HELP PROTECT OUR LONG ISLAND SOUND

Congress Needs to Pass the Long Island Sound Restoration & Stewardship Reauthorization Act of 2025

As an Estuary of National Significance, the immense value of the Long Island Sound (LIS) cannot be overstated. Twenty million people live within 50 miles of the Sound’s beaches. Residents of New York and Connecticut depend on the Sound for recreational opportunities, including fishing, sailing, and swimming. LI Sound is a critical component to our regional economy, generating $8.25 billion annually.

Despite the Sound’s immense value, it has been degraded by pollution, toxic algae blooms, and other threats. However, we are making progress in the fight for clean water!  Funding provided by the Long Island Sound Restoration & Stewardship Act helps to advance restoration, however, problems persist. The Long Island Sound Restoration & Stewardship Act authorization expired in 2023—Congress must act immediately to reauthorize this critical legislation to maintain progress in restoring the health of the Long Island Sound.  Email your two U.S. Senators and representative in the U.S. today and urge them to support the Long Island Sound Restoration and Stewardship Reauthorization Act of 2025, which will provide up to $65 million annually through 2029.

Background

History of the Long Island Sound Restoration & Stewardship Act
In 1985, Congress created the Long Island Sound Study (LISS) to identify and address the major environmental problems affecting the Long Island Sound. The LISS is authorized at $40 million annually through the LIS Restoration Act. The LISS is a collaborative effort, which includes government agencies, not-for-profits, and individuals, all working to restore and protect the Sound and its watershed. Through the LISS, a bi-state Comprehensive Management Plan has been developed and is being implemented.

In 2006, Congress passed the Long Island Sound Stewardship Act, which is authorized at $25 million annually. This important legislation identifies key areas surrounding the Sound and provides funding for preservation and public access improvements.

These critically important acts were later combined to create the Long Island Sound Restoration & Stewardship Act, which provides up to $65 million annually in federal funding for LIS restoration. The Long Island Sound Stewardship and Restoration Act expired in 2023—it is critically important that Congress act now to reauthorize this important program!

Progress Has Been Made, but More Work Remains
Federal funding spurred progress in restoring the Sound—reducing nitrogen pollution, reducing hypoxia (low levels of oxygen that cannot sustain marine life), improving water quality, and restoring habitat throughout the LIS watershed. There have been 2,239 acres of coastal habitat restored, 5232.35 acres of ecologically important habitat preserved, and 432.9 miles of new fish passage created. Pods of dolphins can be spotted in the Sound during summer months, which is another key indicator of progress.

Although progress has been made, more needs to be done. Hypoxia still persists in summer months, toxic algae blooms are found in harbors and bays, nitrogen from antiquated septic systems are polluting waters, and polluted stormwater runoff continues to contaminate waters and close beaches.

LIS Funding is in Jeopardy
The Long Island Sound Restoration & Stewardship Act authorization expired in 2023, putting future funding for critical programs to protect and restore the Sound in limbo. Reauthorization of the LIS Restoration & Stewardship Act is needed to provide adequate funding to continue programs needed to protect public health, our local economy, and quality of life.       

The Long Island Sound Restoration & Stewardship Reauthorization Act of 2025, which would reauthorize the program at $65 million annually through 2029, was introduced in the House and Senate. Congress must pass this legislation immediately and fully fund the LIS program!

Thank you for taking action!

Sincerely,
All of us at CCE

Watch: Whale Tales and Real Facts

We had a very informational webinar with whale experts who provided the most recent science on whale populations off our shore and how you can help protect whales. Missed the webinar? Watch it here.

Humpbacks, Minke, Right Whales, oh my! There are many species of whales that inhabit our waters throughout the year. Watch the video to learn more about these whales off New York’s coast and threats they are facing. This virtual forum features whale experts who have decades of experience in tracking individual whales, conducting necropsies on deceased whales, and monitoring growing threats to whales and other marine mammals.

In 2016 the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) declared an Unusual Mortality Event for Humpback whales, Minke Whales, and North Atlantic Right Whales. These endangered species are highly vulnerable to ship strikes, entanglement in fishing gear, plastic pollution and climate change. Scientists are closely monitoring whale populations and working on solutions to offer more safeguard of these critical marine animals.

Check out our webinar to learn more about whale populations and data in the summer of 2024 and the current threats off New York’s coast.

Whale Tales and Real Facts
WHO:

• Marianne McNamara, Vice President and Naturalist, Coastal Research and Education Society of Long Island

• Rob DiGiovanni, Founder and Chief Scientist, Atlantic Marine Conservation Society

Watch Whale Tales and Real Facts here.

