CCE in the News

New York's wind farms on Long Island face uncertainty after President Trump halts lease sales, permits

New York's wind farms on Long Island face uncertainty after President Trump halts lease sales, permits

Smith Point's Park Beach is where offshore wind energy will soon come ashore. Crews there are laying cables for New York's second wind farm with 84 turbines 30 miles off Montauk. 

"We have this untapped renewable resource, the wind... this is going to power millions of homes... with almost zero fossil fuel use," Melissa Parrot, executive director of Renewable Energy Long Island said. "The planet is at sake. We see the glaciers melting... you see the storms, you see the floods... and the number one way to curb climate change is top stop our CO2 output, which is fossil fuel use." 

Defending the environment, for all of us

Defending the environment, for all of us

Adrienne Esposito is executive director and a cofounder of Citizens Campaign for the Environment, a nonprofit organization fighting for stronger environmental policies.

Herald: Tell me about yourself.

Esposito: I grew up in Copiague, and I literally grew up with one foot in the water and one foot on the land. As a kid, we went crabbing and fishing and to the beach, and my mom would bring us blueberry-picking in the Pine Barrens. And my dad was a really tremendous fisherman and outdoorsmen, so we grew up on the water. So I think that that really connects you to the natural world and impresses upon you the beauty of it and the need to protect it.

WHALE SIGHTINGS ARE UP

WHALE SIGHTINGS ARE UP

While researchers along the East Coast have been documenting an “unusual whale mortality event” since 2016, there is a lot of good news to be told.  Whale biologists have seen an unprecedented number of whales feeding in the waters off of Montauk in recent years.

PFAS detected in multiple New York counties' public water supply, environmentalists say

PFAS detected in multiple New York counties' public water supply, environmentalists say

More than 1 million New Yorkers depend on public water systems for drinking water, and some are being exposed to manmade "forever chemicals" called PFAS, environmentalists say.

EPA could weaken PFAS rules putting drinking water at risk for millions

EPA could weaken PFAS rules putting drinking water at risk for millions

What It Means For Drinking Water

More than 1.3 million New Yorkers could lose critical protections from toxic “forever chemicals” in their drinking water if the Environmental Protection Agency weakens new federal PFAS standards, according to a report released Wednesday.

More than 1.3M New Yorkers at risk if EPA weakens PFAS standards

More than 1.3M New Yorkers at risk if EPA weakens PFAS standards

Administrator Lee Zeldin will decide fate of landmark ‘forever chemicals’ standards

ALBANY, N.Y. – More than 1.3 million New Yorkers could lose critical protections from the toxic “forever chemicals” known as PFAS in their tap water if the Environmental Protection Agency rolls back its historic, science-based PFAS drinking water standards.

Composting program now in force in NYC. Residents must fill special bins with food scraps, leaves, grass.

Composting program now in force in NYC. Residents must fill special bins with food scraps, leaves, grass.

Compost or else.

Failing to separate residential compost waste — including leaves, grass and food scraps — began Tuesday, subjecting  the violator to a fine in New York City.

As Main Street in Kings Park gets ripped up for sewers, business owners have hope for the future

As Main Street in Kings Park gets ripped up for sewers, business owners have hope for the future

Repairs to Main Street in Kings Park are underway to advance a $101 million project to connect the downtown business district to sewers, a critical step in revitalizing the hamlet, municipal officials said.

From pro-climate Republican to ‘one of the Trump disruptors’

From pro-climate Republican to ‘one of the Trump disruptors’

EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin’s attacks on his agency’s spending and regulations have made him a rising star in the Trump Cabinet, but left some former colleagues mystified.

President Donald Trump’s wild-card pick to lead the Environmental Protection Agency has emerged as one of the most devoted public champions for his efforts to demolish the Biden agenda — and MAGA world is taking notice.

Another Voice: A clean environment strengthens the economy

Another Voice: A clean environment strengthens the economy

The notion that we must choose between a clean environment and a strong economy is an antiquated myth that was debunked decades ago. Decades of experience and peer-reviewed studies demonstrate that what’s good for our environment also drives economic development, saves families money and saves lives.

How Lee Zeldin Went From Environmental Moderate to Dismantling the E.P.A.

