The New York League of Conservation Voters (NYLCV) and NYLCV Education Fund (NYLCVEF) released their 2026 State Policy Agenda recently. Among the league’s top priorities are:

Invest an additional $1 billion in the Sustainable Future Fund and advance the Clean Air Initiative to make polluters pay and incentivize cleaner business models. 

Defend offshore wind projects and advance programs and incentives to achieve 20 gigawatts of distributed solar by 2035 and six gigawatts of energy storage by 2030, while also making the permitting process for residential projects more efficient.

Deploying thermal energy networks to decarbonize neighborhoods and public buildings.

Pass a Clean Fuel Standard and electrifying public transit fleets.

Making it easier for consumers to buy electric vehicles.

Pass more extended producer responsibility laws, including for packaging.

Expanding the Bottle Bill.

Establishing minimum recycling content requirements.

“New Yorkers are being squeezed by rising energy demand and higher costs at the very moment when the federal government is turning its back on affordable clean energy and American workers,” said NYLCV president Julie Tighe. “New York lawmakers must step up to defend our offshore wind progress and substantially increase the pace of solar energy and battery storage projects. We also need to hold polluters accountable, reduce emissions in our buildings and transportation sector, and dedicate substantial funding to environmental protection. This is a pivotal moment, and only with strong state leadership can we build a cleaner, healthier, more sustainable future for every New Yorker.”

NYLCV will also advocate for:

Maintaining $500 million for the Clean Water Infrastructure Act (CWIA) in FY 2026-27, as part of a long-term commitment of $4.5 billion over five years.

Fund the Environmental Protection Fund with at least $425 million in the 2026-27 NYS budget—putting the fund on a pathway to a $500 million annual investment with no offloads.

Fund mass transit capital and operating needs throughout the state, including the funding required to implement the 2025-2029 MTA Capital Plan.

Implement the $4.2 billion Clean Water, Clean Air and Green Jobs Environmental Bond Act.

Replace the obligation for utilities to provide gas service to new customers with an obligation for the utilities to serve new customers with “zero-emission heat” and require gas utilities to transition to clean heat at the scale and timeline required by the CLCPA. 

Plan for resilience against future storms, floods and other climate-related disasters, including the completion of the State Adaptation Plan and the implementation of the Bond Act Buyout Program.

Adopt a statewide policy for all public drinking water suppliers to create local lead-service line removal programs.

Pass legislation that enables communities to raise local funds for open space conservation, community preservation, and water quality improvement, including drinking water source protection.

Accelerate preservation of the state’s farmland, strengthen regional foodsheds, and improve clean transportation options available for the movement of fresh food from farm to table, particularly in underserved areas.

Support access to the ballot box by advocating for the creation of a same-day voter registration statewide program, ensuring all New Yorkers have access to mail-in voting, and enhancing and clarifying automatic voter registration procedures. 

The publication of this agenda follows a year in which the federal government has sought to roll back clean energy progress and dismantle decades of environmental protections that have been developed and supported by both parties. This moment demands state-level action to protect clean air and water, safeguard public health and accelerate the transition to a clean energy economy.

For more information, visit www.nylcvef.org.

The New York League of Conservation Voters Education Fund (NYLCVEF) educates, engages and empowers New Yorkers to be effective advocates on behalf of the environment—from clean energy and funding for parks to solid waste and green buildings.