Thank you for watching!

Sincerely, 
All of us at CCE

Help Save Connecticut’s Environmental Protection Laws

Photo by Ysabella Ray on Unsplash

Urge the CT General Assembly to OPPOSE Rollbacks to Connecticut’s Environmental Protection Laws

The CT General Assembly’s Environment Committee is considering several bills that would roll back the Connecticut Environmental Protection Act (CEPA) and other long-standing environmental and public health protections. CEPA allows the public to have a voice in environmental decisions and guarantees the state takes public input into account. It also ensures that state agencies do not allow practices that would unreasonably pollute or destroy natural resources. CEPA is vital to protect Connecticut’s environment and public health.

Key environmental regulations are under attack at the federal level and there are significant  funding cuts proposed for federal environmental programs. We cannot afford for Connecticut to also weaken the state’s environmental protection laws. We need Connecticut to step up, not backtrack, on fighting for our environment and public health.   

Email the members of the Environment Committee today. Tell them that you oppose H.B.6249, H.B.6868, and all other bills that would roll back environmental protection measures and limit the public’s ability to have a say in decision-making that impacts our air, water, land, and health.

Thank you for taking action!

Sincerely, 
All of us at CCE

Support Clean Water and a Healthy Environment in NYS

Support a $500 million Environmental Protection Fund in this year’s final New York State budget

Since 1993, the New York State Environmental Protection Fund (EPF) has invested in projects to protect and restore our land, air, and water resources in every community across the state. EPF programs help to create jobs, support tourism, protect clean water, conserve open space, save family farms, bolster recycling programs, revitalize waterfronts, build community parks, and so much more. The EPF supports 350,000 jobs across the state, and EPF-supported industries generate approximately $40 billion in economic activity every year. 

As we combat harmful algal blooms from nitrogen pollution, a solid waste crisis, climate change, and water pollution across our state, it is more important than ever to make crucial investments in environmental protection this year. Funding for the EPF has been stagnant in recent years and an increase is long overdue. 

While the Governor proposed maintaining a stagnant funding level in this year’s budget, the NYS Senate and Assembly budget proposals both included an increase to $500 million! We need $500 million in the final budget, with increases to specific programs in the EPF—specifically, we’re calling for at least $25 million for Ocean and Great Lakes program and at least $5 million for the South Shore Estuary Reserve program. 

The final NYS budget is due on April 1. Email Governor Hochul and legislative leaders today and urge them to provide $500 million for the Environmental Protection Fund, including increases for the Ocean and Great Lakes and for the South Shore Estuary Reserve, in this year’s final budget!

Thank you for taking action!

Sincerely, 
All of us at CCE

Long Island Sound Summit

The Long Island Sound Coastal Watershed Network (LIS CWN) is focused on bringing together communities, groups and individuals working to reduce pollution loads entering Long Island Sound and its rivers, harbors, and bays. Our goal is to increase the pace and number of clean water projects by sharing the latest science, technology, policies and practices, spotlighting lessons learned, and building new opportunities for collaboration and partnerships across Long Island Sound geographies.

This year’s Summit will be an opportunity to explore the power of collaboration in advancing clean water solutions. Informed by each other’s perspectives and experiences and guided by resources like the updated Long Island Sound Comprehensive Conservation and Management Plan (CCMP), we will focus on building strong partnerships, sharing knowledge, and exploring communication approaches.

We hope you can attend the 2025 LIS Summit as we explore the benefits of partnerships in targeting and reducing local sources of pollution entering the Sound, mainly consumer plastics and debris, fecal bacteria, and nitrogen entering the Sound through stormwater, sewage, and groundwater.

Join us to:

• Connect with Network members and clean water professionals across the Sound.

• Learn about tools and resources for clean water project design and implementation and tips for communicating about your work.

• Share personal experiences and lessons learned.

• Discover new collaboration opportunities to advance key projects.

Event Details:
Date: Thursday, March 27 
Time: 11am – 2:45pm
Location: Beacon Hall, Housatonic Community College, Bridgeport, CT
Cost: $25 Registration Fee (covers your lunch)
Register: Limited spaces! Register Now!

Thank you for joining us!

Sincerely,
All of us at CCE

You’re Invited to Zoom Forum! Whale Tales & Real Facts

Humpbacks, Minke, Right Whales, oh my! There are many species of whales that inhabit our waters throughout the year. Join us to learn more about these whales off New York’s coast and the threats whales are facing. This virtual forum will feature whale experts that have decades of experience in tracking individual whales, conducting necropsies on deceased whales, and monitoring growing threats to whales and other marine mammals.

