AS WAR SPIKES GAS PRICES, NYERS, ADVOCATES & LAWMAKERS RALLY AGAINST GOV HOCHUL'S PLAN TO WEAKEN CLIMATE LAW

ALBANY, NY (03/25/2026) (readMedia)-- Today, hundreds of New Yorkers representing health, environmental, student, climate and consumer organizations rallied in Albany alongside at an emergency rally to defend New York's Climate Law, which Governor Hochul is aiming to weaken. Advocates were joined by around 20 legislators at a press conference in the State Capitol, including Asm. Deborah Glick, Asm. Steve Otis, and Sen. Michelle Hinchey. The group demanded the legislature protect the climate law, and urge Governor Hochul to implement clean energy and energy efficiency solutions that actually lower New Yorkers' energy bills.

See photos from the press conference here (credit: Renewable Heat Now/Lorenzo Mohammed) and videos & pictures from the day here.

Last week, Governor Hochul revealed a plan to gut New York's climate law, the Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act, which is designed to reduce New York's reliance on volatile fossil fuels and stabilize energy prices with clean, affordable energy. Hochul's plan would allow New York to maintain the fossil fuel status quo by changing how we account for methane, making it appear that New York's emissions have declined when they have actually stayed the same. Hochul also wants to delay any requirement to even introduce regulations for the law until December 31, 2030.

"The entire world is facing yet another oil and gas price crisis, piled on top of a national energy affordability crisis, wrapped in an existential climate crisis, all driven by our addiction to fossil fuels, and the governor is choosing this moment to try to roll back our climate law at the last minute in the budget. The reality is that rolling back CLCPA will not drive down energy costs, because it isn't driving them up. But there are a broad array of actions the state could be taking to drive down New Yorkers' energy costs that are being completely ignored. I urge the governor to work with us to implement those critical policies that will both save New Yorkers money and help us meet our reality-based climate targets, instead of waving the white flag and sounding the retreat on New York's climate leadership," said Senator Liz Krueger, Chair of the Senate Finance Committee.

"Our climate laws did not cause the affordability crisis we face; in fact, independent studies point to fossil fuels as a key driver. Investing in renewable energy is essential for addressing both high utility costs as well as climate change. The CLCPA is vital for protecting our environment and lowering costs. Walking back core provisions before they've even been implemented would be a serious mistake," said Senator Pete Harckham, Chair of the Senate Environmental Conservation Committee.

"The Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act is New York's groundbreaking Climate Law that put us at the forefront of climate policy by advancing science-led concepts, including shifting accounting methods to properly reflect the short-term warming impacts of methane. While economic conditions have evolved since 2019, the science has not. We must continue to follow the latest science and resist efforts to change the formula," said Assemblymember Deborah Glick, Chair of the Assembly Environmental Conservation Committee. "Adjusting the accounting simply obscures the true impact of emissions. Meanwhile, the ongoing volatility of fossil fuel prices continues to drive instability for consumers, underscoring that the most reliable path to affordability is accelerating our transition to renewable energy."

Despite Hochul's posturing, delaying climate action will do nothing to lower New Yorkers' energy bills because it won't reduce the state's reliance on costly and volatile methane gas, which is the true driver of higher energy bills. Gas prices were at an all-time high even before the war on Iran surged gas prices, and 1 in 4 New Yorkers already cannot afford their energy bills. Hochul even admitted herself last week that the climate law is not to blame for rising bills. Weakening the law will enable utilities to continue profiting from expensive, imported fossil fuels for longer, while New Yorkers continue to struggle with skyrocketing utility bills.

The climate law is New York's best bet to transition to a fairer, cleaner energy system that is efficient and affordable. Implementing the climate law will lower energy bills and create tens of thousands of jobs. Meanwhile, doing nothing and relying on our current fossil fuel status quo will cost New Yorkers more than $115 billion, according to the State's own data.

Other countries have figured this out. In response to rising gas prices, countries including the United Kingdom, Spain, and Pakistan are instead investing in renewables to lower costs and achieve energy independence. Even red states have figured this out: Texas got nearly 40% of their power from wind and solar in 2025, while New York has just recently hit around 10%. Texas isn't investing in renewables because they're better for the climate. It's because they're cheap.

