electrification for the World Resources Institute; Basil Seggos, Commissioner of the NY Department of Environmental Conservation; Jeanette Moy, Commissioner of the Office of General Services; David Sandbank, Vice President of Distributed Energy Resources for NYSERDA; Trevor Summerfield, Director of Advocacy for the American Lung Association; Orville Thomas, Director of Government Relations for Lion Electric; Joe Ambrosio, President of Unique Electric Solutions; and Jeremy Johnston, Sales Manager for Blue Bird. 

Speakers vocalized their support for electric school buses and emphasized the importance of electrifying New York’s school bus fleet to improve public health, decrease our reliance on fossil fuels, and clean our transportation systems. 

After the press conference, New York State legislators stopped by throughout the day to take a ride, and to learn more about the school buses as they make their decisions on including funding for electric school buses in the 2022 State Budget. 

NYLCV and our partner groups are advocating for secured funding in the 2022 State Budget to support Governor Hochul’s mandate of the full electrification of New York’s school bus fleet by 2035. We’re also advocating for an equitable transition to all-electric school buses by prioritizing electrification in environmental justice and disadvantaged communities. Support our effort and send a message to your state legislators here! 

Throughout the day the bus manufacturers showcased the buses’ engines, speed capabilities, and smoothness. Overall it was a great day absent of loud school bus idling and diesel exhaust! Thank you to all those who attended and continue to support our efforts! 

Last year the NYC Clean School Bus Coalition stayed busy on the advocacy front, accomplishing their biggest goal when Intro-455A passed in the fall. Now, with a citywide mandate for all school buses to be electric by 2035, the coalition is shifting it’s work to focus on the next five years. 

The agenda highlights goals to support a swift transition to electric school buses, to facilitate equitable implementation, and to expand the coalition’s reach beyond New York City. The coalition will look at utility funding for EV charging stations and electric school buses, as well as researching different tools that can better facilitate deployment via financing, leasing models, and vehicle to grid technology. This will all be done with important stakeholders such as parents, bus companies and contractors.

The coalition will continue to center equitable implementation as essential to the transition. A big priority will be for electric school buses and their charging  infrastructure to be first implemented in areas that serve communities historically overburdened by poor air quality and environmental racism. 

The biggest shift in coalition work will be a broader focus on New York State as a whole. During her State of the State address earlier this year, Governor Hochul committed to a 100% zero emission school bus fleet by 2035, starting with all new school bus purchases being zero emission by 2027. The coalition will now be working to support the codification of this commitment into law, ensuring that equity and labor considerations remain at the forefront. 

Over the next five years we can expect to see major changes in the amount of electric school buses on the road in New York City. The coalition will stay active in this transition, while keeping its focus on labor and environmental justice, in order to support a smooth transition. This will go hand in hand with continued public engagement and education, to uplift electric school buses as a way to improve community health outcomes, climate justice, and support a just economy. 

Check out the new 2022-2027 coalition agenda here. 

NYC Clean School Bus Coalition

We formed a new coalition in October 2020 to fight for zero-emission school buses in New York City, and to ensure that Mayor de Blasio's commitment to electrification is upheld. Read the announcement here and visit the coalition website here.

https://youtu.be/NF0gb-9IgKI

BIG NEWS: All School Buses In NYC Will Be Electric By 2035

On Thursday, October 7, 2021, Intro 455-A passed through the NYC Council with 44 votes for and 1 vote against. Intro 455-A requires that all NYC school buses be electric by 2035. It also includes a stipulation that requires the Department of Education (DOE) to report on a variety of implementation targets, some regarding equitable distribution of buses, in accordance with three deadlines:  July 1, 2023, 2028, and 2033.

