By Georgia Good
In November 2022, New York voters passed the Clean Water, Clean Air and Green Jobs Environmental Bond Act. The historic investment made $4.2 billion available for environmental projects. Three years on, we’re checking on the progress.
First, an intro to the Environmental Bond Act
The Environmental Bond Act made $4.2 billion available for environmental and community projects. It was passed in the State Legislature in 2022 and was put to voters as a ballot measure in that year’s election.
In New York State, there hadn’t been a bond act dealing with the environment since 1996. With climate impacts increasing, this kind of once-in-a-generation investment was needed more than ever. Land conservation, flooding protections, ensuring water quality can keep up with the growing population, and providing green jobs are all core parts of the Bond Act.
NYLCV was a leading member of the Vote Yes for Clean Water and Jobs Coalition, which included labor unions, environmental advocates, farmers, firefighters, construction workers, land trusts, local government groups, and many more, who together campaigned across the state in support of the measure.
On November 8, 2022, it was approved by New Yorkers with over 60% support across the political divide, proving once again that clean air and clean water are not partisan issues.
Under the Bond Act, local governments, state agencies and partners can access funding to protect water quality, drive climate adaptation and resilience, and create green jobs in New York. 35% of benefits – with a goal of reaching 40% – must be directed toward disadvantaged communities, who are disproportionately affected by environmental and climate impacts.
The New York Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) breaks down projects into four categories:
- Restoration and flood risk reduction ($1.1 billion)
- Open space land conservation and recreation ($650 million)
- Climate change mitigation ($1.5 billion)
- Water quality improvement and resilient infrastructure ($650 million)
Three years on, what has the Bond Act achieved?
Though the full $4.2 billion hasn’t yet been deployed, grants are being awarded and projects are being planned and operationalized. Here are some highlights.
Funding guidelines
First, a statewide, ten-stop listening tour was conducted in 2023, to educate New Yorkers and gather input on guidelines and priorities for the funding.
Eligibility guidelines were released for various programs (e.g. flood risk projects, clean building projects), so that agencies and partners understand how to apply for funding.
This year, DEC collaborated with the New York State Office of Information Technology Services to improve the Bond Act website, to make funding and project progress more transparent.
Safe water
In April 2024, the first water infrastructure project funded by the Bond Act began construction: the Town of Lyons received $804,655 to improve its wastewater treatment plant, improving local water quality.
$200 million was invested in the state’s Water Infrastructure Improvement and Intermunicipal Grant program, which funds 102 water infrastructure projects across the state.
Greener schools
In January 2024, $100 million was made available through the Clean Green Schools initiative, run by the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA). This helps under-resourced public schools become healthier, more resilient, and more sustainable – decarbonizing buildings, improving indoor air quality, and reducing emissions (e.g. via heat pumps and electric kitchen equipment). 1,500 schools across 85 districts in 35 counties are receiving technical support on this.
Another $200 million was made available for zero-emission school buses and charging infrastructure, through NYSERDA’s New York School Bus Incentive Program. 88 school districts have applied for funds to purchase 529 buses, and 400 districts are working with NYSERDA to create Fleet Electrification Plans.
Climate resilience and infrastructure
In February 2025, $80 million was allocated to three climate resiliency projects. The Resilient Watersheds Grant Program is working to strengthen infrastructure and protect New Yorkers from the impacts of extreme weather ($45 million). The Coastal Rehabilitation and Resilience Projects Program is using nature-based solutions to enhance community resilience, with added environmental, economic and social benefits ($20 million). The Inland Flooding and Local Waterfront Revitalization Implementation Projects Program focuses on improving waterfront and watershed resiliency and reducing climate impacts, particularly flooding ($15 million).
During Climate Week NYC in September, Governor Kathy Hochul announced $30 million in funding awards from Bond Act for 19 projects designed to enhance community resilience to extreme weather events and flooding across New York State, including $2,250,000 for Genesee River flood resiliency in the City of Rochester, $3,555,000 for stormwater system upgrades in the Village of Freeport, over $4 million for Salt Marsh restoration at Cupsogue Beach in Suffolk County, and over $2 million for the Save the Sound’s Big Rock Wetland Restoration Project.
Green spaces
$13.1 million has been allocated to state-administered forestry projects to plant 25 million trees by 2033.
This funding also supports construction of the Adirondack Rail Trail, a 34-mile multipurpose trail from Lake Placid to Tupper Lake, which opened this month.
What still needs to be done?
Though some construction and implementation has started, many of the Bond-Act-funded programs are still in the grant-making and planning phases. Seeing the rollout of projects, and measuring long-term impacts – e.g. improvements in air quality, water quality, equity and climate resilience – will take time, but “expediting funding to the appropriate programs, and monitoring the timely investment of those funds,” is a top priority on NYLCV’s State Agenda.
Interested in learning more?
New York State has an interactive map that tracks the status of all projects funded by the Bond Act.
The Annual Report for the Environmental Bond Act, for the 2024-25 fiscal year, details priorities, funding allocation and projects currently underway.
Georgia Good is the Communications Fellow at the New York League of Conservation Voters. She’s a Steinhardt Graduate Scholar in Environmental Conservation Education at NYU, with a focus on climate communications and advocacy. She’s had comms roles at Climate Arc, the Cambridge Centre for Climate Engagement, and Mercy Corps, and has a BA in English from UCL, UK.