Assemblyman Steve Otis said, "The most important steps we can take are to increase the tools we provide to encourage expanded renewable clean energy sources and support reducing the pollution footprint of buildings, businesses, homes, and transportation. The only way we will meet our goals is by providing the programs, projects, and funding sources to reduce emissions. The focus of our attention should be on action items to make these improvements, especially in our identified environmental justice census tracts."

"The Governor's position to weaken New York's Climate Law is a step in the wrong direction. New Yorkers want affordable, locally generated clean energy that creates jobs and keeps energy bills steady. By weakening the CLCPA, consumers will have to rely on the utility systems that continue to increase costs, moving further and further away from affordability," said Assemblymember Jeffrey Dinowitz. "Using the budget to undermine the progress climate champions have made in NYS will harm us all and I urge the Governor to reevaluate her stance."

"I was proud to join hundreds of New Yorkers who travelled from across the state to make their voices heard loud and clear in urging the legislature to protect our state's landmark Climate Law," said Assemblymember Anna Kelles. "Undermining the Climate Law will do nothing to bring down energy bills that are surging because of our state's reliance on polluting, expensive fossil fuels and utility spending on fossil fuel infrastructure. The best way to lower energy costs is to implement our Climate Law to transition to cleaner, more affordable energy while also creating tens of thousands of good-paying jobs, reducing climate emissions, and improving our state's air quality."

Assemblymember Emily Gallagher said, "The climate emergency isn't coming; it's here. We have both the science and the resources to mitigate the worst impacts of climate change. We can create green jobs, lower energy bills, and improve the health and safety of New Yorkers by implementing the climate law and transitioning our energy systems. We are deciding the fate of future generations now, in this budget. We must act accordingly."

"As families in my district and across New York struggle with skyrocketing energy bills because of higher natural gas prices, now is not the time to retreat from New York's landmark Climate Law," said Assemblymember Steven Raga. "Instead, we should boldly implement the Climate Law so that our state can reduce its dependence on natural gas, which is driving up both of our heating and electric bills, and instead transition to cleaner, more affordable energy such as wind and solar, New York's best bet to achieve energy affordability."

"Rolling back CLPCA goals won't solve our affordability problem, our pollution problem, or our infrastructure problem. It would only prolong the funding of New York's gas and nuclear infrastructure-committing billions of dollars to building new pipelines and reactors and maintaining outdated systems that should be phased out. Renewable energy is the key to achieving energy affordability and price stability, and to promoting the resilience and health of our communities. We must continue the renewable energy transition that CLPCA has made possible," said Assemblymember MaryJane Shimsky.

"New York's climate law is about lowering costs and protecting our environment, not locking New Yorkers into decades of rising bills for polluting energy sources such as natural gas," said Assemblymember Tony Simone. "Right now, families are paying the price for a system where nearly half of a gas bill goes toward outdated pipelines, and customers are paying three times more for delivery than for the gas itself. New York imports nearly $50 billion in fossil fuels every year, exposing us to price spikes we cannot control. By defending and implementing the CLCPA, we can break that cycle, invest in affordable clean energy, and finally deliver lower, more stable energy costs for New Yorkers."

"As New Yorkers struggle with rising utility bills, the last thing we should be doing is weakening our state's climate law behind closed doors. The real driver of high energy costs is our continued dependence on volatile fossil fuels and an energy system that allows utilities to profit off costly gas infrastructure while families pay the price. The Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act gives us a clear path to lower bills, cleaner energy, and a more reliable system by investing in affordable, locally generated wind and solar and modern, energy-efficient buildings," said Assemblymember Jessica González-Rojas. We must stay the course, reject any backroom deals, and ensure our state delivers real relief and long-term affordability for New Yorkers."

"New Yorkers are demanding relief from rising energy costs, not rollbacks to weaken our Climate Law. We must stand firm, protect the CLCPA, and accelerate the transition to clean, affordable energy that puts people before utility profits," said Assemblymember Rebecca Seawright.