In 2016 the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) declared an Unusual Mortality Event for Humpback whales, Minke Whales, and North Atlantic Right Whales. These endangered species are highly vulnerable to ship strikes, entanglement in fishing gear, plastic pollution and climate change. Scientists are closely monitoring whale populations and working on solutions that safeguard these critical marine animals.

Please join us for our free virtual webinar on March 19th and learn more about whale populations and data in the summer of 2024 and the current threats whales are facing off New York Coasts.

Whale Tales and Real Facts

DATE: Wednesday, March 19, 2025
TIME: 12pm – 1pm
WHERE: Via Zoom – register here
WHO:

• Marianne McNamara, Vice President and Naturalist, Coastal Research and Education Society of Long Island

• Rob DiGiovanni, Founder and Chief Scientist, Atlantic Marine Conservation Society

Thank you for joining us!

Sincerely,
All of Us at CCE

Long Island Climate Change Symposium

Please join us for our free Climate Change Symposium! This forum is for everyone wanting the facts and truth on climate change, its impacts to Long Island, and climate solutions. 

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, amongst others. 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: This event is free to attend and open to the public. Spots are limited, please register at https://tinyurl.com/climate-symposium. We also encourage you to share the invite and spread the word! 

Looking forward to seeing you all there!

Sincerely,
All of us at CCE

Learn More About the Propel NY Energy Transmission Project

Photo by Amanuel Flores from Pexels: https://www.pexels.com/photo/hand-touching-a-light-bulb-16036409/

Join NYPA and New York Transco for a series of community meetings on their energy transmission project to create a more stable and reliable Long Island grid

Long Island needs to improve the reliability and resiliency of our energy grid to ensure capacity during high demand times. Our summers are getting hotter, and storms are increasing in intensity. We need to upgrade Long Island’s antiquated transmission infrastructure to ensure that energy is delivered reliably and in a timely manner. The Propel NY Energy transmission project is part of the solution, strengthening the electric grid with increased transmission capacity and helping inject more clean energy into the statewide grid. This project is critical to ensure Long Island’s interconnectedness to the rest of the state and can bring energy from upstate to Long Island, including hydropower! 

The New York Power Authority (NYPA) and New York Transco will be hosting Propel NY Energy Community Information Sessions on Long Island. The Propel team will give a presentation followed by a Q&A. Question cards will be collected from community members and answered during the Q&A period. Following the session there will be an open house to allow attendees the opportunity to speak to the experts one-on-one.  

You can register for a Community Information Session here. 

Tuesday, February 25, 6 p.m. - 8 p.m. 
Hicksville Community Center
28 W Carl St, Hicksville NY 

Monday, March 10, 6 p.m. - 8 p.m. 
Farmingdale State College, Campus Center Building
2350 Broadhollow Rd, Farmingdale, NY  

Tuesday, March 25, 6 p.m. - 8 p.m. 
Oceanside Library
30 Davison Ave, Oceanside NY 

Wednesday, March 26, 6 p.m. - 8 p.m. 
Mineola Community Center
155 Washington Ave, Mineola NY

Thursday, April 10, 6 p.m. - 8 p.m. 
Virtual  
https://zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_ufEkH5VASbCrTPurO-7lag   

Thank you for your interest in attending these educational sessions!

Sincerely,
All of us at CCE

Battery Energy Storage System Community Forum

New York is a leader in the fight against climate change, with targets of 70% renewable energy by 2030 and carbon neutral electricity by 2040. We are in the process of transitioning from polluting fossil fuels to renewable energy, including wind and solar energy. 

As part of this transition, we will need to use battery energy storage systems (BESS). These systems provide capacity that will reduce our reliance on fossil fuel based generated power, thereby providing significant environmental and public health benefits. They will also help stabilize the energy grid as we move towards achieving our state energy mandates, powering thousands of homes and bringing significant economic benefits to our region. 

Brookhaven Town and Suffolk County Community College are hosting a free forum to provide information about Battery Energy Storage Systems. Qualified panelists will address community questions and concerns. There will be no live questions at the forum. Residents are strongly encouraged to submit their questions online by visiting brookhavenny.gov/battery. 

Date: Tuesday, January 21, 2025
Time: 7:00pm – 9:00pm 
Location: Shea Theater
Suffolk County Community College Ammerman Campus
533 College Road, Selden, NY 11784 

Thank you for your interest in battery energy storage! 

