Sierra Club applauds bold climate and environmental commitments in Governor Hochul’s 2022 State of the State

Albany, New York — Against the backdrop of surging COVID-19 infections and increasingly severe climate change events, Governor Hochul delivered a State of the State address that made significant commitments to advance clean drinking water, restore wetlands and natural habitats, advance renewable energy, ramp up electric vehicle infrastructure and protect public health from harmful emissions that are intensifying the climate crisis. 

Even as the scoping process to implement New York’s signature climate law unfolds over the course of this year, the Legislature and Governor cannot wait to enact further policies that reduce carbon emissions and make New York more resilient to an increasingly unstable climate. The Sierra Club looks forward to working with Governor Hochul and the Legislature to enact meaningful solutions to these challenges.

In response to the Wetlands announcements, Roger Downs, Conservation Director, Sierra Club Atlantic Chapter, issued the following statement:

"We applaud Governor Hochul for highlighting the need to make New York more climate resilient by protecting and enhancing the state’s natural infrastructure, beginning with an enhanced $4 billion ‘Clean Water, Clean Air, and Green Jobs Environmental Bond Act.’ If we are truly going to confront the challenges presented by climate change and the imperative to make our communities more resilient to increasing floods, droughts and ecological disruption – protecting wetlands may be the most important and cost effective thing we can do.  Governor Hochul’s commitment to reforming the regressive regulations that govern wetlands protection, rules that have been systematically weakened over the past two decades by regressive court decisions and unnecessary bureaucratic barriers, demonstrates a kind of environmental leadership we have not seen for decades."

In response to the Electric Vehicle announcements, Katherine García, Clean Transportation for All Campaign Director, Sierra Club, issued the following statement:

“We commend the landmark proposal for setting a statewide target for transitioning to electric school buses by 2035. Governor Hochul's leadership demonstrates her commitment to protecting the health of the more than 2 million students in New York that rely on the state’s approximately 50,000 school buses to get to and from school each day. This is good news for students, school bus drivers, and communities across the state."

“The $1 billion towards electric vehicle infrastructure will help maximize the benefits of electric vehicles for all of New York’s residents. We applaud this investment, which will help reduce transportation emissions and accelerate climate progress. We look forward to working with Governor Hochul's administration to help make electric vehicles as affordable, accessible, and convenient to charge as possible.” 

In response to the Clean Energy announcements, Allison Considine, Senior Campaign Representative, Sierra Club, issued the following statement:

“Governor Hochul’s announcement of $500 million in investments for offshore wind, on the eve of the State’s third solicitation and the upcoming NY Bight Lease sale, is a win for New York communities, workers, businesses, and our climate. This significant investment, when paired with commitments to double battery storage to 6 GW by 2030, planning to phase out dirty peaker plants and achieve 2 million all-electric homes by 2030, demonstrates that New York will continue to lead the nation in transitioning from fossil fuels to zero-emission electricity.”