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NYPIRG is a leading force in protecting the public from exposure to hazardous chemicals, increasing citizen involvement in environmental decision-making, and expanding the public's right-to-know. We advocate for safe drinking water, clean air, renewable energy, pollution prevention, and eliminating toxics in our environment. We are also deeply engaged in efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and combat global warming. NYPIRG works at the local, state, and national level to achieve our goal of a cleaner, and healthier and more sustainable environment for all New Yorkers.
Victories
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2010 - NYPIRG has already taken an enormous step toward reducing New York’s greenhouse gas emissions by securing the passage of the Global Warming Pollution Control Act in the New York State Assembly. The bill requires polluters to reduce their aggregate greenhouse gas emissions by 80% by 2050, using 1990 emissions levels as the baseline.
2009 - NYPIRG scores a landmark victory with the enactment of the Bigger Better Bottle Bill in New York State. By expanding our nickel deposit to include bottled water, billions of additional beverage containers will be recycled annually rather than ending up as litter or in landfills. The updated Bottle Bill also includes financial incentives to boost recycling around the state and recovers 80% of the unclaimed deposits so they can be put back to work for the public rather than becoming windfall profits for the beverage companies.
2008 - NYPIRG helps reform the state’s brownfields cleanup program by boosting incentives for better cleanups while reducing the program's financial exposure risk. NYPIRG strengthens the state's net metering law, which encourages consumers to generate wind and solar power on-site by allowing them to sell excess electricity back to the utility companies. NYPIRG also secures new green building requirements for the state, which mandate that new state buildings and major renovations include measures that reduce energy consumption and use more recycled materials.
2007 - NYPIRG successfully advocates for new regulations that require coal-fired power plants to reach a 90% minimum reduction of pollution from mercury, a heavy metal that can impair a child’s ability to walk, talk, read, write and learn. NYPIRG wins a victory for consumers and the environment when Governor Spitzer announces a historic energy plan to reduce electricity use by 15% by 2015 and global warming pollution by 12.8 million tons per year — conserving energy, saving New Yorkers money and protecting them from the very real threat of climate change.
2006 - NYPIRG wins a record $225 million for the state’s Environmental Protection Fund, up from $150 million the previous year, including $17.5 million for municipal and other critical recycling. NYPIRG also wins a victory for the residents of Western New York and the Hudson Valley when Erie and Ulster counties permanently opt in to New York State's Pesticide Neighbor Notification law.
2005 - NYPIRG successfully advocates for the Appliance and Equipment Energy Efficiency Standards Act, which saves consumers and municipalities money on their energy costs, cuts power plant pollution, reduces our reliance on foreign oil, and diminishes the likelihood of summer blackouts and brownouts by easing the burden on New York’s power grid. NYPIRG also works to pass legislation that exempts the sale and installation of residential solar energy systems from sales tax, providing economic incentives for the increased use of solar energy. NYPIRG spearheads the effort in New York City to enact a law that will begin restricting hazardous pesticide use on all city land, protecting the health of millions of New Yorkers.
2004 - NYPIRG safeguards the Renewable Portfolio Standard, which requires that 24% of the electricity sold in the state will come from renewable sources like wind, solar and small-hydro by 2013. After building public pressure to expand New York’s commitment to renewable energy, NYPIRG successfully blocks attempts by the power industry to include garbage incineration as a source of renewable energy.
2003 - NYPIRG successfully fights to replenish the state’s Superfund, which is used to finance the clean-up of toxic waste sites, without weakening remediation standards. Because of NYPIRG’s work, both Erie and Tompkins County opt in to the Pesticide Neighbor Notification bill, which requires commercial lawn applicators to provide written notice to abutting properties at least 48 hours prior to most lawn pesticide applications.
2001 - NYPIRG stops legislation that would have weakened cleanup and liability standards at Superfund toxic sites. NYPIRG also supports legislation that creates an incentive for power plants to reduce pollution and increase electrical output by shortening the timeline of the review process compared to other proposals.
2000 - NYPIRG helps spearhead a multi-year effort in support of the Pesticide Neighbor Notification bill, which allows counties to pass local laws requiring commercial lawn applicators to provide written notice to abutting properties at least 48 hours prior to most lawn pesticide applications.
1999 - Governor Pataki announces that he will order New York’s power plants to reduce emissions of nitrogen oxides and sulfur dioxide substantially below the requirements of the federal Clean Air Act.
1998 - In an effort to reduce air pollution, NYPIRG fights for passage of legislation that requires the inspection of large trucks and buses for proper tailpipe maintenance.
1997 - NYPIRG helps negotiate a $1.4 billion agreement to improve drinking water quality for 10 million residents of New York City and Westchester County.
1996 - NYPIRG plays a key role in passing two major environmental laws: the first prevents New York City’s proposed Brooklyn Navy Yard garbage incinerator from opening and closes the world’s largest garbage dump—the Fresh Kills Landfill on Staten Island—by 2002; the second creates a Pesticide Use Registry to help the public and health researchers address environmental links to breast cancer and other illnesses. NYPIRG also helps shape and works to enact the $1.75 billion Clean Water/Clean Air Bond Act.
1994 - NYPIRG leads the successful effort to ban tobacco use on all school grounds in New York State.
1993 - NYPIRG helps pass the Clean Air Compliance Act. An Environmental Protection Fund is established to provide money for recycling and other environmental projects.
1990 - NYPIRG works to enact passage of laws mandating the recycling of hazardous chlorofluorocarbons. In coalition, NYPIRG wins significant protections for the lower Hudson River marine habitat.
1986 - NYPIRG victories include the Environmental Quality Bond Act, which provides $1.2 billion for toxic dump cleanup, and legislation giving victims of toxic exposure access to the court system.
1983 - NYPIRG victories include “community right to know,” an Executive Order that requires disclosure of corporate dumping practices.
1982 - The Bottle Return Law, which establishes the 5-cent deposit on cans and bottles, is adopted after a 10-year NYPIRG campaign. A $30 million Superfund is established to expand New York’s toxic dump clean-up program.
1977 - NYPIRG helps with passage of the Home Insulation and Energy Conservation Act (HIECA).
Hydrofracking: Unconventional gas extraction method is a cause for extreme concern. (read more)
Climate Change: Climate change is the most serious environmental threat facing our planet. (read more)
Solid Waste: Every day, New Yorkers generate more than 50,000 tons of household waste. (read more)
Toxics: We are exposed to chemicals in every aspect of our daily lives, many of which are hazardous to our health.(read more)
Energy: Past energy policy choices have saddled New Yorkers with a whole host of problems. (read more)
Air Quality: New York has some of the worst air quality in the nation. (read more)
Watershed Protection Project: NYPIRG works to protect New York City's watershed areas to safeguard the drinking water of millions of New Yorkers.(read more)