Advocates Launch Statewide Ad Campaign To Demand Albany Leadership Include Full NY HEAT Act in Final Budget

ALBANY, NY (03/28/2024) (readMedia)-- As the NY HEAT Act continues to gain momentum in the NYS Legislature, climate and environmental groups are announcing a six-figure ad buy urging Governor Hochul, Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie, and other Albany leaders to include the full bill in this year's budget. The ads highlight Mone, a disabled senior from New York City who is on a fixed income. Mone is one of the 25% of New Yorkers struggling to afford costly utility bills, who could save $136 every month, on average, if lawmakers pass the full NY HEAT Act.

View the statewide ad here.

View the New York City ad here.

"Energy costs are out of control, and across our state it's people like Mone who are bearing the brunt of rising costs for the same old dirty fracked gas. Without timely action from Albany, struggling families could see their bills skyrocket further, which is why we need lawmakers to finally step up and pass the full NY HEAT Act in the budget. The Senate recognized the need to prioritize energy affordability and cleaner heating - now Governor Hochul and Assembly Speaker Heastie need to put their constituents and the climate over the profits of utility companies and get this bill passed!" said Sonal Jessel, Director of Policy at WE Act for Environmental Justice, a member organization of the Better Buildings New York (BBNY) coalition.

"Thanks to greedy utility companies, I worry every day about how I'll be able to afford my bills. I go to the senior center for free lunch, I buy discounted light bulbs from the energy company, and every day of the summer I go from cooling center to cooling center because I can't afford to run an air conditioner or fans at home. I know I'm not alone. That's why I'm fighting for the NY HEAT Act, which will make my bills affordable and fight climate change. Instead of worrying about keeping the heat on, the NY HEAT Act will make it possible for me to afford my bills and food, rent, and medicine," Mone Choy, a member of WE ACT for Environmental Justice featured in the new ad campaign.

The ads, which were produced by the Better Buildings New York coalition, are currently running on TV in the Albany, Buffalo, Rochester and Syracuse metro areas and on Facebook across NYS.

The fossil fuel industry spends millions each year to advance its political goals. In recent years, major fossil fuel companies have set up a front group called "New Yorkers for Affordable Energy" to spread misinformation about New York's climate policies. Last year, utility company National Fuel Gas was caught spending ratepayer money to advocate against the All-Electric Building Act and the NY HEAT Act - policies that are in ratepayers' best interests. The President of National Fuel Gas was also recently the chairperson of the Business Council of New York State, which announced in October 2023 a $1 million ad campaign urging Governor Hochul to roll back New York's nation-leading climate law. The fossil fuel industry is more interested in spending big to protect its profits than in protecting the pockets of struggling New Yorkers and preventing catastrophic climate change.

Background

According to a recent Siena Poll, cost of living is the most important issue facing most New Yorkers this election season. A previous Siena Poll found that 8 in 10 New Yorkers statewide agree the high cost of living in New York is a major problem. Double-digit rate hikes from ConEd, National Grid, NYSEG, RG&E, Central Hudson, National Fuel Gas, and O&R only exacerbate the cost of living problem. New York lawmakers have an opportunity to protect families by passing the NY HEAT Act in the budget and putting a limit on household utility bills to 6% of a family's income.

The NY HEAT Act will curtail new investments in the dirty, outdated, fracked gas system to the tune of more than a billion dollars every year on the backs of utility bill payers, while accelerating fossil fuel-generated climate change that supercharges storms, floods, and wildfires and drives deadly extreme heat and cold.

In January, Governor Hochul included key provisions of the NY HEAT Act, which stands for Home Energy Affordable Transition, in her Executive Budget proposal. Last week, the Senate reaffirmed its support for the NY HEAT Act by passing the full bill, and for the first time, the NY HEAT Act has 76 sponsors in the Assembly-majority support in the chamber. It is a budget priority for the Black, Puerto Rican, Hispanic & Asian Legislative Caucus. Now, Governor Hochul and Assembly leadership have an unprecedented opportunity to pass legislation that would modernize New York's utility regulations and include critical language to save New Yorkers struggling to afford their heating bills more money for other crucial expenses.

About Better Buildings New York

BBNY is a coalition 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.