Lower Hudson Group

We cover Westchester, Rockland, Putnam and southern Orange Counties in New York State’s Hudson Valley, just north of New York City. The Sierra Club is America’s earliest grassroots environmental organization, and it’s run by volunteers. We welcome your participation!


Proposed Land Swap at the Airport - A Bad Idea

Proposed Land Swap at the Airport - A Bad Idea

By George Klein, posted January, 2024

Sierra Club, as part of the Coalition to Prevent Westchester Airport Expansion, opposes the land swap being pushed by Westchester Joint Water Works.

WJWW proposes to trade land it owns in Purchase, adjacent to the airport, for a similarly-sized parcel on airport property in order to build there a new drinking water treatment plant needed to service some WJWW customers. This is the “land swap”, WJWW land in Purchase in exchange for acreage at the airport, within the Kensico watershed, owned by Westchester County.

The Purchase Environmental Protective Association, formerly opposed to building the water treatment plant on the land in Purchase, no longer opposes building there, and strongly objects to the land swap. PEPA is a member of the airport coalition.

Other Purchase neighborhood groups, and the Quaker Friends Meeting, also oppose the swap. 

Why Should the Airport Not Expand?

Sierra Club and the coalition oppose expansion of the airport and its operations, as they are a threat to the water in the Kensico Reservoir nearby, they pollute our air, the noise of landings or takeoffs is extremely intrusive to residents nearby, especially late at night or in the early morning, and because planes with few passengers, such as corporate or private planes, emit a shocking amount of greenhouse gases per passenger-mile, especially compared to commercial airline operations, at a time of climate emergency.

Many of us think of the airport as a commercial airline facility. It was, once. But nowadays 80-85% of the takeoffs and landings are corporate, private, charter and other, compared to 15-20% for commercial airlines.

Read More...


AOC secures $50,000 for Hutchinson River Restoration Project

By Joseph Dunnigan, posted March, 2024

On March 12th, 2024 a press release was published by Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-14) stating that she had secured over $12 million for the Bronx and Queens. Embedded within that funding was $50,000 that was set aside for the Hutchinson River Restoration Project (HRRP). 

HRRP (featured in LHG’s September – December 2023 newsletter article titled “The Hutch – A History of Taming a River”) aims to use the funding for their clean-up efforts of the Hutchinson River, that runs through Westchester and Bronx counties before emptying into the Long Island Sound. 

This river, named in honor of Anne Hutchinson and which is nicknamed ‘The Hutch,’ is in desperate need of maintenance and conservation efforts. And with this grant, The Hutch is one step closer to reverting to the lush ecosystem it once was. 

For more information about this issue and how you can help, you can visit the HRRP website at https://www.hutchinsonriver.org/.


Governor Hochul signs Birds & Bees Protection Act into law!

We won a huge victory in June when the New York State Senate and Assembly passed the Birds and Bees Protection Act, an historic, nation-leading bill that will end the unnecessary use of a class of toxic pesticides known as neonicotinoids (neonics). Neonics have caused an alarming crash in pollinator populations nationwide and the EPA has recently reported that the continued use of these toxic pesticides will likely drive hundreds of endangered species toward extinction.

On December 22, Governor Hochul signed this bill into law! Thanks to all the Sierra Club and other activists who joined together to support the bill. Read more here.

For more information about the issue, see the following factsheets: Protect New York’s Birds, Bees, Water, and People from Toxic Neonic Pesticides, Setting the Record Straight on the Birds and Bees Protection Act, and In the Weeds on Treated Seeds.


Jobs Available Related to Renewable Energy Siting for New York State

New York State's Department of State has jobs available for various levels and specialties in their Office of Renewable Energy Siting.

Find out more information about these positions and how to apply here.

Find Your New Election District

Are you confused about the new election districts? Do you want to find out which Congressional, NYS Senate or Assembly district you're in now? See the Redistricting & You: New York website.

Above the map is a box where you can indicate which of the three maps you wish to see. The default for the Congressional and NYS Senate districts is the FINAL Special Master map, but if you move the slider under the choices to the left, the new districts will fade out and the old districts will appear, outlined in gray.  On the right, there is a drop down menu that allows you to view various draft plans that preceded the FINAL Special Master plan.

Volunteer with us at the Sierra Club Lower Hudson Group!

Looking to get involved in New York? There has never been a better time!  Volunteer with us at the Sierra Club Lower Hudson Group and help us create an environmentally just and clean future in New York!

Visit our Volunteer Page for more information on our teams, volunteer roles, contact information and instructions on how to express your interest. We look forward to working with you to create a better future for New York!

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CLIMATE SMART COMMUNITIES

CSC flyer

The climate crisis is truly urgent.  We are focusing our work primarily on local action on climate change: stopping gas pipelines and working for local government action on climate change particularly through two very powerful government programs.  Join us to help make change happen in Rockland County!

Community Choice energy is a very exciting program that promotes renewable energy, community solar, geothermal, and electric vehicles. Click HERE to learn more! 

Climate Smart Communities is a New York State program that helps communities reduce greenhouse gas emissions and adapt to climate change.  We are working to get our communities moving ahead in this program! Click here for more information on Climate Smart Communities.


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