"New York's Climate Law is the best bet we have to solve our state's growing energy affordability crisis that has left one in seven households behind on their energy bills, including many in my district," said Assemblymember Dana Levenberg. "Implementing the law will help our state transition to cleaner, more affordable energy while reducing reliance on natural gas for home heating, cooking, and electricity generation. New York can and should be a national leader in bold climate action, which is needed to bring down energy costs."

"To roll our climate laws back right now is not only reckless, but, quite frankly, a rejection of science. The deadlines by which we must enact policies to transition to renewable and emission-free energy are not ones dictated by whims, but rather by the very hard reality of physics. If New York fails to act on the many options it has, such as an aggressive buildout of publicly-owned renewable energy, public ownership of the grid, a major investment in fast and reliable public transit, and a cap and invest program with guardrails to prevent the costs being passed onto ratepayers-then we are setting ourselves up for massive disruptions in our healthcare system, our food system, as well as our economy, broadly speaking," said Assemblymember Sarahana Shrestha. "Instead of getting the NYSERDA to release a misleading memo to justify derailing the state's climate goals, the Governor should lead with what is actually the reality: renewable energy and public ownership of energy are not only affordability measures, but they also insulate us from a volatile energy market subject to geopolitics."

"For years, we have been fighting to make our energy grid less dependent on fossil fuels to prevent what's happening to utility bills right now. Energy affordability is within our reach, and that is why we can't delay the implementation of the Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act," said Assemblymember Khaleel Anderson.

"The Climate Law helps transition our energy from an outdated, fossil fuel dependent system to one that embraces cutting edge technologies. Modernizing to cheap, clean, and healthy power will bring new jobs and investments to our communities while stabilizing costs," said Assemblymember Robert Carroll. "The Climate Law is New York's pathway to becoming a bastion of progress and a safe-harbor for families struggling to afford the basics."

"New York made a commitment to modernize our state's energy system and fight back against climate change with the passage of the CLCPA in 2019. We cannot go back on that promise," said Assemblymember Linda B. Rosenthal, Chair of the Assembly Committee on Housing. "New Yorkers collectively owe $1.8 billion in unpaid energy bills already and the harebrained actions of the Trump administration are only driving gas and electric prices up further. We have a responsibility to help deliver lower energy bills, create new jobs and build a greener New York, but turning our backs on our landmark climate law will only cause further harm and drive up costs during an affordability crisis."

"In my district and across our state, households are struggling with higher energy costs driven by our state's reliance on costly fossil fuels," said Assemblymember Phara Souffrant Forrest. "Our best bet to tackle the energy affordability crisis is by protecting and implementing our state's Climate Law, not weakening it. That's why I'm proud to stand with advocates as we fight for a more affordable clean energy future that will provide economic relief to families, lead to healthier air, and create a more sustainable, climate-friendly New York."

"New Yorkers should not have to choose between affordability and climate action. We can, and must, do both! The CLCPA gives us the tools to reduce costs over time, strengthen our energy system, and protect our communities. Now is the time to stay focused, cut through the noise, and deliver real results for our state," said Senator Nathalia Fernandez.

"Today we're seeing how global conflicts tied to the Trump administration are raising gas prices and straining already tight household budgets. Now is the time to accelerate the shift away from fossil fuels, create good-paying clean energy jobs, and strengthen our infrastructure against climate change," said Senator Samra Brouk. "Each week I hear from constituents in my district expressing support for stronger environmental protections and greater oversight of utility companies. I will continue to advocate for policies and investments across New York State that protect our environment and preserve it for future generations."

"Energy prices are skyrocketing because of Washington's irresponsible policies, the war in Iran, and extreme weather," said Senator Lea Webb. "Now is not the time to roll back our landmark climate legislation. The CLCPA will create a fairer energy system that makes New York less reliant on fossil fuels and oil and gas companies, and improves our access to clean air and water. This legislation will boost our production of renewable energy, cut residents' utility bills, create new sustainable good paying jobs, and protect our health and well being."