Sincerely,
All of us at CCE

Save Horseshoe Crabs Before It’s Too Late!

Urge Governor Hochul to sign the Horseshoe Crab Protection Act into Law!

The Governor must decide to sign the bill or veto it within a matter of days

Horseshoe crabs have existed for over 350 million years, having shared this planet with the dinosaurs. Sadly, the species is now vulnerable to local extinction unless action is taken soon. Horseshoe crab populations have been depleted largely due to commercial fishermen who catch them and chop them up for use as bait. Horseshoe crabs are an essential species in the food web—a decline in their population is harming the ecosystem and threatening bird species that depend upon the crabs for food. Currently, New York is woefully lagging in horseshoe crab protection.

In order to save the horseshoe crab, and the species that depend upon them, the New York State Legislature passed a bill to ban harvesting of horseshoe crabs. The bill was recently delivered to Governor Hochul—she has 10 days to decide whether to sign the bill or veto it. Email Governor Hochul today and urge her to sign the Horseshoe Crab Protection Act into law!

Background

Why are Horseshoe Crabs Important?
Horseshoe Crabs are an integral part of the ecosystem and act as a keystone species in the food web. Each spring, horseshoe crabs travel from deep Atlantic waters to the shore for their breeding season. Beaches are stormed with mating horseshoe crabs, with females laying tens of thousands of eggs at a time in clusters buried under the sand. Every year, horseshoe crabs lay their eggs on beaches at full and new moon high tides from April to June.

Millions of shorebirds stop along our Atlantic beaches to nourish themselves on horseshoe crab eggs. These eggs are the single most important food source for migrating shorebirds, including threatened birds, such as the Red Knot. Experts predict that the Red Knot may become extinct in the coming years, unless more protective measures are undertaken to protect horseshoe crabs. Furthermore, sharks, sea turtles, sportfish and other species also feed on horseshoe crabs, making them a critical component of the food web.

Biomedical Uses
The blood of horseshoe crabs contains a critical component, Limulus Amoebocyte Lysate, known as LAL. This unique compound clots when exposed to bacteria or bacterial endotoxins. Some medical equipment and devices such as IV tubing are also tested with LAL. Currently, scientists have found synthetic compounds that reproduce LAL, which are now being used by Pfizer, Eli Lilly and other leading pharmaceutical companies. There have been NO permits issued in over a decade for the harvesting of horseshoe crabs for medical uses in NY waters. All the permitted harvesting of horseshoe crabs is for fishing, not biomedical purposes. However, as other states prohibit taking for biomedical uses, pressure to permit the practice may increase in NY if action is not taken to protect horseshoe crabs.

Horseshoe Crabs Under Threat
For decades, horseshoe crabs were looked upon as unimportant to our waters. They are slow to mature and therefore are susceptible to harvesting pressures. Horseshoe crabs were once used as fertilizer and livestock feed, which almost led to their populations being wiped out in the 1940s. In the 1970s, the populations recovered only to see resurgence in their use as bait for eel, conch, and whelk fisheries. The horseshoe crabs are chopped up and used as bait by commercial fisherman.

The Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission reported horseshoe crab stocks have been in decline for at least 15 years. Horseshoe crab populations were rated as “good” in 2009 but declined to “poor” in 2019. The International Union for the Conservation of Nature has listed horseshoe crabs as vulnerable to local extinction in our region. The importance of horseshoe crabs to our ecosystem and the growing threat to the survival of the species had led other states, including Delaware, Connecticut, and New Jersey, to implement policies banning the taking of horseshoe crabs. 

New York State Needs a Ban on Horseshoe Crab Harvesting
This year, the New York State Legislature passed Horseshoe Crab Protection Act (S.3185A / A.10140), which prohibits the taking of horseshoe crabs for commercial and biomedical uses. This legislation will allow New York to restore the population of horseshoe crabs and ensure the survival of this species for future generations. Neighboring states, including Connecticut, have already enacted similar legislation. It is time for NY to step up and ban the harvesting of horseshoe crabs! The bill was recently delivered to Governor Hochul’s desk—we need her to sign the Horseshoe Crab Protection Act into law!

Thank you for taking action

Sincerely,
All of us at CCE

NEW YORKERS DESERVE CLEAN WATER

Tell Governor Hochul & Legislative Leaders to Invest in Clean Water Infrastructure!

