Catskill Mountainkeeper on Route 17 Expansion, Hochul’s Budget, and 20-Year Anniversary

Fighting Route 17’s highway expansion and fracking in New York are a few of the biggest fights Catskill Mountainkeeper has championed over the decades. This year, the environmental advocacy nonprofit turns 20 years old.

Radio Catskill spoke with Taylor Jaffe, Program Manager of Catskill Mountainkeeper about their 20th anniversary and their latest policy fights.

New York Governor Kathy Hochul has made nuclear energy central of her energy policy. Jaffe says that the budget’s focus on nuclear power is “a real shame.”

“[Nuclear] is the longest and most costly type of energy production, not to mention it brings toxic pollutants to the communities, so to have affordability be kind of the linchpin of this agenda without bringing renewables into the conversation is really a shame,” said Jaffe.

Catskill Mountainkeeper’s top budget priority remains fully funding the Catskill Park, which spans 700,000 acres – about the size of Connecticut. Jaffe says the park will need at least $425 million for the Environmental Protection Fund alongside investments in other projects like DEC capital projects, visitor centers, and educational stewardship programs.

The future of Route 17 is another major focus for the organization this year. Catskill Mountainkeeper is leading a coalition called the ReThink Route 17 Alliance , which opposes the Route 17 expansion and urging the state to reinvest the $1.4 billion planned for the project into public transit and small business opportunities.

In October 2025, the New York State Department of Transportation hit pause on its plan to expand Route 17 through Orange and Sullivan counties following community pushback. Jaffe says the coalition’s now waiting on both a draft environmental impact statement from the Department of Transportation this summer and a transit study west of the Hudson River.

“With $1.4 billion on the table, we want to make sure that the New York State Department of Transportation is using all the information available to make an informed decision that’s going to really be positively impactful for our communities,” said Jaffe.

READ: With Route 17 Expansion Paused, Climate Advocates Push for Transit Alternatives

Founded in 2006, Catskill Mountainkeeper has grown from being a watchdog for the Catskills to a climate leader at the state and federal levels.

Looking ahead, Jaffe says the climate advocacy nonprofit is taking a more holistic approach for the future of the organization, connecting its climate efforts to broader issues that affect residents, like public transportation, agricultural health, and affordable housing.

“It’s really a pleasure to be able to work with all of these folks and think through the Catskills that we want to see in the next 20-plus years moving forward,” said Jaffe.

(Photo Credit: Catskill Mountainkeeper)