Better Buildings New York Urges Governor Hochul Include NY HEAT Act in 2024 State of the State

ALBANY, NY (01/08/2024) (readMedia)-- Ahead of Governor Kathy Hochul's State of the State address on January 9th, climate advocates are urging Governor Hochul to include the NY HEAT Act in her legislative agenda to aid struggling families with skyrocketing energy costs and to protect the climate. Richard Schrader, New York Legislative & Policy Director at NRDC, a member organization of Better Buildings New York, released the following statement:

"Winter is here, and for many New Yorkers this season brings a bitter reality: energy costs across the state are forcing families to make the terrible choice between putting food on the table and turning on the heat to stay warm. The outdated fracked gas system continues to put more and more strain on consumers' pockets by forcing gas rate hikes to pay for billions in new pipes, while it fuels the devastating and deadly extreme weather we've experienced over the last year. We can't keep pouring more and more money into this dirty system. Governor Hochul must keep her promise to prioritize energy affordability and tackling climate change by committing in her State of the State to include the NY HEAT Act in her executive budget. Not only can she protect the climate, she can also reduce the energy burden for low and middle income families".

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. The rising cost of energy, exacerbated by double-digit rate hikes from ConEd, National Grid, RG&E, NYSEG, National Fuel Gas, and Central Hudson, only worsens the cost of living problem.

The NY HEAT Act, which has 75 sponsors in the NYS Assembly and passed the NYS Senate last year, will stop expansion of the fracked gas system to protect the climate, and reduce future rate increases by avoiding billions in costs for new pipes, while limiting energy bills to 6% of household income and saving low and middle-income New Yorkers who are not currently participating in utility Energy Affordability Programs. The NY HEAT Act 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 and floods, causes wildfires that turn 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.