Much of New York’s wastewater and drinking water infrastructure is aging and failing, putting public health and our environment at risk. New York State has made significant investments to upgrade water infrastructure in recent years; however, much more needs to be done to provide clean water for all New Yorkers. 

To make drinking water safe and affordable for all New Yorkers, protect our environment, and create jobs, Governor Hochul and the legislature must provide at least $600 million for the Clean Water Infrastructure Act in the 2025-2026 NYS budget! Email Governor Hochul and your elected representatives today.

Background

Why should New Yorkers be concerned about the state’s wastewater and drinking water infrastructure? 

• The American Society of Civil Engineers gave New York’s drinking water infrastructure a grade of C- and its wastewater systems a grade of D+.

• The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) estimates that there are at least 494,000 lead drinking water service lines in New York, the sixth highest of all states in the nation. Lead is a toxic heavy metal—there is no safe level of exposure to lead in drinking water, especially for infants and children. New federal regulations require that ALL lead pipes be replaced by 2037.

• According to reports generated by New York’s Sewage Pollution Right to Know law, there are 5 overflows of raw or partially treated sewage into New York waters every day. Sewage overflows make people sick, close beaches, kill fish, and hamper economic development.

• Drinking water supplies across the state contain PFAS “forever chemicals” that threaten public health. The EPA adopted new drinking water standards for certain PFAS chemicals, which will require an estimated 296 additional communities across NYS to treat for PFAS. Communities across the state are struggling to afford and install the costly treatment technology needed to filter these toxic chemicals from drinking water.

• Across the nation, there is a water main break every two minutes, and an estimated six billion gallons of treated water is lost each day. Water main breaks not only threaten access to clean drinking water, but also close schools and businesses, cause sink holes that damage roads, and hurt local economies.

What will it cost to upgrade New York’s water infrastructure?
While repairing and replacing New York’s clean water infrastructure is imperative, it is also costly. The EPA estimates that it will cost about $90 billion to upgrade New York State’s wastewater and drinking infrastructure. 

What is being done to protect clean water and what is needed next?
Since 2017, New York State has appropriated $5.5 billion into the state’s Clean Water Infrastructure Act, which is helping to upgrade sewage treatment plants, filter toxic contaminants out of drinking water, replace lead drinking water pipes, upgrade failing septic systems, protect drinking water at its source, and more. This is helping to make drinking water safe and affordable, protect our environment, and create good jobs in every community across the state (every million dollars invested is creating 17 jobs—extrapolated for the full $5.5 billion appropriated thus far, the program is expected to create over 93,000 jobs). 

While progress is being made, New York has a long way to go to meet its nearly $90 billion clean water need. Governor Hochul and the legislature must continue to invest in the Clean Water Infrastructure Act in order to provide clean and affordable water for all New Yorkers! Governor Hochul and the legislature should provide at least $600 million for the Clean Water Infrastructure Act in the 2025-2026 NYS budget!

Thank you for taking action!

Sincerely,
All of us at CCE

SUFFOLK COUNTY RESIDENTS VOTE IN FAVOR OF CLEAN WATER REFERENDUM ON 2024 BALLOT!

Prop 2, which passed with 72% of the vote, will help restore Suffolk County’s drinking water, beaches, bays, lakes, and rivers

Nitrogen pollution from sewage is responsible for massive fish kills, turtle die-offs, toxic algal blooms, and beach closings across Suffolk County. Long Island's clean waters create jobs and generate hundreds of millions of dollars every year for our regional economy. Nitrogen pollution is adversely impacting our environment, health, economy, and quality of life. The science is clear; the majority of the nitrogen pollution in our local waterways comes from outdated sewer and septic systems. Upgrading our sewer and septic infrastructure is necessary to restore the health of Suffolk County’s waterways and protect our drinking water.

Tackling nitrogen pollution will require a steady stream of funding for updating septic systems and expanding sewers. In 2024, New York State and the Suffolk County Legislature passed legislation allowing Suffolk County to create a unified water management district and hold a ballot referendum that allows residents to vote on clean water. Suffolk residents were able to vote on an increase of 1/8 cent to the county sales tax, to be dedicated to protecting water resources by installing sewers and clean water septic systems. 

On Tuesday, November 5, 2024, the clean water ballot measure was passed by Suffolk residents with an overwhelming 72% of the vote! The program, effective January of 2025, will generate billions of dollars in the years ahead to reduce nitrogen pollution from sewers and septic systems—reducing pollution that impacts our drinking water and waterways. Thank you to Suffolk County residents that voted in favor of this critical clean water initiative!

