Assembly Fails to Act as Smoke Bomb Wreaks Havoc, Leaving NYers to Choke Through A Hot, Broke Summer

ALBANY, NY (06/13/2023) (readMedia)-- Last week, New York City's air was ranked among some of the worst in the world, with hospitals seeing almost twice as many asthma ER visits as the previous week due to wildfires in Canada made worse by climate change. Yet the New York State Assembly failed to bring the NY HEAT Act to a vote, despite the fact that the bill has 64 co-sponsors in the Democratic conference.

The Senate passed the bill on Tuesday.

NY HEAT would accelerate New York's transition off the climate killing fossil fuels that increase greenhouse gas emissions, and cause public health and environmental crises like this fossil-fueled fog. It would also save low and middle income families money – up to $75/month – on their energy bills by capping them at 6% of income. That's a significant savings for families that already spend three times more of their income on energy bills than other households. The bill would save all New Yorkers $200 million annually by ending the 100-foot rule which forces every day New Yorkers to subsidize the expansion of the gas system.

At a Tuesday Zoom conference advocates set NY HEAT as the number one missed opportunity to address the climate crisis and make energy affordable for all New Yorkers.

Watch the presser here.

"As members of the New York State Assembly clear out of Albany for summer, under the smoke-filled skies fueled by climate change, New York's most vulnerable communities will once again be burdened with massive energy bills as they try to mitigate the summer's extreme heat, the deadliest impact of climate change," said Sonal Jessel, Director of Policy at WE ACT for Environmental Justice. "Had the Assembly followed the Senate, which passed the NY HEAT Act last week, low- and middle-income families would have been able to save up to $75 per month on their energy bills. Instead, thanks to the Assembly's failure to act, we will see thousands of New Yorkers struggle to pay their energy bills this summer while the utility companies continue to force us to pay for unwanted and unnecessary gas infrastructure – thanks to the 100-foot rule, which would have been eliminated by NY HEAT – at a cost of $200 million to ratepayers every year."

"Before the orange skies had even cleared, thousands of New Yorkers received emails from Con Edison about higher summer energy bills," said Jessica Azulay, Executive Director of Alliance for a Green Economy. "Carl Heastie and Kathy Hochul could have taken decisive action on these climate and affordability crises by passing the NY HEAT Act, which clears the way to cleaner energy and lower bills, but instead punted to next year. We deserve better."

"It's a crushing disappointment that our leaders in Albany failed to do something as basic as aligning New York's utility law with the CLCPA," said Lisa Marshall, Director of Organizing and Advocacy at New Yorkers for Clean Power. "Instead we continue to squander precious ratepayer money on new gas pipes. Governor Hochul and the legislature should have supported the clear recommendations in the Climate Action Plan, in particular the provisions in the NY HEAT Act which were championed by the grassroots and more than 100 climate and environmental justice groups."

"Black and brown communities are already exposed to disproportionate levels of air pollution that leads to adverse health impacts like asthma and heart disease, and are the most at-risk as we live through extreme conditions of the climate crisis. And yet, in the middle of an emergency with New Yorkers statewide choking on poisonous smoke caused by climate change, the Assembly left Albany without passing the NY HEAT Act. NY HEAT would reduce our reliance on climate killing fossil fuels while saving New Yorkers up to $75/month on their utility bills. We applaud the Senate for voting to protect New York's communities of color, but the Assembly's shameful lack of action will have New Yorkers facing another hot, broke summer," said Brynn Fuller-Becker, Communications & Advocacy Manager with New Yorkers for Clean Power.

"Fossil fuel companies are responsible for the climate-worsened wildfires blanketing the U.S. in toxic smoke. New York City, in particular, saw the highest pollution levels in the world last week. But legislators in Albany aren't taking it seriously enough to do something about it," said Richard Schrader, New York Legislative and Policy Director for NRDC (Natural Resources Defense Council). "Fossil fuels burned in buildings for heating, hot water, and cooking account for almost one-third of the state's greenhouse gas emissions, and must be addressed for New York to get to its climate goals. Without the NY HEAT Act, we are left paying billions to expand gas systems and giving money to the same polluters who are making us sick."