Check Out Our Clean Bus Guide

We are excited to release our Clean Bus Guide, a toolkit we put together to help communities around the state promote the transition to electric school buses. Organize your own electric school bus campaign using our Clean Bus Guide. It provides talking points about the harmful public health and environmental impacts of diesel pollution, information on key stakeholders to involve in your campaign, information on funding for electric school buses, campaign organizing tips and strategies, and more. Let’s continue the fight for clean school buses together! Get the guide for FREE here.

Check Out Our Webinar with the Drive Electric Long Island Coalition

On September 30th, as part of Drive Electric Week, we held a webinar with the Drive Electric Long Island Coalition and Mothers Out Front Long Island to walk through our Clean Bus Guide. Click here to access the webinar recording and learn how you can launch a successful campaign to bring emission free electric school buses to your local school district! Passcode for the recording is H7KX0Hi=

We are committed to educating, engaging, and empowering New Yorkers to be effective advocates for the environment. One of our top priorities is reducing greenhouse gas emissions from the transportation sector, New York’s largest source of emissions. Given that there are nearly 11.5 million vehicles registered in NYS, getting individual New Yorkers to make the switch to electric vehicles (EVs) will be key to cutting emissions from the transportation sector. Our Plug it in, NY! campaign seeks to empower New Yorkers to make an educated choice as to whether adopting an EV would be right for them, through our educational materials and testimonials from EV drivers.

Get the Facts on EVs

EV Make Ready Program

In January 2020, the Governor announced the EV Make Ready Program. The program will support the installation of charging infrastructure by providing funding for up to 90% of the costs to make a site “ready” for EV charging. The infrastructure is expected to provide more than $2.6 billion in consumer net benefits. The program will help the state reach its goal of having 850,000 EVs on the road by the end of 2025.

Charging Infrastructure 

There are currently 1,994 public charging stations in New York State, with many more on the way. New York State has made heavy investments in charging infrastructure, and several local utilities within the state are supporting the transition to electric vehicles with charging station installations. 

NYSERDA Charging Station Locator

Electrify America Charging Station Locator

Click here to propose a charging station in New York.

Testimonials 

Read testimonials from EV drivers across New York.

We are excited to release our new report “5 is the New 15” about how strengthening the 2016 Safe School Drinking Water Act could protect more students and staff from lead exposure in school drinking water. At our press conference to release the report, we urged the State to reduce the action level for lead in public school drinking water from 15 parts per billion (ppb) to 5 ppb which would make New York’s the biggest state with the most protective health standard in the nation. It would also bring us closer to the American Academy of Pediatrics recommendation of less than 1 ppb. 

We were joined by New York State Senator Gustavo Rivera, Assemblymember Richard Gottfried, and representatives from the American Academy of Pediatrics, Healthy Schools Network, Natural Resources Defense Council, and WE ACT for Environmental Justice. Senator Rivera and Assemblymember Gottfried recently submitted legislation to strengthen the law (S. 2122 / A. 160).  

In addition to lowering the lead action level, the report recommends increasing testing frequency for lead in public school drinking water, guaranteeing no-cost tap water, removing the possibility of exemption from testing, ensuring laboratory reports are disclosed publicly, and enforcing training for sample collectors. 

An analysis of lab reports from 90% of all NYS public school districts that were tested in  2016  found that an additional 63,428 drinking water outlets, or 17.2%, currently in use would need remediation under a more protective standard of 5 ppb compared to the current action level of 15 ppb. View maps of top school districts of concern by state and by region.

Children spend much of their time in school and the levels of lead in school drinking fixtures present an alarming problem, as many schools have older plumbing fixtures that contain large amounts of lead. Lead poisoning can affect almost every organ and system in the human body, causing irreversible damage, and babies and young children are particularly at risk. 

All young children deserve a safe learning environment. It’s time to reevaluate our current law to protect kids and improve schools for the future. We are committed to working with Governor Cuomo, Senator Rivera, Assemblymember Gottfried, our partners and all our elected officials to make significant improvements to our school drinking water.