Background

Suffolk is 74% unsewered, with 360,000 homes relying on antiquated septic and cesspool technology to treat wastewater. The impacts of nitrogen pollution from inadequately treated sewage are appearing in virtually every bay, harbor, freshwater lake, and pond in the county. 

The NYS Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) cites algal blooms and nitrogen from sewage as the primary reasons many Long Island water bodies are impaired. The numerous fish and turtle die-offs in our estuaries over the last decade were found to be caused mainly by nitrogen pollution from sewage. Moreover, some toxic algal blooms constitute a serious threat to human health, such as blue-green algae in lakes and ponds. Long Island has the greatest frequency of blue-green algae in the entire state. 

After years of study, Suffolk County released a plan which details the sources of nitrogen pollution entering all 191 subwatersheds in the county and provides a pathway to restoring our waterways to a healthy condition. The study found the primary cause of nitrogen pollution in our waterways to be sewage from antiquated sewers and septic systems. The Subwatersheds Plan provides a pathway to replace outdated cesspools and septic systems with advanced on-site systems and, where appropriate, improving and expanding sewer systems. The longer we wait to implement these changes, the more expensive and difficult our water quality problems will be to fix.  In order to fully implement this plan, Suffolk requires a unified wastewater management district and dedicated funding stream to implement these clean water projects.

Find Out What our Congressional Candidates Plan to Do to Protect Long Island Communities from Climate Change!

Join CCE, Students for Climate Action, Renewable Energy Long Island, and Citizens Climate Lobby virtually on the evening of October 17th for Climate Chats—hear directly from six candidates running for Congress on Long Island about their plans to fight Climate Change

We are witnessing devastating results of climate change throughout our nation. Here on Long Island, we are particularly vulnerable. In the next Congress, our representatives from Suffolk and Nassau will have an important role to play in ensuring protections for our coastal communities, local economy, emerging industries, and environmental resources. 

This event will feature short, 15-minute “chats” with six candidates running for Congress to answer questions on climate change, energy, and sustainability from a panel of experienced environmental leaders. This event will be open and free to the public.

Date: Thursday, October 17 
Time: 7:00pm-9:00pm
Register: Get the Zoom link for the free event here 

Candidate Interviews with:
• NY-01: Congressman Nick LaLota
• NY-01: John Avlon
• NY-02: Congressman Andrew Garbarino
• NY-02: Rob Lubin
• NY-03: Congressman Tom Suozzi
• NY-03: Mike LiPetri

Thank you for joining us!

Sincerely,
All of us at CCE

Join Us for a Free Community Meeting to Find Out about Prop 2 on the Ballot this Election Day!

Prop 2 is designed to help restore Suffolk County’s drinking water, beaches, bays, harbors, lakes, and rivers

Citizens Campaign for the Environment is sponsoring an educational forum to provide information on Prop 2 on the ballot in Suffolk County this November. If approved, Prop 2 will create a reliable, needed funding stream to expand sewers and provide grants to homeowners to replace their antiquated cesspools and septic systems.

CCE Executive Director Adrienne Esposito will be joined by Suffolk County Executive Ed Romaine and Suffolk County Legislator Dominick Thorne to discuss this important county program.

Date: Tuesday, October 8, 2024 
Time: 7:00 PM
Where: South Country Ambulance Building – The Community Room
420 Station Road, Bellport

Thank you for joining us!

Sincerely,
All of us at CCE

Support Battery Energy Storage in North Hempstead

The Town of North Hempstead is considering a one-year moratorium on battery energy storage systems, which are a necessary part of our transition off fossil fuels

Make your voice heard at the North Hempstead Town Board meeting

We are in the process of transitioning from polluting fossil fuels to renewable energy, including wind and solar energy. As part of this transition, we will need to use battery energy storage systems (BESS). These systems provide the capacity to reduce our reliance on fossil fuel based generated power and stabilize the grid, thereby providing significant environmental and public health benefits. With offshore wind coming to Long Island in 2026 and the continued build-out of solar energy, BESS will be a crucial component of our clean energy future.

North Hempstead is considering placing a one-year moratorium on BESS. There is no reason for a moratorium except to dissuade BESS development. North Hempstead can, and should, create new zoning codes for this technology so it can be permitted safely and effectively—without a moratorium. 

