New York State Includes Environment and Energy Measures in FY2025–26 Budget
ALBANY, NY – The FY25–26 budget passed the legislature today, which includes $1 billion for the Sustainable Future Fund, an increase in $25 million to the Environmental Protection Fund, and a ban on the use of PFAS in firefighting gear. However, the budget failed to include the NY HEAT Act.
The following is reaction from Richard Schrader, director, New York government affairs at NRDC (Natural Resources Defense Council):
“The Sustainable Future Fund will back investments in zero-emission transportation, renewable energy, energy efficiency, and building decarbonization. These investments are much-needed; however, they are not a replacement for a cap-and-invest program that would provide a long-term source of funding to protect New Yorkers from air pollution and climate change, and grow the clean energy economy.
“This budget commits New York State to a cleaner, healthier environment by increasing the amount going into its Environmental Protection Fund. The funding increase will help communities from Buffalo to Long Island that are looking to address the impacts of climate change and the environmental degradation of our natural resources. The budget also ensures that firefighters will no longer be exposed to dangerous PFAS, which is essential for them to do their jobs safely.
“The failure to include language from the NY HEAT Act in this year’s budget, however, is a disappointment. We can’t keep spending billions of dollars on polluting infrastructure that will be obsolete soon. New York must shift the focus to investments in better buildings and cleaner air for the immediate and long-term safety and health of our communities. We will continue to work to promote this measure for a cleaner, healthier New York.”
NRDC (Natural Resources Defense Council) is an international nonprofit environmental organization with more than 3 million members and online activists. Established in 1970, NRDC uses science, policy, law, and people power to confront the climate crisis, protect public health, and safeguard nature. NRDC has offices in New York City, Washington, D.C., Los Angeles, San Francisco, Chicago, Bozeman, MT, Beijing and Delhi (an office of NRDC India Pvt. Ltd). Visit us at www.nrdc.org and follow us on Twitter @NRDC.