JSA2026 Commonwealth Budget: Volume XIII

Fueling the Future, Fixing the Foundation – Energy, Environment & Infrastructure Overhaul

Jason S. Arnold for Governor of New York
Published: May 12, 2025
Contact: jaysarnold@icloud.com | (516) 586-0660 | https://jsa2026.com/

Introduction

Volume XIII of the Commonwealth Budget takes aim at New York’s most politically abused and least accountable sectors: energy, environmental agencies, and public infrastructure. These three areas consume nearly $40 billion annually, yet the average taxpayer can’t trace where the dollars go, what projects are delayed, or who benefits.

We’re not against clean energy. We’re against corruption disguised as climate policy. And we’re not against infrastructure spending—we just think taxpayers should see more return than ribbon-cuttings.

Format of Review

• Total Allocation (FY2026)
• Top 5 Expense Lines
• Public Benefit Score (PBS) [Out of 100]
• Reform Notes
• Recommendation

1. NYSERDA (New York State Energy Research and Development Authority)

Total Allocation: $6.2 Billion

• $1.8B – Renewable grant disbursements (untracked)
• $1.5B – Clean energy contractor incentives
• $1.1B – Solar + EV infrastructure subsidies
• $950M – Administrative + outreach
• $850M – Carbon credit partnerships + ESG audits

PBS: 35/100

Reform Notes: No audit trail for most grants, low accountability for energy performance.

Recommendation: Freeze all new grant spending until audits complete. Replace ESG metrics with production and usage benchmarks. Reward energy results—not paperwork.

2. Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC)

Total Allocation: $4.9 Billion

• $1.6B – State parks + forest operations
• $1.3B – Environmental impact studies (often duplicated)
• $950M – Emissions monitoring programs
• $650M – Legal + compliance enforcement
• $400M – Urban sustainability partnerships

PBS: 42/100

Reform Notes: Overlap with EPA, bloated review timelines, ideological bias in enforcement.

Recommendation: Consolidate studies with federal efforts, introduce 6-month review clock for permits, depoliticize environmental compliance.

3. Department of Transportation (DOT) + Infrastructure Projects

Total Allocation: $27.8 Billion

• $9.4B – Road and bridge repairs
• $7.2B – Contractor labor + material escalation
• $4.8B – Water/sewer + storm resilience upgrades
• $3.1B – Transit expansion matching grants
• $3.3B – Project admin + environmental clearance delays

PBS: 51/100

Reform Notes: High labor costs, zero public-facing project dashboards, political favoritism in regional upgrades.

Recommendation: Require real-time project transparency portal. Prioritize rural + flood-vulnerable regions. Break large contracts into competitive micro-bids.

Closing Statement

Volume XIII draws a line in the sand: no more blank checks in the name of progress. We believe in a cleaner New York, a better-connected New York—but only if it serves the people, not consultants, cronies, or climate lobbyists.

JSA2026 will deliver energy accountability, environmental balance, and infrastructure that lasts. We build for the people, not for press conferences.

Jason S. Arnold
Candidate for Governor, New York
https://jsa2026.com/
(516) 586-0660 | jaysarnold@icloud.com
#JSA2026 #CommonwealthBudget #FixNewYork #TheRightOne #EnergyReform #BuildSmart