Please attend the North Hempstead Town Board meeting on August 13th to let your elected officials know that you support battery energy storage:

When: Tuesday, August 13, at 7:00 pm
Where: North Hempstead Town Hall, 220 Plandome Road, Manhasset NY

Want to Learn more about BESS before the Town Board meeting? Join us for a “Power Hour” Zoom on BESS this Thursday:
In advance of the Town Board meeting, we will be co-hosting a one hour zoom meeting to discuss some key facts about BESS, its value to our grid, and what you can do to make sure North Hempstead allows this important clean energy technology to move forward. This is a great opportunity to learn more about what has been going on with BESS and ask any questions before coming to the Town Board meeting next week. Join the “Power Hour” on Thursday August 8th at 7pm on Zoom. Register here.

Thank you for joining us!

Sincerely,
All of us at CCE

We Can Reduce Food Waste, Fight Climate Change, and Feed the Hungry!

Tell Governor Hochul to expand the Food Donation and Food Scraps Recycling Program!

New York generates an estimated 4 million tons of excess food annually, the vast majority of which is disposed of in landfills. When disposed of in landfills, wasted food decomposes and releases methane, a potent greenhouse gas. About 25% of the food we buy is wasted, while more than 2.5 million New Yorkers lack consistent access to sufficient food. We are throwing away wholesome food that could instead help feed our fellow citizens in need.

In response, New York enacted the Food Donation and Food Scraps Recycling Law in 2019 to require large food generators (e.g. supermarkets, sports venues, hotels, colleges) that waste two tons of food or more per week to either donate or recycle their excess food. This program has provided surplus food to hungry people, converted organic waste into valuable compost, and created renewable energy through anerobic digestion. The program has been off to a very successful start—from 2021 to 2022, food donation increased 60% and food scrap recycling increased 529% across the state!

While we are off to a good start, far too much food continues to be wasted. Now it is time to expand this program and capture additional food waste. The NYS Legislature recently passed legislation to expand this program—requiring facilities generating one ton or more of food waste per week to reduce, recover, and recycle excess food!

Email Governor Hochul today and urge her to sign the expanded Food Scraps Recycling and Food Donation Program legislation into law!

Thank you for taking action. Together we make a difference!

Sincerely,

All of Us at CCE

Support Battery Energy Storage in Southampton

The Town of Southampton is considering, once again, to extend its moratorium on battery energy storage systems, which are a necessary part of our transition off fossil fuels

Make your voice heard at the Southampton Town Board meeting and support ending the moratorium

We are in the process of transitioning from polluting fossil fuels to renewable energy, including wind and solar energy. As part of this transition, we will need to use battery energy storage systems (BESS). These systems provide capacity to reduce our reliance on fossil fuel based generated power and stabilize the grid, thereby providing significant environmental and public health benefits. 

The Town of Southampton placed a moratorium on BESS over one year ago, claiming they needed to create new zoning codes for this technology so it can be permitted safely and effectively. They have had ample time and expert guidance, yet they are still not advancing their codes and are considering extending the moratorium again! 

Please attend the Southampton Town Board meeting on June 23rd at 6:00 PM to let your elected officials know that you support battery energy storage and urge them to not extend the moratorium. 

Southampton Town Board Meeting

When: Tuesday, July 23, at 6:00 pm

Where: Southampton Town Hall, 116 Hampton Road, Southampton, NY

Want to Learn more about BESS before the Town Board meeting? Join us for a “Power Hour” Zoom on BESS this Thursday at 7pm:

In advance of the Town Board meeting, we will be co-hosting a one-hour zoom meeting to discuss some key facts about BESS, its value to our grid, and what you can do to make sure Southampton allows this important clean energy technology to move forward. This is a great opportunity to learn more about what has been going on with BESS in Southampton and ask any questions before coming to the Town Board meeting next week. Join the “Power Hour” on Thursday July 18th at 7pm on zoom. Register here.

Thank you for joining us!

Sincerely,
All of us at CCE

Join Us: Tackling Plastic Pollution in Long Island Sound

Join us for a free “Plastic-Free July” webinar to learn about plastic pollution in Long Island Sound and how to help advance solutions!

CCE and our partners at the Coastal Watershed Network invite you to join a free Zoom webinar for Plastic-Free July to learn about newly identified microplastic “hot spots” in Long Island Sound, research related to microplastics and algal blooms, and solutions to reduce plastic pollution. Participants will hear from the experts and have the opportunity to ask questions.

