Final NYS Budget Leaves Room for Legislative Leadership on Energy Affordability, Climate, and Environment Before End of 2025 Session

Earthjustice issued a statement regarding the finalized SFY2025-26 New York State Budget, describing it as a "mixed bag" that provides significant funding for climate and environmental protections but fails to address energy affordability.

• The SFY2025-26 Budget includes several funding allocations for climate and environmental initiatives, including $1 billion for the Sustainable Future Program, $425 million for the Environmental Protection Fund (described as a "new funding high"), and $500 million for the Clean Water Infrastructure Act. Additionally, the budget provides $2 million for the Green Affordable Pre-Electrification program, $19.25 million for the Climate Resilient Farms Program, and $340 million for universal free school meals for 2.7 million students.
• Earthjustice identifies significant omissions in the budget regarding energy affordability, specifically noting the exclusion of funding for the Energy Affordability Program and the omission of the NY HEAT Act (A.4870A/S.4158).
• The budget introduces a ban on PFAS in firefighter gear starting in 2028, prohibiting intentionally added PFAS or those exceeding levels determined by the DEC.
• The final budget includes amendments to the Electric School Bus program that allow school districts up to two two-year extensions to meet requirements, provided they partner with NYSERDA for the second extension and that NYSERDA determines the district cannot meet requirements for the first.

APA

Moran, L. (2025). Final NYS Budget Leaves Room for Legislative Leadership on Energy Affordability, Climate, and Environment Before End of 2025 Session. Earthjustice. https://earthjustice.org/press/2025/earthjustice-statement-final-budget-leaves-room-for-legislative-leadership-on-energy-affordability-climate-and-environment-before-end-of-2025-session

Chicago

Moran, Liz. Final NYS Budget Leaves Room for Legislative Leadership on Energy Affordability, Climate, and Environment Before End of 2025 Session. Earthjustice, 2025. https://earthjustice.org/press/2025/earthjustice-statement-final-budget-leaves-room-for-legislative-leadership-on-energy-affordability-climate-and-environment-before-end-of-2025-session.

Wikipedia

{{cite press release |last1=Moran |first1=Liz |title=Final NYS Budget Leaves Room for Legislative Leadership on Energy Affordability, Climate, and Environment Before End of 2025 Session |publisher=Earthjustice |date=8 May 2025 |url=https://earthjustice.org/press/2025/earthjustice-statement-final-budget-leaves-room-for-legislative-leadership-on-energy-affordability-climate-and-environment-before-end-of-2025-session |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@misc{moran2025final, author = {Moran, Liz}, title = {{Final NYS Budget Leaves Room for Legislative Leadership on Energy Affordability, Climate, and Environment Before End of 2025 Session}}, publisher = {Earthjustice}, year = {2025}, month = may, url = {https://earthjustice.org/press/2025/earthjustice-statement-final-budget-leaves-room-for-legislative-leadership-on-energy-affordability-climate-and-environment-before-end-of-2025-session}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }