Yvonne Taylor, co-founder and vice president of Seneca Lake Guardian and a founding member of the National Coalition Against Cryptomining, has been named to the Grist 50, an annual list spotlighting 50 innovators and leaders driving bold climate solutions across the United States.
A lifelong resident of the Finger Lakes region and a full-time speech-language therapist working with at-risk adolescents, Taylor has been a leading voice for environmental justice in New York and beyond. She has played a key role in securing a region-wide ban on garbage incinerators, helped secure New York’s statewide fracking ban, and advanced a moratorium on fossil-fueled cryptomining power plants.
“I’m truly humbled and honored to be recognized among so many incredible leaders,” said Yvonne Taylor, Vice President of Seneca Lake Guardian. “This award belongs just as much to our amazing team, our collaborators, and the community members who have stood shoulder-to-shoulder with us to create lasting change and inspire me every day. I remain committed to working tirelessly for a healthier, more sustainable future – for my neighbors in the Finger Lakes, for the people of New York, and for communities across the nation.”
Taylor’s recognition highlights the national impact of grassroots leadership rooted in local fights. Through the National Coalition Against Cryptomining, which she co-founded in 2021, Taylor has also brought together advocates from 22 states to actively demand stronger protections against the cryptomining industry that she says consumes massive amounts of energy and water, generates local pollution, and threatens ecosystems nationwide.
As co-founder of Seneca Lake Guardian, she is leading the fight to shut down New York State’s largest landfill, Seneca Meadows Inc., which Taylor says threatens public health, the region’s $4 billion agritourism economy, and the state’s climate goals. Seneca Lake Guardian was also recognized as Freshwater Future Hero in 2023.
The Grist 50 list has become one of the most widely recognized honors for climate leadership, elevating voices that are shaping the future of environmental policy, activism, and innovation.
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