Dear Friend,
We’re sending you a bit of a different email today. We know we’re normally sending you urgent actions and comments and petitions to keep powerful interests from endangering our future. Today, we want to take a beat and celebrate two huge victories that came together in the last 48 hours.
Today, our movement won a battle against one of the most powerful industries of our time when Governor Hochul signed S.8417/A.8888, a bill that will stop the fossil fuel industry and gas utilities from building approximately $600 million a year worth of new, climate-killing fracked gas pipelines using our money.
This is huge.
We have been fighting for this legislation for four years with the Renewable Heat Now Campaign, and the gas industry has spent millions of dollars trying to stop us from passing it. Why? Because they want to continue wasting our money to build pipelines, collect a hefty return on their investment, and pass off the ever-escalating costs of maintaining this infrastructure onto ratepayers - a projected $28 billion between now and 2043.
Well, no more.
Over the past four years, what kept this fight going was every single one of you that ever picked up the phone, sent an email, traveled with us to Albany, showed up at a press conference, spoke during a hearing, or even just sent us a few bucks so we could keep fighting. We are so grateful for your support, and we are thrilled to be going into 2026, boosted by this huge win.
![]()
![]()
If that wasn’t enough… we also scored a major breakthrough yesterday in our fight to save the Empower+ program, a critical energy efficiency program that saves money by saving energy. EmPower+ is one of the most important programs for energy efficiency and electrification; it’s the main way that low and moderate income residents in our communities are able to improve our homes and live cleaner, greener, healthier, and more affordable lives. We’ve been working for months with allies to stop planned cuts to the program. We’ve held press conferences, sent huge sign-on letters, scored several media stories, and demonstrated to save this program. Finally, we learned yesterday that NYSERDA will be allocating a record amount of funding for the program from the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative Funds. Combined with increased funds we won from the Public Service Commission and from the State Budget earlier this year, the program won’t be shrinking this year or next year.
We’re thankful that the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority came to the table to find the money and support households that are already facing difficult financial situations due to other federal and state assistance cuts. You can read more about this win here.
We hope this news buoys your spirits; it’s been a dark year, with attacks on marginalized communities from all angles. The fight for climate, environmental, and energy justice does not end here - in 2026, we’ll be back working to implement these wins. Here’s a few ways you can join us in the fight!
Reach out to our Volunteer Coordinator, Alex at [email protected] and plug into opportunities to join our work, no matter where you live in New York.
Share the job description for our open Communications Director position and help us find someone great!
Send us a couple bucks using the button below! Every dollar goes towards our small but mighty team that’s working towards a livable future, and no donation is too small.
With gratitude for your perseverance,
All of us here at AGREE
