sustainability

Organizations Join Forces to Support Next Step in Road Salt Reduction

Organizations Join Forces to Support Next Step in Road Salt Reduction

New legislation would establish New York State Road Salt Reduction Council and Citizen Advisory Committee to protect water, health, and communities

A coalition of environmental, municipal, and public health advocates is calling for swift passage of legislation (A.4481-A/S.6976-A) to establish a New York State Road Salt Reduction Council and Citizen Advisory Committee. This body would be tasked with implementing the recommendations published by the Adirondack Road Salt Reduction Task Force in 2023. The Senate passed a version of this bill in 2024, and is poised to pass the bill once again.

Adrienne Esposito: Companies that produce packing waste must recycle it

Adrienne Esposito: Companies that produce packing waste must recycle it

Consumers have changed our shopping habits across New York state. The transition to online shopping has significantly increased plastic, paper and cardboard packaging waste. Those materials go to Reworld, which takes our trash, and are turned into ash. The ash needs to go somewhere, but where?

Wind Worries: Will Sunrise Wind Farm Project Get Cancelled Next?

Wind Worries: Will Sunrise Wind Farm Project Get Cancelled Next?

The Trump administration’s stop work order blocking construction of the Empire Wind 1 offshore wind project off the coast of Long Beach raised concerns over the fate of Sunrise Wind off Montauk.

U.S. Interior Secretary Doug Burgum’s order to stop work on Empire Wind 1’s 54 turbines on April 16 triggered protests in Nassau County as Gov. Kathy Hochul vowed to reverse the decision. But given the unpredictable nature of President Donald Trump, it remained an open question if the Sunrise Wind project might be next on the chopping block.

Advocates rally in Mineola to save Long Island 's Empire Wind 1 offshore wind project

Advocates rally in Mineola to save Long Island 's Empire Wind 1 offshore wind project

Advocates gathered on the front lawn of the Theodore Roosevelt Executive and Legislative Building for an Earth Day rally to challenge recent federal actions that have halted the Empire Wind 1 offshore wind project.

Organizations present included Citizens Campaign for the Environment, Renewable Energy Long Island, the New York League of Conservation Voters, Natural Resource Defense Council, Local Union 3 IBEW, Local Union 806, Local Union 290, Climate Jobs New York, the National Wildlife Federation, the Sierra Club Long Island group, All our Energy, the Long Island Progressive Coalition, Minority Millennials and Vision Long Island

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. 

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.

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.

Betting on Long Island with the Las Vegas Sands

Betting on Long Island with the Las Vegas Sands

The real estate roulette wheel is spinning – and it’s at least possible that the ball will settle on a multi-billion-dollar Long Island resort and casino.

The Las Vegas Sands is seeking to build a $6 billion integrated resort and casino in Uniondale if it is awarded one of three downstate gaming licenses from the state. It is the only bid on Long Island.

Casino bid at Nassau Coliseum renews concern for its next-door neighbors: Two dozen species of birds

Casino bid at Nassau Coliseum renews concern for its next-door neighbors: Two dozen species of birds

Tucked among the malls, parkways and office buildings of central Nassau County is 100 acres of natural habitat for birds, insects and threatened plant species resembling a prairie in the Midwest. 

The rare, county-owned grasslands sit adjacent to another county-owned site: The 72-acre asphalt property of the Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum where Las Vegas Sands has proposed a $6 billion casino-resort.

Las Vegas Sands faces mixed reactions in public hearing

Las Vegas Sands faces mixed reactions in public hearing

The draft environmental impact statement for the proposed Las Vegas Sands resort and casino at the site of the Nassau Coliseum was met with both resounding support and critical opposition at a public hearing at the Nassau County Legislature on Monday.

Nassau Legislature hears environmental pros and cons for Las Vegas Sands casino bid at Coliseum

Nassau Legislature hears environmental pros and cons for Las Vegas Sands casino bid at Coliseum

Water usage under the threat of droughts and air pollution from traffic congestion were the chief concerns of speakers against a $6 billion casino resort project proposed for the Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum site, now in the middle of an environmental review.

Governor Hochul Announces Executed Contracts for 23 Large-Scale Land-Based Renewable Energy Projects

Governor Hochul Announces Executed Contracts for 23 Large-Scale Land-Based Renewable Energy Projects

Projects Will Provide More than 2.3 Gigawatts of Clean Energy: Enough to Power More than 700,000 Homes in New York State

Will Create More than 2,500 Near-Term, Family Sustaining Jobs and Generate More than $4.7 Billion In Private Investment

Reinforces the State’s Commitment to Equitable Clean Energy Development, Grid Resiliency, and Economic Development

Details on heirs and future conservation efforts emerging around the 36,000 acre Whitney Estate

Details on heirs and future conservation efforts emerging around the 36,000 acre Whitney Estate

The will of John F. Hendrickson, whose property near Long Lake is among the most desired private holdings in the Adirondack Park, reveals he’s letting his older brother figure out what to do with his multimillion-dollar estate.

What to do with Whitney Park?

What to do with Whitney Park?

New York faces a major environmental decision as it considers what role — if any — it wishes to play in the future of Whitney Park, a 36,202-acre tract of land in the central Adirondacks. We think the potential opportunity to acquire such a large piece of wild land is a once-in-a-generation opportunity that demands prudence.

Green groups push state to buy Whitney Park

Green groups push state to buy Whitney Park

LONG LAKE — Eight conservation groups jointly sent a letter to Gov. Kathy Hochul urging the state to “act swiftly” to purchase and preserve Whitney Park.

The letter was signed by leaders of the Adirondack Council, Protect the Adirondacks!, Sierra Club Atlantic Chapter, Citizens Campaign for the Environment, Adirondack Wild: Friends of the Forest Preserve, the Adirondack Mountain Club, New York League of Conservation Voters, and Adirondack Wilderness Advocates.

Adirondack conservation organizations urge protection of 36,000 acre-Whitney Estate Tract

Adirondack conservation organizations urge protection of 36,000 acre-Whitney Estate Tract

Eight conservation organizations that are concerned with the future of the Adirondack Park called on Governor Kathy Hochul on Nov. 13 to act swiftly to protect 36,000 acres of forests, lakes and rivers in the central Adirondacks owned by heirs to the vast Whitney and Vanderbilt family fortunes.

The Whitney Estate, a vast tract of some of the most ecologically sensitive lands in the Adirondack Park, contains 22 lakes and ponds with more than 100 miles of undeveloped shorelines, connected by navigable rivers and streams in the Town of Long Lake, Hamilton County. It has been listed as a high-priority for state acquisition/protection since the NYS Open Space Protection Plan was first adopted in 1992, due to its high-quality wildlife habitat and great potential for public recreation and tourism.

Long Island congressional candidates present climate action plans at environmental forum

Long Island congressional candidates present climate action plans at environmental forum

Candidates from the first, second and third districts discussed their views and policies on climate and the environment.

Candidates from the fourth district were not present.

District 1: Nick LaLota (incumbent, R), and John Avlon (D)

Nick LaLota is the incumbent representative for New York’s first district. He currently co-chairs the bipartisan Congressional Offshore Wind Caucus, which aims to create policies that will improve offshore wind technology and workforce.

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