Better Buildings NY Applauds Governor Hochul's Commitment to the NY HEAT Act

ALBANY, NY (01/09/2024) (readMedia)-- Today, Governor Kathy Hochul announced in her State of the State address that she will enable an affordable transition for New York's expensive, climate change-accelerating fracked gas system, backing key provisions of the NY HEAT Act.

Sonal Jessel, Policy Director at WE ACT, a member organization of Better Buildings NY, released the following statement in response:

"By backing key provisions of the NY HEAT Act, Governor Hochul just took a huge step forward toward an affordable clean energy future, once again positioning New York as a national leader in the fight against climate change. Ending the "100 foot rule" and paving the way for zero-emission buildings will save New Yorkers more than $200 million every year, and allow us to invest in healthy, clean buildings instead of spending billions for new gas pipes. But as massive energy rate hikes take effect across the state, we are deeply concerned with the absence of affordability provisions, specifically the codification of a 6% income limit on household utility bills that would save hardworking families up to $75/month. Governor Hochul must make sure that low income people who face the highest energy burden don't get left behind. The clean energy revolution is here, and it has to include us all."

According to a Siena Poll, 8 in 10 New Yorkers across party lines agree that the high cost of living in New York is a major problem. Higher energy costs, exacerbated by double-digit rate hikes from ConEd, National Grid, RG&E, NYSEG, National Fuel Gas, and CenHud, have only exacerbated the cost of living problem.

The NY HEAT Act, which has 74 sponsors in the NYS Assembly and passed the NYS Senate this year, will stop expansion of the dirty, outdated fracked gas system to protect the climate. It will reduce future rate increases by prioritizing clean energy investments, instead of spending billions of dollars on new fracked gas pipes. Crucially, the NY HEAT Act will limit energy bills to 6% of household income, saving low and middle-income New Yorkers who are not part of utility Energy Affordability Programs up to $75/month on their energy bills. The bill also 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, floods, and wildfires – turning the sky orange and the air toxic – and drives deadly extreme heat and cold.

About Better Buildings New York

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, reduced to 6%, for a one person household at 200% of the federal poverty level income of $27,180.