climate change

An Exciting Game-Changer for Offshore Wind –  Trump Administration Lifts Stop-Work Order on Empire Wind Allowing Construction to Continue.

Governor Hochul’s actions praised for providing massive victory for clean air, renewable energy and good union jobs.

DATE:              Monday, May 19, 2025

CONTACT:      Adrienne Esposito, Executive Director, 631-384-1378, aesposito@citizenscampaign.org  

Farmingdale, NY – Last month, the Trump Administration announced a stop work order on Empire Wind 1 – the offshore wind farm being built off the coast of Long Beach which would have powered 500,000 homes in NYC. The project was already under construction, creating significant investment in local communities and hundreds of union jobs in support of the growing “wind-ustry” in NY. In response, New York State along with environmental and labor groups have pushed the Administration to reverse the decision and allow Empire Wind to go ahead. The Trump Administration has now lifted the stop-work order. This means New Yorkers will still benefit from green jobs, NY communities will have cleaner air, and we will continue to build clean domestic energy off our coast.

Adrienne Esposito, Executive Director for Citizens Campaign for the Environment, issued the following statement.

“Empire Wind make a comeback – may the wind force be with you!  We are thrilled and I may do a cartwheel!  This is cause for celebration and signifies that when all parties come together to discuss important issues that common ground can be reached. This is a huge milestone in the fight for clean energy, clean air and a diversified energy plan. The Empire Wind project provides a significant boost to our emerging ‘wind-ustry’ and our clean energy future. This is a crucial project that benefits everyday New Yorkers by creating good jobs, bolsters the local economy, advances domestic energy, reduces air pollution, and protects public health. We are grateful to all who were involved including Governor Hochul and Congressman Garbarino.”

Mayor Eric Adams backtracks on New York City's composting law with new exemptions from fines

Mayor Eric Adams backtracks on New York City's composting law with new exemptions from fines

In an abrupt backtrack, Mayor Eric Adams’ administration in recent days has exempted most of New York City’s residential buildings from being fined for violating the composting law, which mandates that food scraps and yard waste be separated from the rest of the trash.

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.

Trump administration orders halt to Long Island offshore wind project

Trump administration orders halt to Long Island offshore wind project

U.S. Secretary of the Interior Doug Burgum has ordered a halt to an offshore wind project off the coast of Long Island, making good on an executive order from President Donald Trump in January that put a moratorium on new or upcoming offshore wind projects.

Students take action at youth climate summit at Stony Brook University

Students take action at youth climate summit at Stony Brook University

Approximately 300 students from 17 local high schools and at least one middle school gathered April 4 for the first Long Island Youth Climate Summit at Stony Brook University. Organized by Students for Climate Action and Renewable Energy Long Island, the event centered on environmental education and advocacy, with students encouraged to get involved with grassroots.

EPA ban, phaseout on cancer-causing chemical found in Long Island groundwater partially stalled by industry challenge

EPA ban, phaseout on cancer-causing chemical found in Long Island groundwater partially stalled by industry challenge

'Before we all drop dead'

A federal Environmental Protection Agency measure intended to ban and phase out TCE, a toxin commonly found in contaminated groundwater, including on Long Island, has been delayed, first by a Trump executive order and then litigation.

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." 

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.

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.

Long Island Climate Change Symposium

Join us to hear the facts and truth on climate change, its impacts to Long Island, and the costs of inaction. 

Farmingdale, NY - Citizen’s Campaign for the Environment is hosting a free Climate Change Symposium in Babylon. Experts will discuss the latest science on climate change and its impacts to Long Island as well as the costs of climate change to the public.  

We are excited to welcome Dr. Paul Shepson, Dean of The School for Marine and Atmospheric Sciences, Stony Brook University, as our keynote speaker. There will also be a panelist discussion featuring Dr. J Bret Bennington, Professor and Chair of the Dept of Geology, Environment, and Sustainability, Hofstra University

The symposium will conclude with a Community Q&A session.

Long Island Climate Change Symposium 

Date: Thursday, April 10

Location: Babylon Town Hall, 200 Sunrise Hwy, Lindenhurst, NY

Time: 9:30am - 12pm 

Registration: https://tinyurl.com/climate-symposium

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.

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.”

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.)

Amanda Lefton Takes the Helm: New York’s Environmental Future Gets a Bold New Leader

Amanda Lefton Takes the Helm: New York’s Environmental Future Gets a Bold New Leader

Amanda Lefton appointed as commissioner of the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation, with the trust of Governor Kathy Hochul.

The ‘elephant in the room’ at Palumbo’s annual environmental roundtable: future of federal funds

The ‘elephant in the room’ at Palumbo’s annual environmental roundtable: future of federal funds

Representatives of two dozen organizations gathered Thursday for an annual environmental roundtable meeting hosted by State Senator Anthony Palumbo to discuss regional environmental issues, concerns and needs. The event went off as it does every year: a cordial, free-wheeling, pass-the-mic conversation.

If the ongoing federal staffing cuts and budget-slashing being undertaken by the Trump administration worried the environmental advocates and government officials in the room, their concerns were mostly left unspoken —even though most of the programs addressing local environmental issues substantially rely on federal funding.

Trump’s plan to kill offshore wind is paying off

Trump’s plan to kill offshore wind is paying off

Blue states spent the last four years one-upping each other with bigger and bigger plans to build offshore wind farms that could power the nation into the future.

Now, just three weeks into Donald Trump’s presidency, the question is: What offshore industry?

Senate confirms former Long Island congressman Lee Zeldin to lead Environmental Protection Agency

Senate confirms former Long Island congressman Lee Zeldin to lead Environmental Protection Agency

WASHINGTON — The Senate voted largely along party lines Wednesday to confirm former Long Island congressman Lee Zeldin’s nomination to lead the Environmental Protection Agency, which he promised lawmakers to make more business friendly.

All 53 Republicans and three Democrats voted for Zeldin to lead the independent agency, which has a $9 billion budget and more than 15,000 employees who are charged with protecting the environment, despite his limited experience in that science-laden field.

Lee Zeldin Confirmed As Administrator of Environmental Protection Agency

Lee Zeldin Confirmed As Administrator of Environmental Protection Agency

Lee Zeldin (R-Shirley) has been confirmed by the U.S. Senate to serve as administator of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) under President Donald Trump.