"The Senate one-house budget sends a clear message: New York is moving forward on clean energy. Investments like the Sustainable Future Program, EmPower+, and the GAP Fund reflect the right priorities for our communities and our environment. I will continue to fight for this through the final budget," said Senator Toby Ann Stavisky.

"It would be shameful to roll back New York's Climate Law. The CLCPA will lower our costs, ensure New Yorkers have cleaner air and water, reduce our reliance on fossil fuels, and bring good-paying jobs to our state. The only ones that would benefit from undermining the CLCPA are corporations who prioritize their profits over all else," said Senator Julia Salazar.

"I was proud to support New York's landmark 2019 climate law, setting an ambitious course to decarbonize our economy and lead in clean energy," said Senator Rachel May. "I continue to support smart, strategic investments in renewable infrastructure, including expanding solar at Micron in Central New York and at state facilities across the state. As we move forward, we must stay focused on our climate goals and build in a way that strengthens, not weakens, the progress we've made."

Additional statements from advocates are below:

"Weakening the Climate Law won't lower energy bills. It only locks New Yorkers into higher costs and deepens our dependence on fossil fuels," said Yvonne Taylor, Vice President of Seneca Lake Guardian. "In the Finger Lakes region, our communities are already paying the price for these decisions, as polluting facilities expand and strain our grid. Governor Hochul is moving us in the wrong direction, and New York's leaders must step in. Now is not the time for delays or backroom deals. The legislature must defend the Climate Law and protect New Yorkers and our environments."

"As the Iran war causes a global energy crisis, reinforcing the need to transition from fossil fuels that subject consumers to volatile price spikes, it is an especially inopportune time to weaken NY's Climate Law and defund programs like the 50-year-old Weatherization Assistance Program (created in response to the OPEC oil embargo of the early 1970s)," said Betta Broad, Director of Advocacy, Association for Energy Affordability. "If anything, Governor Hochul and other leaders should double down on investments in energy efficiency and renewable energy to reduce our reliance on fossil fuels, thereby protecting consumers and ensuring cleaner air and healthier communities in New York."

"New Yorkers were already drowning in energy bills before this war sent gas prices through the roof, and now the Governor wants to double down on the same fossil fuels that are making things worse," said Jessica Azulay, Executive Director of Alliance for a Green Economy. "That's not a plan, that's a surrender. Every day we delay the clean energy transition is another day utilities get to pass the chaos of global energy markets directly onto working families. Renewable energy is cheaper and more stable. The legislature needs to hold the line now, because New Yorkers cannot afford more dependence on fossil fuels."

"Jewish tradition teaches us that once we set upon a holy path, we must not turn back. When New York passed the Climate Leadership & Community Protection Act, we made a commitment as a state to build a healthier and more affordable future," said Abby Bresler, NY Organizer & Campaigner for Dayenu: A Jewish Call to Climate Action. "We'll be showing up in Albany to demand that Governor Hochul and legislators live up to those promises, for our sake and the sake of future generations."

"Governor Hochul's proposal to gut the nation's leading energy affordability and climate adaptation program, the Climate Law, through secret budget negotiations does nothing to address the energy affordability crisis brought on by volatile and escalating oil and gas prices. Cramming major changes into the budget process behind closed doors at the eleventh hour and without public input is bad policymaking and won't lead to lower bills or lower pollution," said Eric Wood, Senior Environmental Program Coordinator at NYPIRG.

"New Yorkers across the state are paying for pollution - whether it's energy bills rising because of the skyrocketing price of gas, or shipping their waste to incinerators that spew toxic plastic pollution - originally made from fossil fuels - into the air. Dismantling the CLCPA will only make the costs go up and the pollution worse. The legislature must reject the governor's attempts to renege on the CLCPA and work together on real solutions to protect New Yorkers," said Alexis Goldsmith, National Organizing Director at Beyond Plastics.

"Instead of proposing investments to lower utility bills and meet our climate mandates-like the Senate and Assembly have with their $1 billion investment in the Sustainable Future Program-the Governor is pushing for more dependency on volatile, harmful fossil fuels. The irony that Governor Hochul is making this proposal while oil and natural gas prices spike, after New Yorkers have just paid enormous sums to heat their homes this winter, is not lost upon the millions of us looking to her for leadership, not caving to utilities and oil companies," said Xaver Kandler, Political Director at For the Many.

