Scenic Hudson Urges Governor and the Legislature to Prioritize Green Infrastructure, Transportation Investments, and Modernization of State Land Acquisition in NYS Budget
CONTACT:
Pete Lopez, Executive Director of Policy, Advocacy & Science
518 378 8039, plopez@scenichudson.org
Riley Johndonnell, Director of Communications & Creative Strategies
845 473 4440 Ext. 222, rjohndonnell@scenichudson.org
For Immediate Release
HUDSON VALLEY – Scenic Hudson thanks Governor Kathy Hochul for her budget proposal that seeks to enhance the lives of all New Yorkers while safeguarding the state’s natural beauty and resources. With dedicated funds to expand public transportation, ensure access to clean water and fresh air, and promote viable and diverse family farms, the Governor is addressing the issues that matter most to New Yorkers. In a time when the State must be a bulwark against potential cuts to federal environmental and sustainable agricultural programs, we join with our partners across the state to encourage the Governor and the Legislature to make historic investments in environmental and sustainable agricultural programs that will safeguard our state’s health and inspirational beauty for generations to come.
Important aspects of the budget proposal include:
- $400 million for the Environmental Protection Fund
- $125 million over 10 years to remediate and restore industrial sites containing significant levels of hazardous waste
- $1 billion to reduce the state’s carbon emissions
- Over $150 million for coastal resiliency, Green Resiliency Grants, and the Resilient and Ready program
- $500 million in clean water infrastructure funding
- $200 million for State Parks capital improvements
- Strengthening Agricultural Districts across the state
As we anticipate the finalization of the state budget, we applaud Governor Hochul for her continued investment in the agricultural industry, conservation efforts, and cleaning up polluted sites; we encourage her to build upon her nation-leading work by expanding funding to key environmental and conservation programs. We respectfully request that the final budget include $500 million for the Environmental Protection Fund, $600 million for the Clean Water Infrastructure Act, and strategic enhancements to the state’s land acquisition process.
Scenic Hudson President Ned Sullivan said,“The Hudson Valley is home to extraordinarily beautiful and ecologically important natural resources. While New York has long led the nation in protecting such assets, the state’s land acquisition process needs significant reforms. We are grateful that Governor Hochul’s FY ’26 Executive Budget includes key changes, including a conservation exemption to the “Mansion Tax.” The Governor has also previously outlined other critical steps, including the use of private title insurance. Scenic Hudson looks forward to working with Governor Hochul, the Legislature, and the land trust community to ensure that these and other important reforms move forward so that we can help protect New York’s natural resources for generations to come.”
“Scenic Hudson is grateful for the Governor’s inclusion of funding for clean water infrastructure, climate resiliency, and strengthening New York agriculture,” said Pete Lopez, Executive Director of Policy, Advocacy & Science. “We reaffirm the importance of providing financial and technical resources and staff to help advance these efforts, even as we work to promote additional initiatives that will protect the environment and improve the quality of life for the people of the Hudson Valley and the state as a whole.”
