Support $1 Billion for the Sustainable Future Fund For Inclusion in the Final State Budget

The New York State AFL-CIO, representing 2.5 million union members, retirees, and their families, support continuation of the above-referenced funding in the final budget agreement. 

Last year the Governor and Legislature agreed to allocate $1 billion for the Sustainable Future Fund: $200 million for Thermal Energy Networks (TENs) at various SUNY and CUNY campuses; and the remaining funds for school decarbonization, clean transportation, and renewable energy development. The New York State AFL-CIO strongly supports these investments, and we urge the continuation of this funding and the associated projects.  

The Sustainable Future Fund is necessary to help meet the emissions reduction goals included in the CLCPA, and to help  improve air quality, diversify sources of energy, lower energy costs, accelerate decarbonization, and offset the abandonment of renewable energy generation by the federal government. Commitment to the Sustainable Future Fund will also improve the health and environment of the schools, colleges, and other entities that will benefit from the projects.  

Additionally, these projects create thousands of good-paying union jobs in construction and utilities, as well as in ongoing operations, maintenance, and manufacturing. We strongly urge the continuation of this program by approving an additional $1 billion with a similar allocation to last year ($200 million for TENs projects and the remaining for school decarbonization, clean transportation, and renewable energy development; including Mitchell Lama housing renewable energy.)   

For further information contact the Legislative Department at 518-436-8516.