For Immediate Release: January 5, 2022

The following quote on Governor Hochul’s State of the State Address can be attributed to Peter M. Iwanowicz, executive director of Environmental Advocates NY:

“The nation desperately needs New York to demonstrate environmental leadership. Governor Hochul’s State of the State address set an optimistic tone that her administration is up to the task. Particularly encouraging was the Governor’s call to protect wetlands as well as her plans to further electrify our economy with electric school buses, an all-electric state fleet, building out charging infrastructure, zero emission buildings, and the phase-out of fossil fuel infrastructure.

New York must have leadership that meets this moment. Today was a step in that direction, but now comes the hard part. We stand ready to work with Governor Hochul, Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins and the Senate, and Speaker Carl Heastie and the Assembly to work toward bold funding and innovative policies that will protect our environment and health.”

Since its formation in 1969, Environmental Advocates NY has been championing environmental policies that have improved health, enhanced the quality of New York’s natural resources, and saved lives.

Among the policies Environmental Advocates NY is calling on the Governor and the Legislature to accomplish include:

·      Adopting a budget that is aggressive and prioritizes spending in disadvantaged communities. The 2022 budget must allocate $15 billion to implement the state’s climate law; commit $500M to the Environmental Protection Fund; and maintain a $1 billion annual appropriation for clean water infrastructure funds, including new funding for private well testing and treatment.

·         Addressing the solid waste crisis with a holistic approach that includes extended producer responsibility programs; updated bottle bill; bans on single-use plastics; and more composting of waste.

·         Fully electrifying the transportation sector including school buses, public transit buses, and all state fleets; electrifying buildings and household appliances; mandating new building construction be all-electric; and banning fossil fuel-powered machinery such as lawn care equipment.

·         Protecting water from source to tap by requiring the testing of private wells during home sales and by landlords; replacing every lead pipe across the state; banning toxic neonic pesticides; and ensuring affordable water for every New Yorker.

To learn about Environmental Advocates NY’s full 2022 Action Agenda, please visit eany.org. 

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