ADVOCATES, LAWMAKERS URGE ASSEMBLY TO PASS FULL NY HEAT ACT AS LEADERSHIP CONTINUES TO BLOCK BILL

NYS Senate passed NY HEAT Act twice and bill has majority support in the Assembly - now Assembly must pass this crucial legislation and send it to the Governor to sign Group will urge Assembly to put constituents over utility companies' bottom lines and prioritize legislation that would save NYers on their energy bills, end fracked gas mandate, and fight climate change

ALBANY, NY (05/21/2024) (readMedia)-- Tomorrow, environmental advocates and residents will join with dozens of state lawmakers at the Capitol to demand the Assembly pass the full NY HEAT Act (A4592-B / S2016-B) this session. The bill has majority support in the chamber, and it is a priority for the Black, Puerto Rican, Hispanic, and Asian (BPHA) Caucus - but the Assembly has still not voted on the bill.

The NY HEAT Act will save families from rising energy costs by limiting household utility bills to 6% of a family's income. The bill will also kickstart New York's transition by ending the gas mandate, also known as the obligation to serve, which would allow utilities to provide New Yorkers with cheaper and clean heating alternatives at no cost to customers. Lawmakers can put an end to the outdated, expensive fracked gas system accelerating climate change - but they must embrace the full NY HEAT Act to do so.

This event will be livestreamed.

WHO:

Lawmakers including Assemblymembers Yudelka Tapia, Marcela Mitaynes, Anna Kelles, Jessica González-Rojas, Sarahana Shrestha, Robert Carroll, and others. List in formation.

Organizations including: Renewable Heat Now, NY Renews, Alliance for a Green Economy, All Our Energy, Food & Water Watch, Long Island Progressive Coalition, Mothers Out Front NY, New Yorkers for Clean Power, Sane Energy Project, Third Act Upstate, Sierra Club Atlantic Chapter and others

WHAT:

 Lawmakers and advocates will rally at the Capitol to call on the Assembly Majority to pass the NY HEAT Act before the end of session to address the worsening climate crisis and reduce utility bills.

Climate and environmental justice organizations across New York are holding a “Climate Justice Action Week” in Albany. From Monday, May 20th through Wednesday, May 22nd, the Renewable Heat Now campaign, NY Renews coalition, NYC Environmental Justice Alliance (NYC-EJA), and others will host a series of press conferences and lobby visits to demand Governor Hochul and the Assembly pass critical climate legislation including the NY HEAT Act, Just Energy Transition Act, and Climate Change Superfund Act before the end of session. Lawmakers cannot ignore the climate crisis any longer, and their continued refusal to act is a moral, climate, and environmental justice failure.
WHEN: Wednesday May 22, 2024 at 12:30PM Eastern Time (US & Canada)
WHERE: Million Dollar Staircase, NYS Capitol
Albany, New York
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