Three days after Tuesday's local elections, one thing is certain: a wave of anti-incumbent sentiment sent many elected officials packing and left others politically wounded.

Voters want change -- but will that change help create the new energy economy and protect the environment?But this sea change's consequences for New York's environment are far from clear. Some of the new crop of elected officials did little to no campaigning on sustainability issues, perhaps foreshadowing a lack of interest in this area. Some winning candidates expressed little knowledge of environmental policy in their NYLCV endorsement interviews -- in fact, more than one (no, we won't say who!) was a global warming denier.

Meanwhile, pro-environment champions of all party stripes are facing a new political reality. Mayor Michael Bloomberg, whose pioneering PlaNYC became a national model for local climate action, had a close call and we hope he doesn't back away from his green stance.

In the case of Westhchester County, there are big shoes to fill after County Executive Andy Spano was defeated Tuesday. The effects of the Westchester Global Warming Action Plan 2008, which he announced at a NYLCV Westchester Chapter Dinner in 2007, may well live on as much of the climate action was spread out all sectors; county and municipal governments, educational institutions, businesses, and households.

As for Nassau County Executive Tom Suozzi -- who was our 2008 Environmentalist of the Year -- the race is still too close to call. We hope he's able to deliver another four years of sustainability progress for the county.

NYLCV is proud to endorse the best pro-environment candidates, regardless of party affiliation. We look forward to working with all of the new elected officials, and have already set up meetings with some of the winners that NYLCV did not endorse. And as always, NYLCV will be holding all of our elected officials accountable through our reports, scorecards and endorsements.