By Liam McGowan
The past month has been significant in terms of creating a cleaner, healthier, and more sustainable community here in New York. Here are some updates from around the state.
On October 14, Governor Kathy Hochul announced nearly $80 million dollars in state funding to support zero emission vehicles under the Zero-Emission Transit Transition (ZETT) program. According to a press release from the Governor, the program, initially announced in December 2024, intends to split funding between seven transit providers around New York State.
“New York’s push to transition public transit agencies to zero-emission fleets is a crucial step in achieving our clean energy goals,” Governor Hochul said. “Increasing the number of zero-emission transit vehicles in every corner of our state will deliver cleaner air and healthier communities across New York.”
As a part of the ZETT program, Suffolk County Transit received $5 million, which will go towards 12 battery powered buses. A report from Long Island Life and Politics says that these electric buses will be able to reduce greenhouse gas emissions throughout the 25 routes that make up the transit company, improving air quality in and around Suffolk County.
Local leadership has been critically important in other areas of the state. In Croton-On-Hudson, in Westchester County, officials have created a Renewable Diesel (RD) pilot program led by Mayor Brian Pugh.
As Mayor Pugh says, “We are in a climate emergency and we need to reduce greenhouse gas emissions without delay. This pilot delivers significant, measurable results for our community. Renewable Diesel has the potential to help us combat the climate crisis … while we transition to an electric fleet, we should be exploring the cleanest fuel sources possible.”
RD pilot programs have been proven to work. According to an article from The Cool Down, pilot programs have shown an 11.5% reduction in nitrogen oxide emissions and 65-67% reduction in CO2 emissions. Fewer emissions in the atmosphere means an increase in health benefits and reduced greenhouse gas output from diesel vehicles in and around Croton-on-Hudson.
“Reducing emissions from our transportation sector is essential to combating the climate crisis and reducing air pollution,” said Julie Tighe, President of the New York League of Conservation Voters. “We applaud the launch of Croton-on-Hudson’s renewable diesel pilot program. Renewable diesel provides immediate environmental and health benefits, which is why we should be doing everything we can to encourage its use, including a statewide clean fuel standard.”
In Suffolk County, the Town of Babylon is proposing a new law that would regulate construction of solar carports in town parking lots. According to Newsday, the carports provide two major benefits: a reduction of greenhouse gas emissions through renewable energy usage and reduced electricity costs for nearby businesses. The solar panels even help with snow removal in the winter, as they cover large areas of each parking lot.
A town hearing was held to discuss the proposed law on Wednesday, October 22, and several businesses in the Town of Babylon have expressed interest in the construction of these carports.
Through state funding for zero emission vehicles, implementing renewable diesel pilot programs on the local level, and increased interest solar carports, over the past month New York has shown it can lead the fight in climate action by delivering on its environmentally friendly ideas.
Liam McGowan has been a communications intern at the New York League of Conservation Voters since September 2025. He recently graduated from the University of Vermont in May 2025 with a B.S. in Environmental Science (Biology concentration). During his time at UVM he assisted with projects in the Rubenstein Ecosystem Science Laboratory. To learn more about Liam, visit his LinkedIn page located here.