"The Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act was signed into law in 2019. Governor Hochul's attempt to weaken it through the budget process, based on phony numbers from NYSERDA, is an unconscionable betrayal," said Pat Almonrode, Co-facilitator of Third Act NYC. "Many Third Actors are on fixed incomes, and cannot afford the higher utility prices the Governor's plan will lock in. But more importantly, we as a society cannot afford the environmental cost of continued reliance on fossil fuels. The Climate Leadership & Community Protection Act is one of the strongest climate laws in the entire country, and sets out a plan to transition to a cleaner, sustainable future. It must be fully enacted, not weakened."

"Instead of wasting time attempting to eviscerate our 2019 climate law, Governor Hochul should get serious about affordability by propelling renewable energy like solar and battery storage while holding greedy utility companies accountable," said Ethan Gormley, Climate Justice Organizer, Citizen Action of New York. "The legislature can and should pass legislation that curbs utility profits and returns money to ratepayers while completely rejecting Governor Hochul's attacks on the CLCPA. Weakening our climate law only leaves New Yorkers trapped in this expensive and volatile fossil fuel economy that is simultaneously raising our bills, poisoning our communities with pollution, and exacerbating the climate crisis."

"Governor Hochul's plan to strong-arm legislators through the budget isn't leadership - it is a bailout for fossil fuel profiteers who spend billions on lobbying and disinformation while New Yorkers burn under skyrocketing bills," said Kim Fraczek, Director of Sane Energy Project. "The legislature must hold the line: clean energy is cheaper, fairer, and unavoidable. Weakening the Climate Law is a choice to let utility chaos continue, and we will not stand for it. We will not be used as bargaining chips, so this clearly compromised Governor can side with toxic industry."

"New Yorkers sued the State to hold it accountable to the law, and the Court affirmed that the law imposed a duty on the State to issue regulations that bring down emissions and ensure energy affordability," said Caroline Chen, Director of Environmental Justice at the New York Lawyers for the Public Interest. "Now, instead of working on regulations that will protect New Yorkers' health and wallets, the Governor is using the lawsuit as a pretext to weaken the law during budget negotiations. The legislature enacted the Climate Law on behalf of the people, who possessed the collective foresight and will to phase out harmful and expensive fossil fuels, in particular for communities of color that have borne the brunt of harm. Legislators should not have to choose between funding for their constituents or our children's future, and we applaud them for continuing to stand firm against the Governor's attacks on our Climate Law."

"Governor Hochul's attempt to bully the legislature into shredding New York's landmark climate law is as cynical as it is misguided," said Laura Shindell, New York state director at Food & Water Watch. "The governor has made it all too clear recently that she stands with fossil fuel polluters over the concerns of everyday New Yorkers. Weakening our law now would leave the state locked into dirty, expensive, antiquated oil and gas for decades more to come. Our legislative leaders must stand strong and repel this and any future attacks on our bedrock climate and clean energy protections."

"At a time when the Iran war is driving up oil and gas prices, Governor Hochul's proposal to double down on fossil fuels for decades to come is out of touch with the needs of everyday New Yorkers who are already struggling to stay ahead of their energy bills." said Lisa Marshall, Director of Advocacy and Organizing at New Yorkers for Clean Power. "The governor's proposal does nothing to provide energy bill relief and dramatically delays our transition off fossil fuels and needed investments in clean energy. Just this week, the UN's World Meteorological Organization issued a report saying that the earth's climate is more out of balance than at any time in recorded history noting that extreme weather events impact millions of people and cost billions of dollars per year. The Legislature can see the governor's proposal for what it is, bad policy and bad politics."

