Important progress made,
but clean energy plan remains elusive

NEW YORK – The New York State Legislature has earned a “B” grade for its progress on environmental and energy issues in the 2012 legislative session that ended last month.

Click above to download a full copy of NYLCV's 2012 Environmental Progress Report.The New York League of Conservation Voters issued the grade in its 2012 Environmental Progress Report, which was released today. But NYLCV, which is one of the state’s largest environmental advocacy organizations, concluded that while the Legislature did make important progress this year, much more needs to be done in the area of clean energy.

“The Assembly and Senate made important progress in improving water quality and bolstering financial support for environmental programs,” said NYLCV President Marcia Bystryn. “But, as the lack of progress on climate change and clean energy underscores, Albany needs to sharpen its focus on energy issues and begin to address New York’s long-term sustainability challenges.”

NYLCV’s 2012 Environmental Progress Report analyzes progress made on a wide range of legislation affecting the state’s natural resources, public health, clean energy, transportation, climate change and air quality. The legislation covered in the report directly tracks with NYLCV’s 2012 New York State Policy Agenda, which was issued at the start of the legislative session in January.

In addition to the overall “B” grade, NYLCV issued grades in each major category. The group awarded a “B” on natural resources; a “B” on public health; a “C” on clean energy; a “B” on transportation and a “C” on climate change and air quality.

Among the highlights of the session were passage of the Sewage Pollution Right-to-Know Act and the enhancement of the Environmental Protection Fund. Among the lowlights was the failure to adopt legislation concerning hydrofracking waste, as well as the lack of progress in the development of a long-term and robust solar energy plan.

Click here to download (.pdf) a complete copy of NYLCV’s 2012 Environmental Progress Report.