In partnership with the Sabin Center for Climate Change Law at Columbia University, we are hosting a series of forums on implementing the Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act (CLCPA). This landmark law compels the state to reduce statewide greenhouse gas emissions by 85% by 2050 and with a goal of net zero emissions in all sectors of the economy. 

The roundtable series focuses on specific solutions for achieving the goals of the CLCPA and covers the following sectors: offshore wind, buildings, transportation, natural resources, manufacturing, and waste. The goals of these forums are to facilitate meaningful discussion between experts on emission reduction solutions, while educating the public about New York’s landmark climate law.

Past Forums

Manufacturing

This forum focused on the opportunities and challenges of decarbonizing the manufacturing sector in New York State. This forum took place on May 25th, from 10:30am - 12pm. 

Please see the list of panel speakers below.

• Heather Briccetti, The Business Council of NYS
• Luke Clemente, Bonded Concrete
• Matt Roberts, Sherrill Manufacturing
• Randy Wolken, Manufacturers Alliance of NYS & Manufacturers Association of Central NY 
• John Williams, NYSERDA

Moderated by Dr. Julio Friedmann, Center on Global Energy Policy at Columbia University SIPA 

To view a recording of the forum, please click here. To read the forum recap, please click here. 

Natural Resources

This forum looked at how preserving New York State’s forests and lands help mitigate climate change, as well as how New York State farm management practices can help meet CLCPA emissions reductions targets through carbon farming and the use of anaerobic digestion. This forum took place on January 14th, from 10am - 12pm. 

Please see the list of panel speakers below. Panel 1 discussed how protecting nature helps with climate change mitigation and adaptation. Panel 2 discussed how NY farms can help fight climate change through various techniques including carbon sequestration and the use of anaerobic digesters for organic waste.

Panel 1

John Bartow, Empire State Forest Products Association
Sam Bishop, Trees NY
Jessica Ottney, The Nature Conservancy
Moderated by Professor Shahid Naeem, Columbia University’s Earth Institute

Panel 2

Samantha Levy, American Farmland Trust
John Macauley, Macauley Farms LLC
Chris Noble, NobleHurst Farms
Matt Tomich, Energy Vision
Jenifer Wightman, Cornell College of Agriculture & Life Sciences
Moderated by Elizabeth Wolters, NY Farm Bureau

To view a recording of the forum, please click here. To view the presentation slides, click here. To read the forum recap, please click here.

Following the forum on Natural Resources, we will hold forums to cover the manufacturing, and waste. More information to come. 

Transportation Emissions

November 20th, 2020

This forum discussed reducing emissions from New York’s transportation sector, the largest source of greenhouse gas emissions in the state. The panelists focused on how two policies in particular -- the Transportation and Climate Initiative (TCI) and a Low Carbon Fuel Standard (LCFS) --  could help New York’s transportation industry meet CLCPA emission reduction mandates. Additionally, the forum discussed the importance of ensuring that these policies benefit the communities that are most disproportionately affected by climate change, often minority and/or low-income populations. 

Panelists:

• James Bradbury, Georgetown Climate Center
• Bruce Ho, Natural Resources Defense Council
• Ben Mandel, CALSTART
• Porie Saikia-Eapen, Metropolitan Transportation Authority
• Kerene Tayloe, WE ACT for Environmental Justice
• Floyd Vergara, National Biodiesel Board
  Panel moderated by Nick Sifuentes, Tri-State Transportation Campaign

To read a written recap of the forum, please click here.

To view the recording of the forum, please click here.  

Building Efficiency: NYC & Statewide

October 15th, 2020

This forum discussed reducing emissions from the buildings sector. It began with a discussion about NYC buildings in particular, before expanding to a statewide analysis. Among the topics discussed were the effect of the pandemic on building emissions, community solar, clean heating & cooling systems, and incentives.

