Scenic Hudson Statement on Governor Hochul’s 2025 State of the State Address
For Immediate Release
CONTACT: Riley Johndonnell, Director of Communications & Creative Strategies
845 473 4440 Ext. 222, rjohndonnell@scenichudson.org
HUDSON VALLEY – Scenic Hudson released the following statement about Governor Kathy Hochul’s 2025 State of the State address, in which she outlined her policy agenda for the year ahead. The organization highlighted her dedication to maintaining the state’s leadership in and commitment to clean energy and environmental resiliency within her broader effort to advance economic development and address affordability.
Fresh air, clean drinking water, and healthy food are essentials of life that every New Yorker deserves access to. The Governor’s continued efforts to roll out funds from the 2022 Environmental Bond Act and achieve the trailblazing goals of the 2019 Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act (CLCPA) are critical steps toward providing those essentials to every New York family and individual.
Scenic Hudson President Ned Sullivan said, “In Governor Hochul’s State of the State Address, she proposed key reforms that would greatly improve the State’s land acquisition process, including modernizing title insurance, granting the Department of Environmental Conservation authority to acquire conservation easements, and funding conservation efforts through nonprofit organizations. Those changes would expedite land acquisitions for land trusts and increase the amount of protected lands throughout the state, effectively protecting our natural heritage for future generations. I commend Governor Hochul for taking this important step toward protecting New York’s precious natural resources and reaching the state’s conservation goals. Scenic Hudson is proud to partner with Governor Hochul to help ensure that New York remains a national leader in land conservation.”
Pete Lopez, Scenic Hudson Executive Director of Policy, Advocacy and Science said, “The Governor reaffirmed her commitment to protecting clean air and water through a revitalization of New York State’s Superfund program. The Governor announced plans to reauthorize the Superfund program with new tools that will accelerate the cleanup of hazardous waste sites and tackle dangerous contaminants like PFAS. We encourage similarly swift action on the Hudson River Superfund Site, which is one of the largest Superfund sites in the country. We are hopeful that the Governor can find resources in the upcoming state budget to promote robust sediment sampling and an updated angler survey. This would reinforce the important work that EPA is undertaking to reduce PCBs and protect public health.”
Stephen Ballentine, Director of Environmental Advocacy, Government Relations & Public Policy said, “We commend the Governor on her proposal to invest $1 billion to streamline renewable energy development, as well as the significant progress that she has made in implementing the Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act (CLCPA). We understand that the Governor is pursuing the Cap and Invest Program, which is a fundamental element of the CLCPA and is necessary for New York to meet its climate goals. We respectfully encourage the Governor to ensure that the Cap and Invest Program is implemented as quickly as possible, that it prioritizes equity and fairness, and that it aligns with the CLCPA’s emissions reductions targets.”
Government Relations Manager Carli Fraccarolli said, “We are excited about the Governor’s initiative to protect more farmland with Bond Act dollars by building capacity within New York’s land trust community. As we look toward the release of Governor Hochul’s proposed budget, we support the Governor’s continued investment in public health, environmental protection, and climate solutions. We respectfully encourage the Governor to build on her strong environmental legacy by increasing the Environmental Protection Fund to $500 million, raising Clean Water Infrastructure Act funding to $600 million, and continuing to invest in speedy, effective implementation of the Environmental Bond Act.”