"The Climate Solutions Accelerator of the Genesee-Finger Lakes Region stands strongly in opposition to the Governor's proposed changes to the CLCPA. Such changes would not only impede our state's progress toward achieving a just transition to a regenerative economy, they are based on the false belief that adhering to the climate law is infeasible and unaffordable. The opposite is true. Meeting the goals of the CLCPA is the best way to lower energy costs, create good paying clean energy jobs, and lessen our dependence on volatile global fossil fuel markets." said Graham Hughes, Director of Policy & Advocacy, Climate Solutions Accelerator of the Genesee-Finger Lakes Region.

"The whole world is watching. Trump is dismantling climate regulations and expanding the use of climate destroying oil and gas. If New York doesn't stand up for the climate who will?" said Ruth Foster, Co-Chair of the Sheridan Hollow Alliance for Renewable Energy. "Our children and grandchildren are depending on us to secure a liveable future."

"We are adamantly opposed to the Governor's misguided attempt to roll back New York's climate law," said Adam Flint, Director of Clean Energy Programs at the Network for a Sustainable Tomorrow. "She herself admits that these changes will do nothing to address the utility bill affordability crisis. This can be best addressed by aggressively implementing the climate law, and reforming New York's broken rate making process which is stacked against rate-payers. By providing broad access to energy efficiency, residents would use less energy, and by expanding affordable distributed solar, rate payers can generate their own cheap power. We call on the legislature, particularly the Assembly, to stand strong in defending the CLCPA, and for Governor Hochul to reconsider her position."

"The Governor's proposal would rewrite the rules so pollution looks less harmful, abandon the funding that was meant to protect families and communities, and push our climate deadlines back a decade. That is not a strategy for affordability or reliability; it is a strategy for rising costs and worsening harm to frontline communities. New York set the standard on climate nationwide because we set strong, science-based standards and committed to meeting them. The answer is not weakening the law, it is finally complying with it," said Stephan Edel, Executive Director of NY Renews, a coalition of nearly 400 organizations across the state. "New Yorkers deserve honest science, real solutions, and leadership that meets the needs of the moment. The solution is to follow the science, fund the just energy transition, and keep moving toward a future powered by renewable wind and solar power."

Tim Guinee, Legislative Director of the Climate Reality Project New York Chapters Coalition said, "The Climate Reality Project's New York Chapters Coalition firmly stands against changes to our nation-leading climate legislation. The notion that the law has driven up prices is specious. In fact, kicking the can down the road will create grave economic hardship for the state. Governor Hochul, who has so long stood up for children and families, should not abandon the well-being of future generations with ill-considered changes to a law New Yorkers are rightly proud of."

"Governor Hochul is attempting to comply with the state's climate goals the way Trump cheats his way through his own golf tournaments - by fudging numbers and changing rules mid course," said Roger Downs, Conservation Director for the Sierra Club Atlantic Chapter. "Unfortunately, the climate crisis plays by its own rules and there are no mulligans given for cataclysmic storms, dying oceans, and the economic ruin that comes from a destabilizing planet. There is no "breathing room" for the 2 million New Yorkers who suffer from asthma and have to endure more sweltering days, choked by wildfire smoke. We need action now and the Climate Law, as enacted, will provide the most affordable pathway forward.

"New York's climate law is good for utility customers, period," said Patrick Robbins, Director of the Utility Customers Association. "Wild swings in gas prices cause real pain for New Yorkers on their electric bills, and renewables and storage are our best protection. We need Governor Hochul to listen to utility customers and steer our state toward the renewable generation sources that will save all of us money."

"Renewable energy is clean and affordable today and will remain so tomorrow, without the pollution, health impacts, and price volatility of dirty fossil fuels. New Yorkers overwhelmingly want more clean energy and climate action. We urge our legislative leaders and Governor Hochul to focus on deploying renewable energy and efficiency measures and implementing the climate law, not making tired excuses and giving in to the fossil fuel industry." said Renee Vogelsang, NY Director, Frack Action.

"The goals and framework of the CLCPA provide the solution to today's energy independence, affordability and health challenges and a road map to achieve the long-term sustainability of the planet for all life," said Jeff Levy-Lyons and Wendy Seligson, Co-directors of Jewish Climate Action Network NYC (JCAN). "JCAN strongly opposes any efforts by Governor Hochul or the New York State Legislature to weaken the CLCPA. By standing strong, our elected representatives show that they understand the moral imperative of the climate emergency and the urgency of preserving and protecting the well-being of New Yorkers today and in future generations."

