90+ Local Electeds From Across NYS Urge Gov Hochul to include NY HEAT Act in Next Year's Budget

ALBANY, NY (11/29/2023) (readMedia)-- On Wednesday, more than 90 local elected officials from across NYS sent a letter to Governor Hochul urging her to include the NY HEAT Act in the FY 2025 state budget. The group wrote:

"We, the undersigned local elected officials who represent millions of New Yorkers across the state, ask for your support for the NY HEAT Act (S.2016A Krueger & May/A.4592A Fahy) in the 2025 New York State budget. This critical legislation will reduce energy costs for our constituents who need it most and support the transition to a clean energy infrastructure system in New York."

Read the full text of the letter and list of signatories attached and pasted below.

According to a new Siena Poll, 8 in 10 New Yorkers across party lines say the high cost of living in New York is a major problem. The rising cost of gas and electricity, exacerbated by double-digit rate hikes from ConEd, National Grid, RG&E, NYSEG, and CenHud, only worsens the cost of living problem. But Governor Hochul can put the NY HEAT Act in next year's budget and relieve New Yorkers of these skyrocketing bills while fighting climate change.

The NY HEAT Act, which now has 74 sponsors in the Assembly and passed in the NYS Senate last session, will reduce future rate increases by stopping expensive expansion of the fracked gas system, and will protect the climate. It will also save low and middle income New Yorkers up to $75/month on their utility bills. NY HEAT gets rid of the unfair 100-foot rule, which forces New York families to subsidize new gas hookups to the tune of $200 million every year while accelerating fossil fuel generated climate change that supercharges storms, turned the sky orange and made the air toxic from the wildfires this spring, and drives extreme heat. It will also allow utilities to redirect up to $150 billion that they are on track to spend to complete planned gas pipe replacements over the next 20 years, and instead invest in neighborhood-scale building electrification that will free New Yorkers from fossil-fuel driven volatile price spikes.

"Many villages, towns and counties are creating Climate action plans. However, our ability to successfully implement these plans depend upon the actions of NY State. Local governments do not control the utilities, and the utilities must be directed to provide affordable non-fossil-fuel alternatives to building heating. Governor Hochul, our community needs you to put us on a path to meet our climate goals. Pass the NY Heat Act," said Sue Hughes Smith, Monroe County Legislator.

"The NY Heat Act will help reprioritize fossil fuel infrastructure in New York State while working to lower bills. Here in the City of Kingston, I have prioritized removing fossil fuel systems from our City's municipal buildings because not only does it improve indoor air quality, but it also allows us to move toward onsite renewable energy generation and storage for our energy needs," said Steve Noble, Mayor, City of Kingston

"The plight of local communities cannot be ignored when addressing the issue of energy affordability. The NY HEAT Act shields our communities from the predatory practices of fossil fuel giants who plunder our struggling communities and pollute our precious environment. Governor Hochul must champion the NY HEAT Act and include it in next year's budget, thereby safeguarding both our wallets and our planet," said Katelyn Kriesel, Town Councilor, Town of Manlius.

Letter

Dear Governor Hochul:

We, the undersigned local elected officials who represent millions of New Yorkers across the state, ask for your support for the NY HEAT Act (S.2016A Krueger & May/A.4592A Fahy) in the 2025 New York State budget. This critical legislation will reduce energy costs for our constituents who need it most and support the transition to a clean energy infrastructure system in New York.

This bill, recommended by the Climate Action Council, aligns public service law with the 2019 Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act, halts ratepayer subsidies for expanding gas service, redirects utility investments into neighborhood-scale decarbonization projects such as the union-friendly thermal energy networks and caps utility bills at 6% of income for low and moderate income households. This utility bills cap provision alone would put up to $900 back into the wallets of low and middle income New Yorkers every year.

Additionally, the NY HEAT Act repeals the outdated100-foot rule, which forces New Yorkers to pay for free or subsidized gas hookups for new customers to the tune of $200 million every year, on top of costly rate hikes currently being requested from utilities like National Grid.

A recent study found that gas infrastructure is costing rate payers $6 million per mile and undermining the Climate Law in New York that requires us to phase out nearly all gas use by 2050. NY HEAT is critical for the transition to a clean energy infrastructure system while reducing the cost burden on rate payers.

In summary, the NY HEAT Act will:

Make utility bills more affordable: establishes protections for low-to-moderate income customers to facilitate their transition to pollution-free appliances while ensuring no one pays more than 6% of their income on their energy bills.

Empower the Public Service Commission (PSC) to equitably achieve CLCPA targets: provides the PSC with broad authority to facilitate achievement of the CLCPA's climate justice and emission reduction targets and makes doing so a core regulatory responsibility.

Amend provisions of Public Service Law currently undermining the CLCPA: eliminates ratepayer subsidies for costly gas system extensions and reforms provisions that drive the expansion of gas infrastructure.

Manage infrastructure costs paid by gas customers: facilitates neighborhood-scale alternatives to replacing gas infrastructure – including the installation of thermal energy networks.

We applaud New York's leadership in passing a strong climate plan that includes the transition to all-electric homes and buildings. The transition off fossil fuels is imperative if we are to meet our greenhouse gas reduction goals and protect public health.

Now, we must include NY HEAT in the New York State budget to further implement our state climate goals and ensure healthier, safer and more affordable energy for New York residents. We look forward to your swift action to help our municipalities and constituents.

About Better Buildings New York (BBNY)

BBNY is a network of organizations working for the equitable decarbonization of homes and buildings in New York State. We are committed to environmental justice and a just transition to all-electric homes and buildings.

*$75/month savings calculated using 9.3% average energy burden in the NYC metro area for low-income families and 200% of the federal poverty level income of $27,180 for a one person household.