NYS budget: Increase green energy, reduce coastal damage on South Shore

ALBANY — New York’s state budget includes $1 billion to cut greenhouse gas emissions and increase green energy projects statewide as well as $1.7 billion to reduce the risk of coastal damage along Long Island’s South Shore.

The $254 billion state budget was passed by the State Legislature and approved by Gov. Kathy Hochul last week — more than a month after the April 1 deadline.

The spending plan includes funding for a variety of actions aimed at reducing the impact of climate change and increasing environmental protections. It comes as the state implements its 2019 climate law, which sets a goal of getting all electricity from emission-free sources by 2040 and reducing statewide emissions by 85% from 1990 levels by 2050.

"Whether it is making our communities more resilient and sustainable or protecting our fragile drinking water supplies or reducing greenhouse gases and air pollution, we can be proud of our achievements," State Senate Environmental Conservation Committee chairman Pete Harckham (D-South Salem) said in a news release touting the budget.

The state budget allocates $1 billion for a "Sustainable Future Program," including $450 million to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in buildings, make schools and homes more energy efficient and build out zero-emission thermal energy projects on state and city university campuses. It also provides $200 million for renewable energy projects and $250 million for zero-emission transportation, including up to $100 million for zero-emission school buses and infrastructure.

The spending plan allocates $500 million for clean water grants and $425 million for the state’s Environmental Protection Fund.

The budget makes available $1.7 billion over 50 years for the $3.46 billion Fire Island to Montauk Point Project to protect the South Shore. This includes $1.3 billion in state funding and $430 million in local funds that will be paid back to the state. The coastal-storm risk-management project aims to reduce flood risks and protect communities, homes and businesses and critical infrastructure.

"We all know that it is very, very important to protect our homeowners and make sure we protect our shorelines," Sen. Mario Mattera (R-St. James), the ranking minority member on the Senate Energy Committee told Newsday. Mattera said he was unhappy with the overall spending plan and while he acknowledged the importance of investing in renewables as long good investments are made, he expressed concerns over energy affordability as the state moves toward electrification.

Environmental advocates lauded the investments but said they wished the budget did more to address climate change and environmental protections, particularly because the federal government proposes cuts to clean energy, environmental and public health programs.

"While it represents some strong steps in the face of federal attacks, there’s also so much work to be done to make sure New Yorkers are breathing clean air, have clean water to drink and live in healthy communities," said Katherine Nadeau, deputy executive director for Environmental Advocates NY.

"There’s hope we got this $1 billion investment that’s unprecedented," she told Newsday. But, "there are hard truths in a lot of programs and policies that were left on the cutting-room floor."  

Advocates will now look to the remaining days of the legislative session, which is scheduled to end June 12, to push for additional action.

"Our final budget makes important investments into climate and environment; however, this budget leaves a lot of room for leadership from the Legislature before the 2025 session ends," Liz Moran, New York policy advocate for Earthjustice, told Newsday.

Additional environmental items in the budget include:

• An additional two-year waiver for school districts that meet certain criteria, aimed at providing more flexibility as they work to meet the state’s mandate requiring all new buses sold in the state to be zero-emission by 2027 and all buses on the road be zero-emission by 2035. "Giving school districts a little more time to work out electric school buses is a positive as long as ultimately we get there," said Assembly Environmental Committee Chair Deborah Glick (D-Manhattan).
• The budget doubles the Geothermal Tax income tax credit from $5,000 to $10,000 to help address the cost of installation, and makes it refundable.
• It bans the sale and distribution of intentionally added forever chemicals, known as PFAS, in personal protective equipment for firefighters starting in 2028. PFAS, or per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, have been used in products from nonstick cookware to clothing and been linked to increased risk of certain cancers, developmental effects or delays in children, and can adversely impact the immune system, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.
• $2 million for the Green Affordable Pre-Electrification Program Fund to help individuals get upgrades to their homes so they can qualify for weatherization and electrification programs.