Webinar details:
Date: Tuesday, July 16
Time: 12:30pm – 1:30pm
Where: Via Zoom (register here)

Speakers/Topics:

• Rachael Miller, Founder of the Rozalia Project: Microplastic “Hot Spots” in Long Island Sound

• Nicole Gullason and Natasha Mishra, Students at Smithtown High School West: Connection between Microplastics and Algal Blooms

• Adrienne Esposito, Executive Director at Citizens Campaign for the Environment: Individual, Corporate, and Policy Solutions to Reduce Plastic Pollution in the Sound

Thank you for joining us!

Sincerely,
All of us at CCE

Want to Learn More about Battery Energy Storage?

Join us for a free community meeting on battery energy storage and its role in Long Island’s transition to renewable energy 

New York is a leader in the fight against climate change, with targets of 70% renewable energy by 2030 and carbon neutral electricity by 2040. We are in the process of transitioning from polluting fossil fuels to renewable energy, including wind and solar energy. 

As part of this transition, we will need to use battery energy storage systems (BESS). These systems provide capacity that will reduce our reliance on fossil fuel based generated power, thereby providing significant environmental and public health benefits. They will also help stabilize the energy grid as we move towards achieving our state energy mandates, powering thousands of homes and bringing significant economic benefits to our region. 

Join us and our partners to learn how large-scale battery storage works and the critical role it will play in transitioning us away from polluting fossil fuel power plants. We will have a presentation followed by a Q&A.  Register here

When: Wednesday, June 26th at 7:00 pm

Where: Christ Episcopal Church, 12 Prospect Street, Babylon, NY

Thank you for joining us!

Sincerely, 
All of us at CCE

PROTECT OUR GREAT LAKES!

Pretty lake photo Image by Ilona Ilyés from Pixabay

Tell Congress to pass the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative Act of 2025 

The Great Lakes supply millions of New Yorkers with their drinking water, provide habitat for wildlife, and support billion-dollar industries such as tourism and fishing. To help protect and restore the health of the lakes, Congress established the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative (GLRI) in 2010. The GLRI has funded thousands of projects to clean up the lakes—protecting drinking water, cleaning up toxic pollution, fighting invasive species, and more. 

Despite our progress, more work remains to protect and restore the health of our Great Lakes. The Great Lakes Restoration Initiative Act of 2025 will extend the successful program for another five years—authorizing $500 million annually. We need our federal representatives from New York State to fight for passage of this critical legislation as soon as possible—email your representatives today!

BACKGROUND

New York’s Great Lakes basin covers 42% of the state’s surface area—second most among all Great Lakes states

The Great Lakes are a natural wonder of the world that hold 20% of the world’s fresh water supply. Lake Erie, Lake Ontario, the Niagara River, and the St. Lawrence River comprise over 700 miles of shoreline in NYS. The Great Lakes provide four million New Yorkers with drinking water and support a multibillion-dollar tourism, fishing, and recreation economy.

The Great Lakes Restoration Initiative 
Established by Congress in 2010, the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative (GLRI) was created to fund projects to protect and restore the health of the Great Lakes—cleaning up toxic pollution, restoring important habitat, fighting invasive species, reducing pollution from farms, and more. To date, the GLRI has funded more than 7,563 individual projects totaling over $3.7 billion and has greatly improved the quality of life in the region. New York State has received over $270 million to support hundreds of restoration projects. 

The GLRI is not only restoring the health of our Great Lakes, but it is also providing major economic benefits. Throughout the Great Lakes region, every dollar invested in restoration provides $3 in economic returns to the regional economy. In Buffalo, where the GLRI is supporting the cleanup of the Buffalo River and other important projects, the return is even higher—providing a 4-to-1 return on investment!

Threats to the Great Lakes Ecosystem Remain
Despite progress to protect and restore the Great Lakes in recent years, the health of Great Lakes remains threatened. Examples include:

• Toxic legacy pollution: Only one of New York’s six toxic hot spots (known as Areas of Concern), which were identified back in 1987, has been cleaned up.

• Invasive species: Invasive carp sit on the doorstep of the Great Lakes. If established in the lakes, they would decimate the ecosystem and the multibillion-dollar fishing industry.

• Emerging Contaminants: Emerging toxic pollutants, such as PFAS “forever chemicals,” are being found in Great Lakes waters and contaminating drinking water.

Congress Must Continue Progress to Restore the Great Lakes
The GLRI program is authorized through 2026, and unless action is taken by Congress, the program will expire in 2027. Recently introduced in the Congress, the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative Act of 2025 would reauthorize the GLRI program for an additional five years. The GLRI Act of 2025 would provide $500 million annually, from 2027-2031. 

Thank you for taking action.

Sincerely,
All of Us at CCE