Fighting Through the Hard Times
Building Local Power, Optimism in 2026
Welcome Back! Three Major Climate Wins to Kick Off 2026 Made Possible by YOU!
Welcome back, and Happy New Year! As 2025 came to a close, New York State passed important climate legislation - real wins made possible by YOUR sustained public pressure and people-powered advocacy.
1. Governor Hochul signed the repeal of the 100-Foot Rule (including a one-year implementation delay, which she insisted on), a major pillar of the NY HEAT Act. This bill, the result of a years-long campaign, will help end a rigged system where fracked gas companies receive subsidies for their infrastructure projects. By leveling the playing field for clean, affordable solutions such as heat pumps and weatherization, New Yorkers will save hundreds of millions of dollars each year.
2. The Public Renewables Transparency Act was also signed into law and moves us closer to true energy democracy, making the New York Power Authority more accountable to the people and shining a light on the progress of our publicly owned renewable energy projects.
3. Thanks to the activism of people like you- NYSERDA, New York’s renewable energy agency, has proposed a big financial boost for EmPower+ starting in 2026. The program provides homes with free energy assessments and upgrades, such as weatherization, heat pumps, and electrical improvements, cutting bills, improving health, and reducing fossil fuel use. Expanding EmPower+ proves that grassroots action can win real climate and affordability solutions. Read Sane Energy’s Letter of Support to NYSERDA.
These three victories did not happen by chance; they happened because organizers, advocates, and communities stayed engaged, spoke out, and demanded change.
Your activism got the goods, and in a challenging moment, these wins bring real hope and momentum into the new year. Thank you, thank you, thank you!
Keep Pushing Governor Hochul! Public Renewables in the Executive Budget and Bring Back Offshore Wind!
Governor Hochul’s State of the State address is coming up on January 13th. Tell the governor that you want New York to be a climate leader by including $200 million in the executive budget to build publicly-owned renewable energy projects. The team at Public Power New York, a coalition Sane Energy helps lead, has made an easy letter tool for you to use.
Let’s make sure Governor Hochul knows affordability equals climate leadership, and that action on climate needs to be a top priority if she wants to be re-elected next year.
We are outraged by the Trump administration’s decision to halt five offshore wind projects, including Empire Wind and Sunrise Wind off New York’s coast. These projects were already under construction, and this decision throws thousands of New Yorkers out of work, tanks billions of dollars in investments, and robs nearly one million homes and businesses of clean, renewable energy.
Governor Hochul attempted to cut an ill-conceived deal with Trump, giving him the NESE pipeline in exchange for Empire Wind, rather than holding the line for New Yorkers, the law, and the Earth.
Congratulations Zohran, Sean, Sharon, and Dorcey! Building Local Power Across New York State Gets the Goods!
In New York City, we were deeply moved by Zohran’s inauguration on January 1. The commitment, diversity, and sense of possibility on display made us proud to live and work in New York. We look forward to continuing to work with the Mamdani administration, building on our previous collaboration with Zohran at the state level on utility rate cases and closing the Astoria fracked gas power plant
We also congratulate the incoming mayors of Buffalo, Syracuse, and Albany, progressive leaders committed to delivering for the people of their cities and to building local power across New York State.
In case you missed it, check out our 2025 Year in Review video and look for your face! We are excited to move into 2026 with you with the same fierce commitment to climate justice that is needed in our neighborhoods.
Thank you!
With all our love,
Kim, Elliot, Mike, JK, and Claire
