Environmental Protection & Public Health Advocate
For over three decades, Sarah Anker has been one of Long Island’s most dedicated voices for environmental protection, clean energy, and community health. As a Suffolk County Legislator, former Director of the Energy & Sustainability Department for the Town of Brookhaven, and founder of the not-for-profit Community Health and Environment Coalition (CHEC), Sarah’s career has centered on one mission, to safeguard the health of Long Islanders by protecting the land, air, and water that sustain them.
“Our health is inseparable from our environment. Clean air, safe water, and sustainable land are not luxuries, they are necessities for everyone. Together, we can build a cleaner, safer, and more resilient Long Island.” — Sarah Anker
Environmental Leadership and Clean Energy
Creating a Greener, Healthier Suffolk County
Sarah’s environmental leadership has transformed Suffolk County into a model of sustainability through landmark preservation efforts, clean water initiatives, and community-based conservation programs.
North Shore Rail Trail (Rails to Trails): Partnered with the Long Island Power Authority, PSEG, the Department of Public Works, and community organizations to complete a 10-mile greenway from Mount Sinai to Wading River, a $10 million federally funded project that won the 2023 American Society of Civil Engineers Quality of Life Award
Climate Action & Coastal Resilience: Sponsored Suffolk County’s Climate Action Plan and chaired the North Shore Coastal Erosion Task Force, bringing together scientists from Stony Brook University, Cornell Cooperative Extension, and NY Sea Grant to address shoreline erosion, flooding, and storm recovery following Superstorm Sandy
Open Space & Farmland Preservation: Supported the protection of over 2,000 acres of open space and farmland, including Cordwood Landing, the Mount Sinai Little Portion Friary and Chandler Estate Park, through the Triple A Land Acquisition Program, making Suffolk’s preservation process more efficient and transparent
Pollinator & Native Plant Protection: Sponsored the Educational Agricultural Support Initiative (EASI) to promote native planting, biodiversity, and bee and butterfly conservation in partnership with local schools, Scouts, Cornell Cooperative Extension, and the Soil & Water Conservation District
Advancing Renewable Energy & Green Jobs
Committed to building a clean-energy economy, Sarah has led initiatives that create green jobs, expand renewable power, and equip the next generation with the tools to power a sustainable future.
As Brookhaven Town’s first Director of Energy & Sustainability, launched the Green Homes Go Solar Program, a $4.5 million Department of Energy initiative to expand solar installations and energy retrofits across Long Island
Sponsored legislation creating commercial solar tax credits, supported hybrid and electric county vehicle fleets, and approved solar carports and LED retrofits on county properties
Advocated for green-job training, supporting Suffolk County Community College’s Renewable Energy and STEM Center and Stony Brook University’s Offshore Wind Training Institute, preparing the next generation for careers in clean-energy technology
Clean Water & Pollution Prevention
Sarah has made protecting Long Island’s sole-source aquifer and coastal waters a legislative and personal priority.
Sponsored and co-sponsored laws banning microbeads, single-use plastics, polystyrene foam containers, and the intentional release of helium balloons, reducing the pollutants that harm marine life
Established a Marine Debris Pollution Awareness Program with Stony Brook University’s School of Marine and Atmospheric Sciences and NY Sea Grant, leading to the statewide curriculum Plastic Pollution and You, now taught in schools across New York State
Supported legislation upgrading wastewater treatment systems to reduce nitrogen pollution in the Long Island Sound
Advocated against dredge dumping, sponsored storm-water-management improvements, and pushed for studies on microplastics and sand-mine contamination in Suffolk’s aquifer
Health & Human Services Advocacy
Sarah’s environmental mission has always been rooted in public health.
Founder, Community Health and Environment Coalition (CHEC): Established more than 20 years ago to address cancer-cluster concerns and promote the link between environmental safety and community well-being. CHEC partnered with federal and state health agencies to push for the CMPJS Breast Cancer Follow-up Investigation and continues to advocate for cancer-prevention research
Chairwoman, Suffolk County Health Committee & Addiction Prevention Panel: Oversaw major health legislation and led the county’s 30-member panel focused on addiction prevention, treatment, and education
Mental Health & Community Support: Sponsored creation of the Addiction and Mental Health Resource Website (suffolkstopaddiction.org) and the Bullying Awareness Website (suffolkstopbullying.org); required liquid-nicotine health warnings; and promoted behavioral-healthcare programs for youth and incarcerated adults to reduce recidivism
Senior Health & Wellness: Partnered with Stony Brook University Hospital and Catholic Health Services to host health clinics for seniors, coordinated annual senior health fairs with more than 50 agencies, and created the Senior Spotlight Show on LI News Radio 103.9 to share vital health resources
Environmental Health & Toxic Chemical Advocacy
A lifelong advocate for environmental health, Sarah has fought to hold polluters accountable and to regulate toxic chemicals that threaten Long Island communities.
Advocated for cleanup of contaminated sites including Lawrence Aviation and Peerless Photo/Agfa (currently the Tesla Science Center), and supported Operation Pay Dirt to prevent illegal dumping
Continues to call for stronger oversight of PFAS, PFOA, and 1,4-Dioxane, which have been linked to cancer and immune disorders, and supports legislation and enforcement actions to remove these chemicals from water supplies
Education & Public Engagement
Sarah believes that environmental progress depends on education and collaboration. She has developed and promoted numerous programs for residents, students, and professionals:
“Plastic Pollution and You” Curriculum: A fifteen-lesson environmental-studies course adopted by New York State schools to teach youth about marine debris, environmental justice, and pollution prevention
Children’s Books on Environmental Stewardship: Authored a series of illustrated books that inspire the next generation to protect nature and reduce plastic use
Community Forums & Legislative Panels: Led public forums on renewable energy, clean water, and coastal protection; served on the Brookhaven National Laboratory Legislative Roundtable and the Suffolk County Cancer Prevention and Health Promotion Coalition