Panelists:

• Zineb Bouzoubaa, NYC Mayor's Office of Sustainability
• Sarah Burger, PUSH Buffalo
• Sophie Cardona, NYSERDA
• Marvin Church, Comrie Enterprises
• John Ciovacco, President, Aztech Geothermal
• Dan Egan, Vornado
• Donovan Gordon, NYSERDA
• Stephanie Margolis, NYC Climate Action Alliance
• Bill Nowak, NY-GEO
• Amy Turner, Sabin Center
• Jason Vollen, AECOM

To read a recap of the forum, please click here.

To view the recording of the forum, please click here. 

Energy Transmission: Offshore Wind

August 6th, 2020

We kicked off our CLCPA series in August, 2020 with a forum on offshore wind’s role in meeting the emissions reductions goals mandated by the CLCPA. The CLCPA mandates 9000 megawatts of offshore wind energy to be generated in NY State by 2035. The forum focused on the transmission of offshore wind power to shore.

The forum began with a presentation by the Brattle Group (commissioned by Anbaric) on their study that analyzed the costs, environmental impacts, and risks of various approaches to transmitting offshore wind power to shore. Following the Brattle Group presentation, the panel of experts (below) continued the discussion, addressing the points of opposition, the cost, and the infrastructure necessary to get offshore wind power to shore. 

Panelists:

• Kevin Knobloch, President of New York OceanGrid, Anbaric
• Tammy Mitchell, Chief of Bulk Electric Systems, NYS Dept. of Public Service
• Kirsty Townsend, Director, Head of Special Projects & Decision Support, Ørsted
• Girish Behal, Vice President Project & Business Development, New York Power Authority

Panel Moderated by Joe Martens, Director, NYOWA

To read a written recap of the forum, please click here. 

To view the recording of the forum, please click here.  

Forum on New York’s Climate Law

October 2019

Together with the Earth Institute, Columbia Law School, and Assemblyman Daniel O’Donnell, we hosted a policy forum to discuss the implementation of the Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act (CLCPA). NYLCV President Julie Tighe issued opening remarks, in which she described the CLCPA as an enormous opportunity to not just reduce carbon emissions, but also to address the inequity of our polluting past. The first panel, moderated by professor Michael B. Gerrard, founder of Columbia University’s Sabin Center, featured a discussion about the current sources of greenhouse gas emissions across major sectors. The second panel, moderated by Professor Malo Hutson of Columbia University’s Graduate School, focused on “greening New York’s economy.” The panelists discussed how the CLCPA would affect their communities, from engagement around environmental issues to collaboration between the public and private sectors.

To read a written recap of the forum, please click here. 

About the Delaware River

The Delaware River and its watershed are home to some of the most important ecological features on the East Coast. The 330-mile river spans five states, is home to more than 45 fish species and supports bird and mammal species, including the bobcat, coyote, and our national bird, the bald eagle. Spanning 200 miles along the border of NJ and PA is the Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area, home to valuable hemlock tree ravines as well as nearly 200 lakes and ponds. Additionally, the river provides drinking water for 13.3 million people.

The Delaware River was named 2020 “River of the Year" by American Rivers, a nationwide organization committed to protecting wild rivers, restoring damaged ones, and conserving clean water for people and nature. American Rivers’ celebration of the Delaware River is an exciting step in our quest to raise awareness about the river and advocate for its protection. A little over fifty years ago, the river was heavily polluted and filled with sewage, uninhabitable for marine life and negatively impacted local communities. Fast forward to today, the Delaware River is much healthier due to monetary support and recognition at the federal level, and because of the broad coordination of restoration efforts by various state agencies, academic institutions, and advocacy groups. Click here to learn more about this significant honor.

New York’s Upper Delaware River Watershed 

The entire Delaware River watershed encompasses a 12,800 square mile area and covers parts of New York, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and Delaware. Broad support and coordination are necessary across state lines to ensure the health of the river. The Coalition for the Delaware River Watershed (CDRW) unites organizations throughout the region to advocate for protecting and restoring the Delaware River Basin.

