August 21, 2026

New York Takes On AI Data Centers

A statewide tour is bringing the fight to communities across New York.

The fight over AI data centers is going statewide. State Senator Kristen Gonzalez and Food & Water Watch are launching their “NY Fights AI Data Centers” tour, visiting more than a dozen communities to hear directly from residents confronting proposed data center projects.

The tour comes as New York grapples with a growing wave of data center proposals. There are currently 38 large data center projects in the state's interconnection queue, representing nearly 12,000 megawatts of potential new electricity demand.

Governor Hochul's statewide moratorium was an important first step, but New York needs lasting protections. Senator Gonzalez’s Responsible Data Center Development Act, which passed both houses with bipartisan support, would establish stronger requirements around energy and water use, public participation, labor standards, and community benefits.

As Senator Gonzalez and advocates take the fight directly to communities across our state, the message is clear: New York can and should embrace innovation without making New Yorkers pay the price.

Read more about the tour >>

Tell Governor Hochul to sign the Responsible Data Center Development Act >>

Who Stood Up for New York's Environment?

EANY's 2026 Legislative Scorecard is out!

This year's legislative session brought a major climate setback for New Yorkers — but it also showed how hard some of our lawmakers were willing to fight for strong environmental protections.

Launched this week, EANY's 2026 Legislative Scorecard tracks how every state legislator voted on key environmental and climate bills, including whether they defended our landmark climate law during this year's rollback fight. Just 37 of 213 legislators earned full marks for defending the state's climate law, while 73 publicly opposed the rollback at some point during the legislative fight.

The Scorecard also recognizes lawmakers who helped advance meaningful environmental victories, including the data center moratorium, Food Date Labeling Act, SUNNY Act, and PFAS drinking water protections — all of which passed both houses and now await Governor Hochul's signature, along with nine other bills we endorsed.

Want to know how your lawmakers did? Check out the Scorecard and send them an email letting them know NY’s environment should be a top priority in 2027.

View the Scorecard >>

Cooling New York’s Subways

Turning subway heat into a climate solution.

New York City is exploring an innovative way to tackle one of the city’s hottest problems, sweltering subway platforms. A new partnership among Mayor Zohran Mamdani, Governor Hochul, and the MTA will study a thermal energy network that could cool subway platforms, while capturing and storing that excess heat to warm nearby municipal buildings in the winter.

The proposed pilot at the Brooklyn Bridge-City Hall and Chambers Street station complex could be the first project of its kind in a U.S. transit system. The station is among the subway system’s hottest, with average summer temperatures reaching 96 degrees Fahrenheit in 2025.

As extreme heat becomes more frequent, New York needs creative solutions that make our communities safer while using energy more efficiently. This project is a promising example of how we can rethink aging infrastructure and turn a climate challenge into an opportunity.

Read more >>

What Happened to New York’s Climate Law?

Catch up on our conversation about the CLCPA rollback, and where we’ll go from here.

What happened to New York’s landmark climate law, and what does it mean for the state’s climate future? Watch the recent webinar that EANY co-hosted with Catskill Mountainkeeper about the 2026 changes to the Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act (CLCPA) and what comes next. 

The rollback is a setback, but it’s not the end of the fight. Watch the conversation to hear what these changes mean, what opportunities remain, and how we can build a stronger movement for climate action in New York.

Watch the webinar >>

Download the slides >>

The Fight for Clean Water

EANY makes the case for stronger PFAS protections.

EANY's Executive Director Vanessa Fajans-Turner and Director of Healthy Communities Niamh Moore recently spoke with Spectrum News about the urgent need for stronger protections to keep PFAS “forever chemicals” out of New York's water. Heavy rains are dumping dangerous chemical-laden runoff into our waterways, and those toxic chemicals make their way into our drinking water supply — and also can promote harmful algal blooms in lakes and rivers.

Sen. Brian Kavanagh’s bill to strengthen protections against PFAS in our drinking water passed both houses and is awaiting Governor Hochul’s signature. As the Trump administration rolls back federal environmental protections, we have an opportunity to lead at the state level. Governor Hochul should sign the PFAS drinking water legislation and ensure every New Yorker has access to safe, clean water.

Tell Gov. Hochul to protect New York's drinking water standards >> 

Read the NY1 story featuring Vanessa and Niamh >>

Join the Fight for a Cleaner, Healthier Future

Your generous support has been crucial in advancing New York’s environmental priorities. But we need your help to keep up the fight, especially in these times. By donating to Environmental Advocates NY, you’ll bolster our efforts to lead on the issues that matter most to all New Yorkers — clean air, safe water, and a sustainable future. Please give today, and power our work for a healthier state.