Assemblywoman Buttenschon (D-Utica/Rome) helped pass a package of legislation that promotes the use of renewable energy and reduces harmful pollutants, contaminants, and emissions in honor of Earth Day.

The package builds on the 2019 legislation that Assemblywoman Buttenschon cosponsored which fought to combat climate change, including the historic Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act of 2019 (CLCPA), which sets goals to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and increase our use of renewable energy (A08429).

“Conserving our environment is critical not only for future generations but for our families today. This year’s state budget made critical investments in environmental conservation, provided funding for clean water infrastructure, and fought to protect our farmlands,” Buttenschon stated. “This legislation further acts to protect public health by setting critical environmental standards and enacting opportunities that will reduce and mitigate the effects of climate change and preserve our natural resources for generations to come.”

The passed legislation seeks to reach its anticipated goal by 2035 by extending renewable energy initiatives set in the Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act. 

In honor of Earth Day, the Assembly built on legislation that will:

• Sets zero-emissions goals for the transportation industry, including that all in-state sales of cars and trucks be zero-emissions by 2035 (A4302)
• Increases electric vehicle accessibility by creating a more flexible billing system for charging stations (A3876)
• Cuts down on plastic waste by banning hotels from providing small hospitality bottles for personal care products (A5082)
• Decreases the use of products on roadways that contain chemicals harmful to our families, wildlife, and the environment (A903)

“Several large car manufacturers and multiple hotel chains have already begun implementing eco-friendly changes that are crucial towards building a sustainable future for our families, but our work is far from done,” Buttenschon stated.