Albany, NY – New York State Senator Pete Harckham had four of his bills passed by the Senate yesterday as part of its package of Earth Day legislation, which were advanced to protect New Yorkers and the state’s natural environment. 

The bills included measures to invest in electrification and solar infrastructure, reduce waste and emissions, and remove harmful substances from the state’s environment.

Among Harckham’s bills passed was the Accelerate Solar for Affordable Power (ASAP) Act (S.6570A) which raise New York’s distributed solar target from 10 gigawatts (GW) to 20 GW by 2035. The ASAP Act would also streamline the process for connecting new projects to the grid. Additionally, the bill revives the NY-SUN program, making solar more accessible to homeowners, and directs the Public Service Commission to advance reforms to the utility interconnection process to ensure timely and cost-effective integration of new small-scale solar energy projects. According to a study from Synapse Energy Economics, the enactment of this legislation will save ratepayers $1 billion per year.

Jonathan Cohen, Policy Director of the New York Solar Energy Industries Association (NYSEIA), said, “Independent analysis is clear: If we build 20 gigawatts of rooftop and community solar by 2035 and meet our energy storage goals, New Yorkers will save a billion dollars every single year in avoided energy costs. The ASAP Act is how we unlock those savings. It aligns our solar goals with what benefits ratepayers most and fixes outdated grid‑connection processes that are driving up costs. This bill is the most effective, immediate step we can take to make energy affordability a reality for every household in New York.”

“The ASAP Act will save consumers over $1 billion annually, enhance grid reliability and create economic multiples of well-paying jobs and new industries in New York,” said Harckham. “Additionally, by ramping up the implementation of solar energy systems statewide we will provide cleaner, healthier air to breathe in our communities. Simply, codifying our commitment to solar energy is needed more today than ever before.”

To see a video of Sen. Harckham speaking in favor of the transition to solar energy and his ASAP Act on the floor of the Senate, click here.

Another Harckham bill (S.1668) that passed will enable the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) to administer a program that would provide grants, loans, and other assistance in order to help residences switch from delivered propane or fuel-oil heating systems to electric heat pumps.

Two other passed bills aim to protect the environment: one (S.4046) would prohibit the use of grade number four fuel oil in any building or facility in New York State after July 1, 2030; and the other (S.6765A) would extend and enhance the Mercury Thermostat Collection Act. Among other measures, it would require manufacturers and producer responsibility organizations to submit a mercury collection plan and create a cash incentive to turn in old mercury thermostats for proper and safe disposal.

The Senate’s Earth Day legislation package also included bills that were passed to streamline the replacement process for lead service lines, facilitate the replacement and redevelopment of the state’s fossil fuel facilities, establish an electric landscaping rebate program, prohibit harmful substances in products such as cosmetics and wipes, and monitor and prevent harmful algal blooms in the state’s water resources.

The New York State Senate’s Earth Day legislation package was passed just as the American Lung Association released its annual “State of the Air” report card, which notes that 33.5 million children in the United States—almost 50% of those under 18—are living in areas with failing air pollution grades. Also, from 2022 and 2024, more than 125 million people—about 38% of the country’s population—were living with high smog and ozone levels that put their health at risk, the highest levels in six years.

The same report gave Westchester, Putnam and Rockland counties an F grade for ozone pollution.

“When it comes to transitioning from dirty, expensive fossil fuels to affordable clean energy and effectively safeguarding our environment, New York needs a bold vision and real action,” said Harckham. “I thank Majority Leader Stewart-Cousins for bringing these bills to the floor, and I thank my talented Senate colleagues for their important contributions to the Earth Day legislative package as well.”