NY Renews Statement on the 2023 New York State Budget
***FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE***: May 4, 2023
Contact: Marie Scarles, marie@nyrenews.org, (646) 389-8429
Web: @NYRenews | www.nyrenews.org
NY Renews Statement on the 2023 New York State Budget
NEW YORK STATE – In response to the legislature’s approval of the New York State budget, which includes critical investments in climate and environmental justice, the NY Renews coalition released the following statement:
This budget season, the New York climate and environmental justice movement not only defended our landmark Climate Act from a major attack by the fossil fuel industry but won historic victories that will improve the lives of New Yorkers and set the stage for nationwide action in the critical years to come.
When session began, the state’s climate funding came straight from utility ratepayers—aka the pockets of hardworking New Yorkers. There was no direction in state law to support residents burdened by sky-high energy bills, crumbling infrastructure and public transit, polluted air, and disappearing job opportunities. Today, we’re seeing much of what the NY Renews coalition has called for via the Climate and Community Protection Fund, including targeted financial support for New Yorkers struggling with utility bills, money for improving state infrastructure and public transit, game-changing labor standards, and clean energy job training and support for impacted workers, all with legislative oversight. This is thanks to the power of our movement and our legislative champions.
New York’s climate movement also won big this session with the passage of the Build Public Renewables Act, which will pave the way for our state to ramp up the production of publicly produced, clean energy while shutting down six fracked gas power plants in Black, brown, and low-income communities across New York City and one on Long Island, and in passing the All-Electric Buildings Act, the nation’s first statewide gas ban in new buildings.
As session continues and the state rolls out its proposed cap and invest program, our coalition will continue to fight to put a cap on emissions and, per the mandates of New York’s nation-leading climate law, secure guardrails to protect environmental justice communities. We’ll also work in solidarity to pass key bills in the Climate, Jobs, and Justice Package: the NY HEAT Act, the Climate Superfund Act, the Just Energy Transition Act, and the Stop Climate Polluters Handouts Act.
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NY Renews is a coalition of more than 360 environmental justice, community, faith, labor, and multi-issue organizations fighting for just climate policy for New Yorkers. We are the force behind the nation's most aggressive climate law, the NY State Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act, enacted in 2019.The Climate, Jobs & Justice Package is the next step in our fight for climate justice in New York.