New York’s Upper Delaware River Watershed is located in the Catskills and Southern Tier regions of the state. The river and its watershed provide tremendous economic, recreational, and ecological value to the state, including drinking water for New York City residents. Recreational activities attract over 5.5 million visitors to the region every year, and for good reason. The Delaware River features 73 miles of scenic and recreational parks in New York, as well as one of the finest coldwater wild trout fisheries in the country. The value of natural goods and services provided by the Delaware River’s ecosystems in New York State is $3.5 billion, illustrating how crucial the area is to the State’s economy. 

Unfortunately, the region south of the NYC drinking water reservoirs is underfunded, receiving less than 5% of available watershed funding from the NYS Environmental Protection Fund. Conservation efforts are especially important in the area, where 81 of the state’s 537 “Species of Greatest Conservation Need” call home. NYLCVEF works with the CDRW, Delaware River Watershed Initiative, and local NY-based organizations to advocate for and raise awareness about the importance of protecting the Upper Delaware River Watershed of New York State.  For more information on the economic, recreational, and ecological benefits of the Upper Delaware River Watershed in New York, see our fact sheet below.

Infrastructure in the Upper Delaware River Watershed

Green vs Gray Infrastructure

Green infrastructure attempts to bring the environmental benefits of an undisturbed landscape to developed land. Green infrastructure prioritizes water absorption and filtration with permeable surfaces, rain gardens, bioswales, and green roofs (among others). 

Incorporating green infrastructure techniques within the Upper Delaware River watershed is an effective way to protect and improve water quality. Conventional infrastructure, or “gray infrastructure,” is a typical component of developed land and is designed to prevent flooding. Gray infrastructure consists of impermeable surfaces, pipes, and drains that carry stormwater towards natural bodies of water. Run-off over impenetrable surfaces and through pipes and drains prevents the natural filtration that occurs when water moves through the ground. This filtration process promotes water quality and prevents pollutants from easily draining into tributaries and other surface water bodies. 

For more information, read our whitepaper on using green infrastructure in the Delaware River Watershed: “Spread it Out, Slow it Down, and Soak it In: Using Green Infrastructure in the Delaware River Watershed”

Green Infrastructure at Home

All residents living in the Upper Delaware River watershed in NY can incorporate some aspect of green infrastructure techniques around their home. As part of our Keep it Green campaign, we encouraged residents in the UDR region to install green infrastructure such as rain barrels, rain gardens, and bioswales around their homes to decrease run-off and promote water filtration. Green infrastructure that increases vegetation can also improve air quality and beautify communities. 

For more suggestions on installing green infrastructure around your home, click here. 

Civic Engagement in the Watershed

Since joining the Delaware River Watershed Initiative, we worked to raise awareness about conservation issues in the region and increase civic engagement in the watershed.

Meet & Greet with State Senator Metzger

In 2019, NYLCVEF and our Delaware River Watershed partners held a Meet & Greet with State Senator Jen Metzger in Roscoe, NY. The event  focused on conservation work being done in the Upper Delaware River Watershed as well as water and land conservation issues in general. The event’s location at the Roscoe Beer Company underscores how important clean water is to the local economy, which relies on it for its tourism and craft beverage industries.

Candidate Forum for Congressional District 19

In 2018, NYLCVEF and our Delaware River Watershed partners held a candidate forum for Congressional District 19. Candidates John Faso and  Antonio Delgado fielded questions about their support for environmental issues with a focus on the Delaware River Watershed.

Delaware River Watershed Initiative

In 2016, the federal government passed the Delaware River Basin Conservation Act, an important piece of legislation which sought to fund restoration efforts throughout the watershed, and marked the beginning of the Delaware River Basin Restoration Program. Since 2017, NYLCVEF has participated in the Delaware River Watershed Initiative. The initiative was founded by the William Penn Foundation to protect the vital water source from threats including runoff from storms and agricultural fields, deforestation, and the depletion of groundwater. We have worked with the Coalition for the Delaware River Watershed to protect this program and increase support for other local, state, and federal restoration programs vital to the watershed’s upkeep.