How Lee Zeldin Went From Environmental Moderate to Dismantling the E.P.A.

He once talked about the need to fight climate change. Now, he embraces Elon Musk, lavishes praise on the president and strives to stand out in a MAGA world.

When President Trump’s cabinet secretaries clashed with Elon Musk this month over the billionaire’s chain saw approach to shrinking government, Lee Zeldin, the administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency, made it clear where he stood.

Environmental, Civic and Faith-Based Groups, Legislators Call for Packaging Reduction

Environmental, Civic and Faith-Based Groups, Legislators Call for Packaging Reduction

Solid waste is impacting our environment and health while costing taxpayers billions each year

Albany, NY – More than 15 different environmental, civic and faith-based groups, plus several state legislators joined New York State Senator Pete Harckham and Assemblymember Deborah Glick at the State Capitol today to call for support of the Packaging Reduction and Recycling Infrastructure Act (PRRIA). 

Senator Harckham and Assemblymember Glick's Packaging Reduction Bill Advances in Both Houses

Senator Harckham and Assemblymember Glick's Packaging Reduction Bill Advances in Both Houses

Boosts recycling, supports municipalities and reduces waste, plastic, and toxins

Albany, NY – New York State Senator Pete Harckham announced today that the Packaging Reduction and Recycling Infrastructure Act (PRRIA) has successfully advanced through the Senate’s Environmental Conservation Committee, which he chairs. 

What happened to the Lee Zeldin we knew?

What happened to the Lee Zeldin we knew?

It is said that time changes people, and so does power. Perhaps that explains the metamorphosis of Lee Zeldin as EPA administrator. Based on his work and dedication to protecting Long Island as a congressman, I hoped he would be a voice of reason and moderation to help fight climate change and protect our air, water and land resources. Recent announcements of unprecedented rollbacks to major environmental regulations have caused that hope to die.

Zeldin’s massive environmental deregulation plans: What will the changes mean for his native Long Island and former NY-1 constituents?

Zeldin’s massive environmental deregulation plans: What will the changes mean for his native Long Island and former NY-1 constituents?

Calling it “the most consequential day of deregulation in American history,” U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Lee Zeldin yesterday announced 31 actions he said will “advance President Trump’s Day One executive orders and Power the Great American Comeback.”

Reworld Honors Long Island’s Champions At Herald Sustainability Awards Gala

Reworld Honors Long Island’s Champions At Herald Sustainability Awards Gala

Last week Reworld™ celebrated several of Long Island’s sustainability leaders, educators, and community advocates as part of its ongoing efforts to empower community and environmental advocacy initiatives and to raise awareness of sustainability locally.

Environmental Roundtable Touched on Successes and Worries

Environmental Roundtable Touched on Successes and Worries

At a 2025 Environmental Roundtable hosted by State Senator Anthony Palumbo in Riverhead last Thursday, where elected officials from across the East End met with environmental interest groups, East Hampton Town Councilwoman Cate Rogers used her time to speak about one of the town’s biggest environmental issues, coastal resilience, and the fear that the some projects may no longer get the federal funding that small municipalities rely on. 

How Trump’s trade war could impact US electricity prices — and state climate plans

How Trump’s trade war could impact US electricity prices — and state climate plans

Northern states are depending on imported Canadian hydropower to clean up their grids. What happens now?

On Tuesday, President Donald Trump initiated a trade war with Canada and Mexico, America’s two largest trading partners. Following through on weeks of threats, he imposed 25 percent tariffs on imported goods from Mexico and Canada and a lower 10 percent tariff on imports of Canadian energy resources. (Update, Thursday, March 6: Trump has announced a one-month delay on the tariffs on most Mexican and some Canadian goods.)

Lawmakers debate bill that could forever alter lawn care: 'This policy safeguards the health of … our children and grandchildren'

Lawmakers debate bill that could forever alter lawn care: 'This policy safeguards the health of … our children and grandchildren'

Maryland has introduced a bill requiring its Department of Agriculture to ban certain pesticides, including PFAS, or "forever chemicals," according to CBS News. This bill may cause some worry about the impact on lawn treatments, but are fewer chemicals in our environment necessarily a bad thing?

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