What's at stake:

Despite extraordinary efforts by New Yorkers across the state to defend NY’s climate law, Governor Hochul is poised to unilaterally and significantly weaken the Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act. These climate law rollbacks amount to profound, harmful changes to the trajectory of New York’s climate future.

Yet, we must keep lobbying our legislators to try to mitigate as much harm as possible. And there are significant bills on the table in the short window at the end of the 2026 legislative session that could help us speed up solar permitting, put money corporate utilities have squeezed from customers back into our pockets, and halt the expensive, environmentally catastrophic expansion of data centers across our state.

Send a letter to your elected representatives to let them know that, despite the short time frame, they must move to pass our 2026 Climate, Jobs & Justice Agenda priority bills:

• Data Center Moratorium (S.9144/A.10141) —Elements of this bill were included in the Responsible Data Center Development Act (S10642/A11560), which, if passed, will secure a 1-year moratorium on the development of data centers in New York State and more. 

• Solar Up Now, New York, or SUNNY Act (A.9111/S.8512B) — This bill was just passed in the state legislature! Now it's time for Governor Hochul to sign it.

• Accelerate Solar for Affordable Power (ASAP) Act (S.6570/A.8758) — Components of this bill were included in the state budget.

• Ratepayer Refund Act (S.07693/A.08150) — This bill was included in the state budget!

The letter you'll send:

Hi [LEGISLATOR NAME],

This message is sent to you by [YOUR NAME], a constituent in your district in zip code [YOUR ZIP].

The Governor's rollbacks to New York's climate law mark a dangerous turn in the trajectory of New York’s climate future. In the final days of this year's legislative session, I urge you to mitigate as much harm as possible to help our state speed up solar permitting and expand access to balcony solar, put money back in the pockets of ratepayers, and halt the expensive and environmentally catastrophic expansion of data centers across our state. In the final days of this year's legislative session, I am asking you to pass the following priority bills in NY Renews' 2026 Climate, Jobs & Justice Agenda:

Responsible Data Center Development Act (S10642/A11560) [previously, the Data Center Moratorium (S.9144/A.10141)]
This bill establishes a temporary moratorium on data center construction; requires utilities to establish an independent classification of service for large data centers; sets energy efficiency goals for data centers; provides some benefits for host communities; and sets labor standards for the construction of data centers.

Thank you for passing the Solar Up Now, New York, or SUNNY Act (A.9111/S.8512B)! Now, can you urge Governor Hochul to sign it? SUNNY cuts red tape so renters, homeowners, businesses, and schools can install plug-in solar to reduce their energy bills and cut emissions.

Thank you for including elements of the Accelerate Solar for Affordable Power (ASAP) Act (S.6570/A.8758) and the Ratepayer Refund Act (S.07693/A.08150) in the state budget. I hope you'll take these final steps to protect our climate and communities. 

Sincerely,

[YOUR NAME]