"It is hard to fathom that as fossil fuel companies make record profits, New Yorkers are forced to pay $200 million per year to expand fossil gas infrastructure," said Betta Broad, director of advocacy & organizing at the Association for Energy Affordability. "Adding insult to injury, we are now facing a summer of sky high utility bills for air conditioning, necessary to escape the sweltering heat and now must also contend with unprecedented levels of air pollution because of raging wildfires. By passing NY HEAT, the NYS Senate showed that they recognize the dire moment we're facing and want to protect the health and financial well-being of New Yorkers, as well as ensure a livable climate for future generations. We urge Assembly leadership to also take the necessary step of passing this critical legislation."

NY HEAT could also redirect money that would otherwise be spent on replacing old gas pipes that will become obsolete well before they're paid off by ratepayers. Up to $150 billion of New Yorkers' money would instead go toward neighborhood-scale, clean electrification projects to make homes healthier and more comfortable. In fact, a new report from the Building Decarbonization Coalition shows that as New York electrifies, families who are left behind on the gas system could see their gas bills rise by thousands of dollars if we don't pass NY HEAT.

The final budget included the first-in-the-nation All Electric Building Act, which will require new buildings in New York to use efficient electric heating and appliances starting in 2026. But the work to clean up our buildings and save New York families money is not complete without NY HEAT. This bill would lay the legal and regulatory foundation for an affordable transition off fossil/methane gas as recommended in the state's Climate Action Scoping Plan. To reach New York's climate goals, and dramatically reduce air pollution, the state needs to electrify most buildings by 2050.

Background

The NY HEAT Act (formerly the Gas Transition and Affordable Energy Act) ensures that New York State will be able to meet the crucial climate justice and greenhouse gas emission reduction mandates set forth in the Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act for buildings without sticking everyday New Yorkers with the bill for misguided expansion of the gas system. It will allow gas utilities to invest in safer, cheaper, neighborhood-scale non-pipe alternatives to new gas infrastructure to protect New Yorkers from spiraling bills and enable zero emissions alternatives to the gas system. It also puts a price cap of 6% of income on electricity bills for low- and middle-income families to ensure energy stays affordable.

Crucially, the NY Home Energy Affordable Transition Act will do away with the unfair 100 foot rule, which sticks everyday New Yorkers with the bill for gas hookups in new buildings totalling $1 billion in added costs to utility bills for New Yorkers over just five years. It will also allow utilities to redirect the $150 billion that it will cost to complete planned gas pipe replacements over the next 20 years, and instead invest in neighborhood-scale building electrification.

A new report from the Building Decarbonization Coalition finds that every new mile of a gas pipeline costs customers an average of $6 million - that's $60,000 per customer on that line! But a new memo from Alliance for a Green Economy shows how NY HEAT would redirect money NYS is already spending on costly gas investments toward climate-friendly solutions, while saving money for hardworking New Yorkers.

Last year, NY HEAT (formerly known as the Gas Transition and Affordable Energy Act) enjoyed support from Governor Hochul, Senate leadership and environmental groups, but a campaign financed by the fossil fuel industry that spread disinformation and lies derailed the bill. The industry set up a front group called New Yorkers for Affordable Energy to preserve the status quo. A report from Little Sis reviewed the organization's tax filings which show that its mission is "to expand natural gas service." The group is meant to have the appearance of a grassroots coalition, but it was founded and is run by fossil fuel executives. From the report: "The coalition is backed by a range of fossil fuel companies and lobbying groups, including utility companies National Fuel and National Grid; pipeline companies Williams, Enbridge, and Millennium Pipeline; and the American Petroleum Institute. Other backers include corporate lobbying groups like the Business Council of New York State, regional chambers of commerce like the Buffalo Niagara Partnership, and fossil fuel industry trade groups like Independent Power Producers of New York and Energy Coalition New York."

Nationwide, the fossil fuel industry is still heavily involved in misinformation efforts against necessary legislation like this. The New York Times reported recently about the Propane Education Research Council sponsoring HGTV star Matt Blashaw. Blashaw calls propane - which contributes to climate change and is the most expensive heating fuel- "an energy source for everyone."

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 area for low-income families and 200% of the federal poverty level income of $27,180 for a one person household.