By Katelyn Villatoro
As we near the halfway mark for 2026, NYLCV remains committed to fighting for a sustainable and equitable New York City. Now more than ever, this city has the responsibility to implement policy to benefit both the environment and New Yorkers. From public transportation to battery energy storage bills, lawmakers have several opportunities to show leadership when it comes to fighting climate change.
While there are many New York City Council bills that NYLCV supports, this article offers a snapshot of ten environmental bills that NYLCV supports across an array of topics. Although these bills have not come to a full Council vote, we hope they move forward by the end of the year.
NYLCV’s 2026 New York City Legislative Priorities:
Intro 359 of 2026: Utilizing city-owned lots for energy storage systems. This bill would require the NYC Department of Citywide Administrative Services (DCAS), in coordination with the Office of Long-Term Planning and Sustainability, to identify city-owned lots suitable for installing battery energy storage systems, develop a plan to achieve the amount of energy storage capacity specified in the bill, and make annual progress reports. Energy storage systems are highly-regulated devices that store energy when production is high so it can be used later during peak demand, improving grid reliability. NYLCV supports this bill because it will help New York City reduce our reliance on fossil fuels and improve public health and environmental justice. Energy storage is essential to retiring fossil fuel-polluting “peaker” plants, which are disproportionately located in disadvantaged communities in all five boroughs.
Intro 570 of 2026: Remote monitoring and permitting requirements for residential energy storage systems. This bill would waive requirements for remote monitoring and reporting of energy storage management systems for certain small residential energy storage systems and create an expedited permitting process for medium energy storage systems. Thirteen years after Superstorm Sandy, over 8 million New Yorkers still lack access to resilient power during grid outages. This ongoing vulnerability poses a significant public health threat, especially for low and moderate-income communities and others without backup power. Residential battery energy storage systems, which are highly regulated by FDNY, offer a proven solution to these challenges. This bill will streamline the permitting process for medium-scale systems while maintaining NYC’s strong safety standards and FDNY oversight.
Intro 53 of 2026: Regulation of indirect sources of air pollution. This bill would require the Commissioner of the NYC Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) to promulgate an indirect source rule to reduce emissions attributable to the use of indirect sources, such as warehouses or other structures that attract mobile sources of air pollution, such as vehicles. The indirect source rule would regulate certain large warehouses and any other indirect sources determined by the Commissioner. Many environmental justice neighborhoods are bearing the brunt of last mile facilities and large commercial vehicles that constantly circulate nearby, contributing to traffic congestion, poor air quality, public health, and safety concerns. NYLCV supports Intro 53 because developing an indirect source rule would improve air quality and public health. The rule would allow covered owners to have a menu of options they could utilize to meet their compliance obligation, including points for both acquiring and using zero-emission and near zero-emission vehicles, cargo bikes, and EV chargers.
Intro 781 of 2026: Requiring food service establishments to permit the use of reusable cups provided by customers. This bill would require all food service establishments in the city to allow customers to substitute their own reusable beverage cups in place of the single-use plastic beverage cups provided by those food service establishments. Single-use plastic products, which are designed to be used once and thrown away afterwards, contribute to our reliance on fossil fuels, harm residents, our waterways, and threaten the health of our local wildlife. When plastics are sent to landfills—which are historically located in low income and communities of color— they take centuries to decompose. NYLCV supports this bill because it aligns with New York City’s zero waste by 2030 goal and reduces plastic pollution, as well as decreases greenhouse gas emissions.
Intro 532 of 2026: Establishing a pilot program to install drinking fountains on fire hydrants. This bill would require NYC DEP and FDNY to establish a pilot program to install drinking fountains on at least 5 fire hydrants per borough. By increasing access to free drinking water in public spaces, the City can significantly reduce the reliance on single-use plastic water bottles, improve access to clean drinking water, and mitigate the impacts of extreme heat.
Intro 850 of 2026: Tracking the disposal of lead water service lines. This bill would require NYC DEP to track, and report to the mayor and the council, information regarding the department’s disposal of the lead water service lines that it removes and replaces. Lead is a poisonous heavy metal that causes significant adverse health effects, particularly in children. It is so poisonous that experts agree that there is no safe level of lead exposure. It is estimated that 1 in 5 New Yorkers may be drinking from lead or possible lead service lines. As DEP is committed to replacing lead service lines of property owners, this information must be disclosed to improve transparency and accountability.
Resolution 430 of 2026: Lead Pipe Replacement Act. (S6892/A7878). This Resolution calls upon the New York State Legislature to pass, and the Governor to sign S6892/A7878, the Lead Pipe Replacement Act, which requires water utilities across New York State to replace all lead pipes, regardless of the ownership status, at no cost to customers. This State bill provides a comprehensive framework to achieve 100% lead pipe replacement affordably, efficiently, and equitably. It also requires water utilities to offer lead service line replacements at no direct cost to customers, saving economically-struggling New Yorkers upwards of $10,000. It is critical for New York State to create a “gold standard” plan for lead pipe removal that ensures that the materials and labor used by public water systems statewide are of the highest quality.
Intro 93 of 2026: Expanding the bicycle parking station program. This bill would require the NYC Department of Transportation (DOT) to identify at least 5,000 locations within the city as potential sites for bicycle parking stations, and of such 5,000 locations, at least 2,000 locations within commercial corridors. Bicycles are a sustainable method of transportation that decreases fossil fuel use, improves traffic congestion by decreasing the use of private automobiles, and improves health and well-being. Increasing the amount of bike parking throughout the city is key to encouraging a shift away from fossil fuels towards micromobility. More bike parking, especially in commercial corridors, will also help New Yorkers who might not have parking space for their bikes in their homes or who use bicycles everyday for their job.
Intro 511 of 2026: Implementing daylighting barriers on street intersections. This bill would amend section 19-175.8 of the administrative code to set a requirement for the NYC Department of Transportation to implement daylighting barriers at a minimum of 1000 intersections per year. Additionally, the bill would prohibit standing or parking a vehicle within 20 feet of a crosswalk at an intersection, and require citywide community education and outreach efforts with regard to the change. Daylighting more street intersections throughout the city will not only improve safety but give us an opportunity to think holistically about reclaiming public space. This proven, life-saving measure will make our streets safer for all New Yorkers.
Intro 367 of 2026: Requiring DSNY to accept commercial solid waste at city-owned or operated marine transfer stations and city-owned or operated rail transfer stations. This bill would require the NYC Department of Sanitation to accept and process commercial solid waste at all city-owned or operated marine and rail transfer stations. This bill will also redirect commercial waste away from waste transfer stations and cut down on air pollution and greenhouse gas emissions. By shifting more waste processing to city-owned marine and rail facilities, Intro 367 will help alleviate these localized environmental harms and contribute to improved air quality, public health, and traffic in affected neighborhoods.