Allison Considine, New York Director of the Building Decarbonization Coalition said,"Investments and policies supported by the climate law will provide thousands of family-sustaining union jobs across the state that we desperately need while transitioning us to a more affordable, cleaner New York. Now is the time to push forward, not step back."

"The NY State landmark Climate Law as written demonstrates how New York is ready to confront the greatest threat facing life as we know it - the existential threat of climate change. At this time in history Governor Hochul and the legislators have the choice of addressing not only the climate crisis but the collapse of our democracy," said Maggie Reilly, leader of Climate Crisis Working Group of Indivisible Mohawk Valley and Third Act Upstate New York. "True leadership demands integrity and courage. Governor Hochul stand up to the fossil fuel industry and our authoritarian regime by removing the dependency on and volatility of polluting fossil fuel. Real leaders do not change the rules of law when confronted with a challenge but rise to the occasion with real solutions such as affordable and reliable solar power. Governor Hochul, be a world leader and transition NY State to a clean, healthy, cheaper renewable energy economy."

"The CLCPA threw our city a lifeline when it gave the DEC standing to deny permits for a fracked gas power plant nearby. The power plant expansion would have led to severe negative health outcomes for our residents, and the denial went some way to protect us from being forced to carry yet another heavy toxic burden with no community benefit. For environmental justice communities like ours, the CLCPA offers hope of a more equitable, survivable future," said Tamsin Hollo, Steering Committee Member of Newburgh Clean Water Project.

"Governor Hochul, who has been flagrantly derelict in her implementation of the CLCPA law for more than four years, a period when New Yorkers were hit by record-breaking storms, flash flooding, drought and wildfires, has new excuses to break the law and mask her inability to lead NY state to an affordable and healthy future for its citizens," said Molly Ornati, Legislation Lead of 350Brooklyn. "The irrational choice to delay low-cost, accessible climate solutions, which according to the state's own data is estimated to save $115 billion, in favor of the fossil fuels that destroy our ecosystem and profit a few, has been bought and paid for by the fossil fuel industry. We remain hopeful that NY state legislators have the political will to prioritize the demands of their constituents, reject Hochul's plan for the CLCPA and instead expedite the fulfillment of its goals."

"The governor has said that we need more time to implement New York's Climate Law. The truth is we do not have time. The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) has determined that we have until 2030 to dramatically reduce fossil fuel consumption if we are to avoid a climate catastrophe. Delaying and weakening the Climate Law would be certain to cause even more damage to the climate and greater suffering, especially for those New Yorkers who can least afford to ameliorate the effects of climate change. For the sake of our neighbors, for the sake of our children and grandchildren, we must make every effort to implement the Climate Law, reduce our dependence on fossil fuels, and transition to renewable energy before it is too late." said Rev. John D. Paarlberg, Chair of the NY State Council of Churches Environmental Justice Working Group.

"What will we tell our children, if instead of pushing forward on climate action at this critical moment, we throw up our hands and kick the can down the road?," said Amy Hill, member leader of Mothers Out Front NY. "We urge the Legislature to stand up for the Climate Law. Any rollbacks would delay our transition to more affordable, renewable energy, cleaner air, and a healthier future."

"The Governor's rollbacks of the Climate Law don't solve the affordability crisis, don't get us building the kinds of renewables that bring down bills and shore up the grid, and lock us into decades more dependence on the volatile gas markets that are driving up bills," said Eric Walker, Energy Justice Senior Policy Manager, WE ACT for Environmental Justice. "The Governor has spent weeks manufacturing a crisis around weakening the CLCPA – first decrying it as unaffordable to implement, then blaming Trump for hostility to renewables, then claiming she'd be forced into a draconian version of the CLCPA by a lawsuit. She claims to be governing in reality but unfortunately it's one that only she and state agency heads are living in. The legislature shouldn't take the bait – It should stand up for the CLCPA and send a message to the Governor that says, 'No more excuses. Get to work'."