air pollution

Esposito: For reliable power, Long Island needs offshore wind

Esposito: For reliable power, Long Island needs offshore wind

In Brief:

  • Experts warn New York could face energy shortages as early as 2027.

  • Offshore wind offers clean, reliable power and price stability.

  • South Fork Wind Farm already powers 70,000 Long Island homes.

  • Upgraded transmission and new wind projects are urgently needed.

This fall, New Yorkers across the state showed up and spoke up to demand clean, affordable, reliable, safe and healthy energy infrastructure during the state’s energy plan hearings. Tragically, the Trump administration is wreaking havoc on our nation’s clean energy progress, making it more important than ever for New York to step up and lead the way to the sustainable, resilient system we need. Right now, we’re not on track.

1st day without Clean Pass increases traffic to Long Island

1st day without Clean Pass increases traffic to Long Island

Thousands of cars that had been given an HOV lane exemption were forced back into the regular lanes on the Long Island Expressway today.

Drivers reported experiencing more traffic today on the Long Island Expressway, the first day after the Clean Pass program expired.

Oyster Bay suit: Northrop Grumman 'concealed' extent of heavy metal contamination at Bethpage Community Park

Oyster Bay suit: Northrop Grumman 'concealed' extent of heavy metal contamination at Bethpage Community Park

After the discovery of chemical drums at Bethpage Community Park last year, Oyster Bay officials worried about the presence of hexavalent chromium, a cancer-causing toxin, in the soil near the drums, federal court records show.

They were concerned by what they saw: yellow and green sludge, a sign of chromium contamination, according to a filing in the town's lawsuit against Northrop Grumman, which seeks to accelerate and widen the scope of the plan to clean up the 18-acre property Grumman Aerospace used as a toxic dumping grounds for decades.

EPA policy shift plan will have detrimental consequences for climate and public health, LI advocates say

EPA policy shift plan will have detrimental consequences for climate and public health, LI advocates say

 The Trump administration's plan to rescind a rule used to enforce limits on greenhouse gas emissions from motor vehicles will jeopardize health and safety on Long Island while undermining billions of dollars New York has spent electrifying the transportation sector, local environmental advocates and scientific experts say. 

The EPA’s Repeal of Core Greenhouse Gas Rules

The EPA’s Repeal of Core Greenhouse Gas Rules

“Trump’s EPA to repeal core of greenhouse gas rules,” was the Reuters headline this week as Lee Zeldin, chosen by Donald Trump to be administrator of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, announced what Reuters said “will rescind the long-standing finding that greenhouse gas emissions endanger human health, as well as tailpipe emission standards for vehicles, removing the legal foundation of greenhouse gas regulations across industries.”

EPA to repeal all greenhouse gas vehicle emissions standards, rescind scientific finding that planet-warming gases endanger public health

EPA to repeal all greenhouse gas vehicle emissions standards, rescind scientific finding that planet-warming gases endanger public health

Following through on a pledge made in March, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Lee Zeldin announced Tuesday that the EPA is proposing to repeal all greenhouse gas emissions standards for light-duty, medium-duty, and heavy-duty vehicles and engines. 

State expands septic grant program, increases funding for Suffolk County

State expands septic grant program, increases funding for Suffolk County

New York State is increasing funding for grants that Suffolk County residents can use to replace outdated septic and cesspool systems with newer, advanced systems that reduce the contaminants wastewater releases into the environment.

PSC cancels New York power line project for offshore wind energy

PSC cancels New York power line project for offshore wind energy

ALBANY, N.Y. (NEXSTAR) — New York’s Public Service Commission decided on Thursday to stop the project that would bring offshore wind power to New York City. They said that their decision would protect New Yorkers from paying for expensive power lines that might not be needed soon.

Rail yard at Lawrence Aviation Industries at a halt, officials urge action

Rail yard at Lawrence Aviation Industries at a halt, officials urge action

While the Lawrence Aviation Industries site in Port Jefferson Station is clean and cleared from the superfund registry, the atmosphere around the prospective rail yard is murkier than ever.

The MTA has yet to secure the 40 acres allocated to the rail yard, which would be crucial to electrifying the Port Jefferson line. As the June 30 deadline approaches, local officials and environmental leaders met at the site on June 2 to urge the MTA to sign and for Governor Kathy Hochul to apply further pressure. Brookhaven bought 40 acres to preserve as open space and the county bought the other 40 acres to use as a solar farm.

Community Leaders Warn of Destructive Impacts of Trump’s ‘Big Beautiful Bill’

Community Leaders Warn of Destructive Impacts of Trump’s ‘Big Beautiful Bill’

Leaders of Long Island’s health care, social service organizations and environmental groups warned of the damaging impacts to lives “of neighbors, family, community” as a result of the funding cuts in the Republican budget bill (known as Trump’s “Big Beautiful Bill”) that passed the House in the middle of the night by a single vote. The bill, while slashing Medicaid, SNAP, clean energy projects and raising costs, delivers the needless tax cuts to the wealthiest, and will explode the national debt by $3.3 trillion.

As the Democrats on the Ways and Means Committee reported, the “GOP Tax Scam” cuts nearly $1 trillion from the health care system – effectively chipping away if not repealing entirely the Affordable Care Act - eliminating health coverage for at least 13.7 million Americans including 1.5 million New Yorkers.

Trump Reverses Wind Energy Orders; Empire Project Goes Forward Off LI

Trump Reverses Wind Energy Orders; Empire Project Goes Forward Off LI

LONG BEACH, NY — The Empire Wind 1 offshore wind project will go forward off the southern coast of Long Beach and Jones Beach. 

“I am grateful to President Trump and Secretary Burgum for lifting the stop-work order on Empire Wind 1 which will allow this transformative clean energy project to move forward as planned," said Doreen Harris, President and CEO of New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA).

Trump officials allow massive New York offshore wind project to restart

Trump officials allow massive New York offshore wind project to restart

The administration reversed course and will allow the Empire Wind project to proceed after lobbying by New York Gov. Kathy Hochul and Norwegian energy firm Equinor.

The Trump administration lifted the stop-work order on a major wind farm off the coast of New York on Monday, according to a statement by New York Gov. Kathy Hochul (D), following direct appeals she made to the president. 

Groups File Brief in Support of Lawsuit Against Ban on Wind Power

Groups File Brief in Support of Lawsuit Against Ban on Wind Power

WASHINGTON, D.C.  – A group of 10 environmental groups filed a legal brief today in support of an effort by states and industry to overturn the Trump administration’s government-wide ban on new wind energy projects. 

Trump Administration Pushing to Block Renewable Energy Projects

Trump Administration Pushing to Block Renewable Energy Projects

The administration of Donald Trump is making an unbridled push to block renewable energy projects—including last week halting the placement of 54 wind turbines in the ocean south of Long Island, New York—and is pushing fossil fuels, among them coal. The burning of fossil fuels is the leading cause of climate change. Trump has repeatedly called climate change a “hoax.”

Trump administration stops wind project near coast of Long Island

Trump administration stops wind project near coast of Long Island

A major wind farm project slated to begin off the coast of Long Island that is said to power 500,000 homes was halted after an order from U.S. Secretary of the Interior Doug Burgum.

Burgum directed the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management Wednesday to halt construction on Empire Wind, a fully-permitted project. He called for further review, saying the Biden administration rushed the approval.

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.

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). 

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