New York is making another major investment in its clean energy future. During Climate Week, Governor Kathy Hochul announced the second installment of the Sustainable Future Program, committing nearly $1 billion toward programs that will lower energy costs, improve air quality, expand renewable energy, and modernize the state's energy infrastructure.

The investment is part of the Governor's new Clean, Highly Affordable, Reliable, Grid Expansion (CHARGE) agenda, a comprehensive strategy focused on making New York's energy system more affordable, reliable, and prepared for growing electricity demand.

Helping New Yorkers Save Money

A significant portion of the funding is dedicated to helping households reduce energy costs through energy efficiency upgrades and clean heating technologies.

Programs receiving funding include:

• EmPower+ ($150 million): Free home energy assessments, weatherization improvements, and heat pump installations for income-eligible New Yorkers.
• Affordable Green Transition for Housing ($150 million): Energy-efficient upgrades for affordable housing, including investments in NYCHA developments, Mitchell-Lama housing, and all-electric multifamily buildings.
• Thermal Energy Networks ($150 million): Expanding neighborhood-scale clean heating and cooling systems that reduce reliance on fossil fuels while lowering emissions.

These investments help families lower monthly utility bills while making homes healthier and more comfortable year-round.

Healthier Schools and Stronger Communities

The announcement also includes $50 million for the Clean Green Schools Program, which helps public schools improve indoor air quality, increase energy efficiency, and reduce carbon emissions. Clean, efficient school buildings benefit students, teachers, and staff by creating healthier learning environments while reducing long-term operating costs for school districts.

Additional investments will support community resilience through:

• Municipal recycling and food waste reduction programs
• Climate-smart farming practices
• Urban forestry and tree planting
• Improvements to state parks, forests, trails, and public recreation areas

Expanding Renewable Energy Across New York

The Sustainable Future Program continues New York's investment in renewable energy with:

• $200 million for the NY-Sun Program, expanding incentives for residential, commercial, municipal, and multifamily solar projects.
• $100 million for NYPA Renewables, allowing the New York Power Authority to finance additional public renewable energy projects.

Expanding clean energy generation helps diversify New York's electricity supply, improves grid reliability, and supports the transition to a cleaner energy economy.

Planning the Grid of the Future

Alongside the funding announcement, Governor Hochul unveiled the Energy Infrastructure Development Plan (EIDP), a long-term strategy to guide how New York builds and upgrades its electric grid.

As electricity demand continues to grow from building electrification, advanced manufacturing, electric vehicles, and emerging technologies like artificial intelligence—the plan will help coordinate investments in transmission, renewable generation, distributed energy resources, and battery energy storage. The goal is to ensure New York's electric grid remains reliable while supporting economic growth and the state's transition to clean energy.

What This Means for New Yorkers

This investment reflects New York's continued commitment to making clean energy accessible and affordable. By expanding renewable energy, improving building efficiency, supporting healthier schools, and modernizing energy infrastructure, these programs aim to deliver immediate savings for residents while building a more resilient energy system for the future.

At Renewable Energy Long Island, we know that strong investments in clean energy benefit everyone. Programs like these help communities lower energy costs, improve public health, create local jobs, and build a more reliable grid that can meet New York's energy needs for decades to come.