NYS Announces Affordability Investments To Help Keep New Yorkers Cool During Extreme Heat
New York State today announced new and continued investments to address extreme heat, prioritizing disadvantaged communities on the frontlines of heat exposure, new funding opportunities to create public cooling spaces, and expanded assistance to provide affordable cooling for New Yorkers at home. The efforts mark progress on New York State’s Extreme Heat Action Plan, directed by Governor Kathy Hochul and first announced in June 2024 to address extreme heat impacts and prioritize State investments.
With heat waves and other extreme heat events more common, New York State agencies are continuing to work towards implementing the recommended initiatives found in the State’s Extreme Heat Action Plan (EHAP), which are designed to help New Yorkers prepare for the negative health and environmental impacts from extreme heat events. A variety of resources are available for individuals, local governments, and community-based organizations, including:
Creating green and cool public spaces – State investments are trans forming public spaces to reduce urban heat while serving as places for communities to gather and connect. New fund ing is available to support green, cool and comfort able spaces, including schools, playgrounds, and public pools, that serve the youngest members of our communities. Investments are creating new spaces and enhance existing ones, including prioritizing disadvantaged communities (DACs) to help expand equitable access to out door cooling spaces.
Expanding access to public cooling – In the 2026 State of the State address, Governor Hochul announced a new grant program to fund Community Resilience Hubs and secured $10 million in the FY 2027 budget. New State Department of Health (DOH) cooling center guidance provides best practices for establishing cooling centers and supports consistent ser vices at those sites. The Department of Environ mental Conservation’s (DEC) Climate Smart Communities (CSC) grants program provided $2 million in funds for new cooling centers and heat emergency plans in 2025 alone, with opportunities for new funding available now.
Supporting access to cooling at home – In 2025, DOH launched the new Essential Plan Cool ing Program. In 2026, the program is expanding eligibility to offer free air conditioners to more members of the Essential Plan, now covering 16 qualifying conditions. Expanded eligibility will help provide in-home cooling to more people with health conditions that may be exacerbated by heat. This will complement assistance avail able in 2026 through the Home Energy Assistance Program (HEAP) Cooling program. In addition, the Public Service Com mission announced uniform extreme heat utility protections for customers to prevent utility shutoffs during extreme heat events.
Protecting workers – In 2024, the Department of Labor (DOL) launched extreme weather guidance, including extreme heat guidance, to keep workers safe. In 2025, DOL developed additional resources, including a new bilingual wallet card and templates for Heat Illness and Injury Prevention Plans (also in Spanish). Site visits and vulnerable worker outreach in collaboration with local partners were also expanded. Governor Hochul also recently announced the extreme heat NYSIF equipment credit for small businesses.
In the second year of implementing the EHAP, which is led by DEC and the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA), New York State investments helped create green spaces to keep communities and neighborhoods cool, sup port access to swimming and play areas, and build community resilience by supporting resilience hubs, community cooling centers, and cooling options at people’s homes.
Resources support planning for and adapt ing to extreme heat across the state, includ ing updates to the Heat Vulnerability Index and new Urban Heat Island (UHI) planning tools, expected to be released later this summer. In addition, new funding opportunities improve public access to cool spaces in public schools through the Clean, Green Schools Initiative, cre ate public cooling spaces through NY SWIMS and NY PLAYS, and resourc es support assistance to cooling at home through the Home Energy Assis tance Program (HEAP) and the Essential Plan Cooling Program.