Read about our work to combat invasive knotweed in the region.

To celebrate the 50th anniversary of Earth Day, the New York League of Conservation Voters Education Fund (NYLCVEF) launched its New York City Climate Action Tracker. This digital tool will follow the city’s progress on its climate goals from Mayor de Blasio’s OneNYC plan. 

OneNYC was released in 2015 to make NYC the most resilient, sustainable, and equitable city in the world by reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions 80% from 2005 levels by 2050, building on the previous administration’s PlaNYC. Known as 80x50, the Mayor’s plan and its subsequent Roadmap to 80x50, outlines some of the most ambitious plans for reducing GHG emissions in the country, including drastically cutting emissions from buildings, the city’s number one source. The plan also includes initiatives for electrifying municipal fleets and expanding electric vehicle charging capability, significantly reducing the city’s waste sent to landfills, improving air quality, and more. In 2019, Mayor de Blasio released OneNYC 2050, a renewed strategic plan that commits the city to carbon neutrality, among other goals. 

NYLCVEF’s New York City Climate Action Tracker reveals that the city has made some progress, however greenhouse gas emissions have decreased just 17% since 2005, and only 3% since Mayor de Blasio took office in 2014.

Other initial highlights include:

• The city is on track to meet its goal of 85% of New Yorkers living within walking distance to a park. As of 2019, 81.5% of New Yorkers can walk to a park. 
• The city’s bike network is expanding. As of 2019, the city had more than 1,200 miles of bike lanes.
• There is a long way to go to Zero Waste. There was only a 9.8% reduction in waste collected between 2005 and 2019 before Mayor de Blasio stopped the food waste collection program.

Many of the indicators and initiatives established in the original OneNYC plan have moved to new categories in the new plan or have disappeared completely. This lack of significant progress on reducing citywide GHG emissions and lack of continuity on specific initiatives has made it difficult to follow the city’s progress. 

That’s why NYLCVEF developed the NYC Climate Action Tracker, to hold our elected leaders accountable to their promises and to make sure these initiatives remain a priority. NYLCVEF decided to track initiatives and indicators from the original OneNYC plan, since the 80x50 goal was codified into law by the City Council in 2015, and the new plan, OneNYC 2050, leaves out or alters many of the original initiatives that NYLCV supports. We used the following criteria for choosing indicators to track:

• Must be specific and measurable. The indicator must be included in public progress reports so that data is available.
• Must choose indicators from multiple sectors that will have a collective impact on citywide GHG emissions reductions.
• Must be set to be completed under or well underway during the current administration current mayoral administration.

Of the thirteen indicators used in the Climate Action Tracker, only seven are complete even though there is only a year-and-a-half left in the current administration.   

Other indicators include: 

• Expand the organics collection program, 
• Secure 100 MW of renewable energy for city buildings, and
• Reduce the disparity of particulate matter across city neighborhoods 20%.

While we know that the city is currently addressing the devastating impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, the climate crisis still lingers. It’s up to groups like NYLCVEF to stay focused on our long-term climate goals, and make sure these goals remain a priority after the pandemic is behind us. 

This project was made possible with support from the Rockefeller Brothers Fund. 

With Zero Major Wind and Solar Projects Breaking Ground Since 2011, Report Outlines Series of Recommendations to Improve Community Engagement and Expedite Siting

Today, we released Breaking Down the Barriers to Renewable Energy Siting: Recommendations Report identifying recommendations to reform Article 10 and site large-scale renewable energy projects in New York State. The report, released at the Alliance for Clean Energy New York’s Clean Energy Fall Reception, builds on our background paper about the barriers to siting renewable energy released earlier this year.

