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Highlights
Earth Day Advocacy Day in Albany
We headed to Albany for the annual Earth Day Advocacy Day, where we joined our environmental partners to advocate for priority bills to protect our air, water, and health. This year, we pushed for:
The Packaging Reduction and Recycling Infrastructure Act, which requires product manufacturers—not taxpayers—to be responsible for the cost of collecting and recycling the packaging waste they create. If passed into law, this legislation will reduce packaging waste, increase recycling, eliminate toxic chemicals in packaging, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and save local governments across the state hundreds of millions of dollars annually!
Banning the use of PFAS chemicals in a host of everyday products—textile articles, rugs, fabric treatments, cookware, ski waxes, dental floss, and cleaning products. This legislation has passed the NY Senate but still needs to pass the Assembly. Email your NYS Assemblymember and Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie today and urge them to pass this important legislation!
The Accelerate Solar for Affordable Power (ASAP) Act, which would significantly increase NY’s goal for distributed solar power (rooftop and community solar). This would create more clean energy and save ratepayers $1 billion annually when implemented.
South Fork Wind: Promises Made, Promises Kept
We joined our environmental partners, labor leaders, and LIPA to kick off Earth Week by celebrating the success of the South Fork Wind Farm. This is the first utility scale offshore wind farm in America, powering 70,000 homes with clean energy. The wind farm exceeded expectations over the past year, generating clean, safe power 99% of the days. South Fork Wind proved it could help stabilize the grid when energy prices spiked as Summer and Winter energy demand rose, outpacing fossil fuel pricing and saving us money on our energy bills. It’s also created thousands of union jobs, helping to support the local economy. To learn more, watch the press conference here.
U.S. House Passes Bill to Advance Great Lakes and Long Island Sound Protection
The U.S House has passed the American Water Stewardship Act (H.R 6422), which included reauthorization of priority programs including the Long Island Sound Partnership and Great Lakes Restoration Initiative! These programs provide crucial funding to protect and restore our waterways. This bill now moves to the Senate for consideration. New York and Connecticut residents: we encourage you to call your U.S. Senators to urge them to support these key programs!
Happenings
Fighting to Clean Up the Calverton Navy Plume
For decades, there has been growing concern about toxic plumes originating from the former Navy/Gruman facility in Calverton discharging into Long Island’s sole-source aquifer and local waterways, resulting in fish consumption warnings and groundwater pollution. Continued delays by the Navy have fueled frustration for residents, advocates and county officials who fear the growing health risks associated with our drinking water and surface water bodies. We joined Suffolk County Executive Romaine and the Calverton Restoration Advisory Board (RAB) to hear new data from the Suffolk County Health Department on ground and surface water contamination. We will continue to push the Navy to take action and protect the public from this toxic plume.
Gearing Up for the Long Island Sound High School Summit
We joined our partners at Atlantic Marine Conservation Society and Friends of the Bay on visits to several high schools to educate students on the importance of protecting the Long Island Sound. We spoke about our ongoing restoration efforts through the Long Island Sound Partnership and our current challenges such as nitrogen loading, habitat destruction, invasive species, climate change and plastic pollution. As part of our upcoming LI Sound High School Summit, students will prepare a project related to protection and restoration of the Sound and then participate in an educational field trip to The WaterFront Center in May to experience hands-on learning about the Sound.
Waters to Peoples: Community Meeting
We co-hosted two more indigenous community meetings focused on protecting the marine life of Long Island Sound. In partnership with The Metoac Indigenous Collective and Atlantic Marine Conservation Society, this event focused on bridging the gap between science and traditional knowledge to protect Long Island Sound. It was great to learn about Indigenous knowledge systems and tribal cultural practices, and how relationship-building between communities and scientists strengthens conservation efforts. Thanks to all who participated.
Upcoming: Planting a Patchogue Pollinator Garden
We are partnering with the Village of Patchogue to design a new pollinator garden, which will help protect our pollinators while reducing polluted stormwater runoff and beautifying the area. We held a community meeting in April to encourage residents to BEE part of the vision! If you live in Patchogue and want to get involved in the planting event on May 29th and 30th, sign up for more information here.