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Highlights
Pushing our 2026 New York State Priorities in Albany
Our full-time staff working in Albany participated in dozens of meetings with elected officials in recent weeks. In February, we were focused on key legislative and budget priorities, including, but not limited to:
NYS Environmental Protection Fund (EPF) - We are fighting for at least $425 million for the EPF, which protects our Great Lakes, Ocean, and estuaries, creates community parks, reduces waste, and much more.
Clean Water – We are pushing for at least $700 million for the Clean Water Infrastructure Act, which protects our water from its source to our taps—stopping sewage overflows into local water ways, replacing lead pipes, removing PFAS from drinking water, and much more.
PFAS Free NY – We are advocating to protect New York from PFAS “forever chemicals” by banning them in everyday products, including textile articles, rugs, fabric treatments, cookware, ski waxes, architectural paints, dental floss, and cleaning products. The use of PFAS in these products is unnecessary, contributes to harmful PFAS pollution, and threatens public health. The NYS Senate has passed the bill with strong bipartisan support; however, the NYS Assembly still needs to act. Email your NYS Assemblymember and Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie today and urge them to pass this important legislation!
Victory! A federal judge has once again allowed Sunrise Wind to resume offshore wind construction.
Sunrise Wind, which will power 600,000 homes on Long Island via a cable connection to Holbrook, is back on and construction can continue. This offshore wind project is already about 45% complete, with dozens of turbine foundations installed. This marks the fifth court loss for the administration in its effort to stop offshore wind projects currently under construction along the East Coast, including Empire Wind 1 in NY and Revolution Wind in CT. While this is a major win, these projects will continue to face legal and political challenges and will need to keep defending themselves in court. Help us keep the pressure on, we encourage you to contact your elected officials and urge New York to stay the course on offshore wind.
Fighting Federal Rollbacks of the Clean Air Act
We are fighting back against the Federal Administration’s revocation of the EPA’s 2009 Endangerment Finding—a landmark ruling under the Clean Air Act that formally recognized greenhouse gases as a threat to public health and welfare. This is a significant setback in our nation’s efforts to combat climate change. Last month, we joined Congressman Tom Suozzi and our environmental partners in calling out the Trump Administration and standing up for the Endangerment Finding. Our Executive Director, Adrienne Esposito, joined fellow environmental leaders who spoke out against this decision and shed light on what this could mean for our future as climate change continues to impact New York and Connecticut communities. Check out our press statement here.
Happenings
Bringing Hydropower to NY
We were excited to be invited on a tour to the Astoria Converter Station, which was built to receive clean hydropower from Canada to disperse the power to New Yorkers. The project, known as Champlain Hudson Power Express, is a transmission line that will be fully operational in spring of 2026. It will deliver 1250 MW of clean, renewable power into Astoria, Queens. The new substation is built on a formerly old, dirty fossil fuel site—transforming the site into a zero-emission facility complex! For more details, check out their website.
Talking Clean Water Funding with the Finger Lakes Community
CCE’s Associate Executive Director, Brian Smith, joined a community conversation hosted by the Cayuga Lake Watershed Network to discuss the latest issues related to clean water funding at the state and federal level. Check out a video of the presentation here.
Waters to Peoples: Community Meeting
We co-hosted an important community conversation 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 the marine mammals and sea turtles found in our local waters and their cultural, ecological, and community significance. We spoke of the environmental challenges facing Long Island Sound and collaborative stewardship and ways the public can help protect these species. 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.
Protecting Stony Brook Harbor
Last month, we heard from the experts on how to protect and restore Stony Brook Harbor on the north shore of Long Island. We heard great presentations from Dr. Christopher Gobler of Stony Brook University’s SOMAS program and Dr. Carl Safina, and joined a panel after with our friends at Save the Sound and the Long Island Sound Partnership. We got the latest on the nitrogen pollution challenges facing the Harbor and the science-based efforts underway to improve water quality and help restore shellfish populations. Clean water starts with informed and engaged communities— thank you to all who showed and participated in this great event.
Environmental Roundtable with Senator Palumbo
Last month, we attended New York State Senator Palumbo’s 6th annual Environmental Roundtable in Suffolk County. This annual meeting brings together the region’s elected officials, environmental advocates, and area stakeholders to discuss statewide and local concerns such as protecting the region’s drinking water, open space and farmland. We discussed our legislative priorities, including $700 million for clean water infrastructure. We also raised significant concerns with the proposed changes to our state’s comprehensive environmental review process. We look forward to working with our elected leaders on these important issues.
Upcoming: Clean Water and Septic Survey
Beginning in mid-March, randomly selected single-family households, who reside within the Long Island Sound Watershed on the north shore of Long Island, will receive mailed letters to participate in an important research survey about clean water and septic systems. This research is being led by Dr. Jamie Vaudrey at the University of Connecticut. The goal of this study is to help local and state agencies better understand how homeowners maintain their septic systems and gather input on potential voluntary incentive programs to support upgrades that better protect our waterways. Only households that receive a mailed invitation letter should complete the survey. The survey takes about 15 minutes, participation is voluntary, and all responses are confidential. We strongly encourage you to participate as your response will help inform local and state decision-making around future clean water policies and programs.