The report comes on the heels of the passage of the landmark Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act, which mandates net-zero gas emissions across the economy by 2050. The only way to meet this ambitious standard is to expand and expedite the siting of renewable projects. With more than 40 projects initiating the Article 10 process and zero projects breaking ground under the law since its inception in 2011, the new report outlines a series of recommendations to streamline the siting of onshore wind and solar projects and help the state achieve its ambitious goals.  

The report includes a series of regulatory, budgetary and legislative recommendations to increase community engagement and participation, incentivize creative and flexible local funding arrangements, and expedite the permitting process. The recommendations build on the work of environmental and energy advocates in finding solutions that benefit all parties in the state’s transition to renewable energy.

Specific recommendations include:

• Calling on DPS to audit Article 10 regulations and make updates that streamline and improve the process.
• Excluding funds a municipality may receive from a renewable energy project from the state’s 2% property tax cap, so that communities have more freedom to negotiate successful and creative benefit agreements.
• Ensuring local appointments are made to Siting Board by enabling the local executive or supervisor to make them if the Governor and the Legislature fail to act.
• Establishing a fund or bank to mitigate or otherwise offset any impact a project might have on a threatened or endangered species or sensitive habitat.
• Dedicating $1 million in funding for staff at the state’s nine regional planning boards to assist municipalities with planning.
• Adding more staffing at the state Department of Public Service (DPS), the Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC), and the Department of Agriculture and Markets (DAM) to account for the increase in Article 10 applications, including adding a staff member dedicated to ensuring the agencies are communicating and coordinating efficiently.
• Amending the regulations for wetland delineation range from 500 feet to 100 feet to align with regulations for other state wetland development projects.
• Offering more incentives to local communities to host renewable energy projects. 

This report follows four stakeholder roundtables we convened this year in Albany, Buffalo, Long Island and Syracuse. These meetings brought together thought leaders, state decision-makers, local government representatives, renewable energy developers, environmental organizations, regional planning groups, and others with the goals of identifying ways to streamline the siting process and improving engagement with local communities. 

The also report stresses the importance of proactive and early engagement in the siting process to build relationships with local leaders, address community concerns, and get ahead of any misinformation that may develop.

Next, we will work with the State and partners to develop strategies for how to move forward with these recommendations.

Children’s products sold in the United States are presumed to be safe by parents but recent studies have proven otherwise. Since 2014, NYLCVEF has worked with its partners to raise awareness about the issue throughout the state and encourage action by state and local governments.

In 2014 and 2015, we conducted tests in stores throughout the state and released six reports showing that dangerous chemicals were present in children's jewelry, toy cars, clothing, and more. To produce these reports, NYLCVEF partnered with Clean and Healthy New York to analyze popular toys in area stores for toxic chemicals and heavy metals. Results of this test found products containing antimony, arsenic, cadmium, cobalt, lead, and mercury.

Toxic Toys in Albany County
Toxic Toys in Erie County
Toxic Toys on Long Island
Toxic Toys in Monroe County
Toxic Toys in Onondaga County
Toxic Toys in Westchester County

Many of the chemicals we found are known carcinogens and can lead to serious developmental disorders in children. Even with a federal law on the books, it's hard for anyone to know exactly what chemicals are present in the item they're buying. Thanks to the support of various foundations, we reached more people than ever about this issue by reaching out to new members from across the state. We even got Santa Claus into the action around the holidays to help educate even more people about these dangerous chemicals.

After the release of our reports and our grassroots advocacy, state and local lawmakers sprung into action:

• New York State introduced the Child Safe Products Act  identified and eliminated the most dangerous chemicals currently present in children's products sold throughout New York State.
• Albany becomes the first county in New York State to enact legislation protecting children from toxic toys in January.
• Westchester County executive signs bill to ban toxic toys from store shelves in May.
• Suffolk County becomes third to take action on toxic toys in June.
• Also in June of 2015, New York City introduced a bill that would ban hazardous chemicals from children's toys and clothes
• Rockland County unanimously passed legislation in July 2015.

In 2017, our statewide efforts continued with the introduction of the Toxic Show and Tell Act, a bill that would require children's product makers to disclose the presence of a set of chemicals of concern to children's health in the products they make.

In 2018, NYLCVEF and its partner Clean and Healthy New York teamed up again to produce a new report, "Tell Me More: Missing Information on Harmful Chemicals in Children's Products" that screened children’s products purchased on Long Island, in Westchester County and Albany finding heavy metals, such as cadmium and antimony, and flame retardants. The report also includes findings of chemicals of concern in children's products that was conducted and published in peer-reviewed journals by researchers from the New York State Department of Health’s Wadsworth Laboratory.

While we continue to work on a statewide solution, our local work will continue in New York City and other counties to protect children from toxic toys.

Interested in learning more about our Toxic Toys campaign?

• Report: Arsenic, Mercury, Lead Found in Toys Sold at Low to High-Endtores
• Environmental group identifies Dirty Dozen of toys
• Coalition works to push for state laws restricting chemicals in toys
• Supporters see progress on child-products regulation
• Report: Toxic toys being sold in Erie County
• Clean & Healthy NY, League of Conservation Voters, Poloncarz release 'Toxic Toys in Erie County' report
• Groups urge passage of toxic-toy law
• Round Two for the Child Safe Products Act
• Report Finds Toxic Chemicals in Albany Toys
• New Westchester Report Finds Toxic Toys Throughout County
• New Report Shows Toxic Toys in Long Island Stores
  

Many thanks to League of Conservation Voters Education Fund, Passport Capital, Myron Blumenfeld/ the Macy’s Foundation, and the Seventh Generation Foundation for their generous support.

Here in New York, we are fighting climate change by holding both the state and localities accountable for implementing the necessary actions required to meet their ambitious goals. The most significant are the stated goals of New York State and many county and municipal governments to reduce emissions 80% by 2050.

We are continuing our efforts to advance policies, administration, and funding to fight climate change. We are working to ensure that the Clean Energy Standard meets its goal of generating 50% of the state's energy needs from renewable source by 2030. We are also working at state and local levels to secure funding, gain support from officials, and change local laws and policies to provide for the installation of more charging stations for electric cars. Another main push is our proposal of changes to be made to local laws and rules that will modernize codes and procedures for the allowance of residential solar installation.

The NYLCV Education Fund has taken a particularly close look at these issues in New York City through its four-part "Getting NYC to 80x50" forum series held in June and July of 2017. NYLCVEF is working to tie together the issues and ideas raised in the forums into a package of recommendations to be released this fall. 

Learn more about our programs focused on Climate Change:

Implementing the CLCPA

Getting NYC to 80x50 Policy Forum Series

At the same time, approximately one-third of global greenhouse gas emissions come from agriculture. Despite the significant resources farmers put into growing food, a whopping 40% of it will end up as waste by the end of the food cycle. We are working to help promote sustainable practices for New York’s farmers while also diverting food waste from landfills. On the other hand, adaptation to a changing climate has become an immediate challenge, from the decline of pollinators such as bees to an increase in extreme weather events that devastate crops.  

Finally, despite a bounty of fresh and local farm goods, many low-income communities lack access to affordable, fresh and local foods. This has exacerbated a public health crisis in neighborhoods where, lacking options, families turn to highly processed and fast foods that can lead to obesity, cancer, diabetes and a host of other chronic diseases. Similarly, many industrialized food processes -- from the use of pesticides to antibiotics to unregulated additives -- pose a significant risk to our public health. Though NYLCV has successfully fought for funding for the Health Bucks Program, a tax credit to farmers who donate edible food, and a major expansion of a regional food hub in the South Bronx, there is still much more that needs to be done.