Lawmakers Kick Off Hot, Broke Summer Tour In Brooklyn w/ Ice Cream; Fight Rising Energy Bills & Climate Change

BROOKLYN, NY (08/01/2023) (readMedia)-- It's "hot, broke summer," with soaring heat and skyrocketing energy bills, and Brooklyn residents and elected officials are demanding relief from Governor Hochul in the form of NY-HEAT, a bill that could fight climate change and save working New Yorkers $75 per month on their energy bills. Elected leaders and advocates are passing out free ice cream on this hot summer day to help constituents stay cool and promote awareness of the legislation.

New Yorkers are living through extreme weather this summer and paying increasingly expensive utility bills thanks to ConEd rate hikes, effective as of August. ConEd's 2023 earnings are, so far, more than double those in 2022, yet the company is raising energy prices around 9% this month and another 4% in January 2024. It's only going to get worse unless New York gets off fossil fuels, and the NY HEAT Act is the solution: legislation that would save New Yorkers $75/month on their energy bills and cut the greenhouse gas emissions driving climate change. Lawmakers and advocates are calling on Governor Hochul to offer more than warnings to "stay safe," by committing to including the NY HEAT Act in her 2024 executive budget. The bill passed the senate in June, and already has 68 co-sponsors in the Assembly.

The Hot, Broke Summer FREE ice cream tour is making stops across Brooklyn to build support for the NY HEAT Act, with future dates and boroughs to be announced.

See video and images from the event here.

The truck is making the following stops:

• Borough Hall with Deputy Borough President Kim Council and the Office of the Public Advocate
• Sunset Park with Assembly Member Marcela Mitaynes
• Nostrand Ave and Sterling St. with the office of Assembly Member Brian Cunningham
• Greenpoint Library with Assembly Member Phara Souffrant-Forrest and the Office of Assembly Member Emily Gallagher, Senator Kristen Gonzalez, and Council Member Lincoln Restler

"Fossil fuels are driving the dangerous heat, toxic air and skyrocketing fuel costs that characterize New Yorkers' hot, broke summer," said Food & Water Watch Senior NY Organizer Laura Shindell. "We need bold action from Governor Hochul to finish what she started in signing our nation-leading gas ban into effect this year. Buildings are New York's largest polluters - the work to move them off fossil fuels is not complete without NY HEAT."

"As the climate crisis persists, so does our fight against rising energy costs. The NY HEAT Act offers a solution to both reduce greenhouse gas emissions and save working New Yorkers up to $75 a month on energy costs," said Comptroller Brad Lander. "Driving the change toward a cooler New York City summer starts one scoop at a time!"

"As we reach the peak of New York's summer we are reminded of the urgent need for bold and expansive climate legislation that protects New Yorkers and our environment while reigning in rising energy costs," said Brooklyn Borough President Antonio Reynoso. "I am proud to join colleagues in government and Food and Water Watch in calling on Governor Hochul to pass the NY HEAT Act. The act's passage will usher in a safer and cleaner future – one that is just as sweet as today's ice cream."

"It's too damn hot to keep forcing New Yorkers to pay for climate destruction. With the NY Heat Act, we can save money, tackle air pollution and turbocharge our green energy revolution in one fell scoop," said Assembly Member Emily Gallagher.

Assemblymember Jo Anne Simon said, "New York must take bolder action to ensure our clean energy future--and passing the NY HEAT Act will help. This bill will reduce our carbon footprint, save money for New Yorkers by capping their energy bills, and allow our state to transition away from fossil fuels. We are seeing an increase in heat and storms from climate change in flood zones like Gowanus in my district and across the state. NY families shouldn't have to subsidize new gas hook-ups that accelerate these extreme weather events. I stand with the Renewable Heat Now Coalition in advocating for full investment in climate protections."

"Like this ice cream, the NY HEAT Act will bring much needed relief to New Yorkers and put a chill on skyrocketing utility charges and rising temperatures due to climate change. It is a groundbreaking piece of legislation designed to combat the relentlessly rising temperatures and extreme heat events that are plaguing New York and will only get worse the longer we delay. Through collaborative efforts and collective action, the NY HEAT Act paves the way towards a cooler, more sustainable, and fairer future for all New Yorkers," said Assembly Member Phara Souffrant Forrest. "I'm calling on Governor Hochul to commit to including the NY HEAT Act in the 2024 executive budget, and for my colleagues in the Assembly to pass the bill."

"New Yorkers are in desperate need of relief from this Climate Crisis and increased hikes in their energy bills. That's why I'm fighting hard with my colleagues for passage of the NYHEAT act that will move to get our state off of fossil fuels while delivering relief to New York's ratepayers," said NY Senator Kristen Gonzalez who represent parts of Brooklyn, Queens and Manhattan.

"Climate change should not be fixed on the backs of marginalized communities; it is a global problem we must all face equitably," said Assembly Member Brian A. Cunningham. "As we experience the devastating effects of human-caused climate change, we must act quickly to prioritize the reduction of gas emissions, while ensuring communities like mine can convert to affordable and sustainable resources. The NY HEAT Act will implement sustainability in an environmentally just manner that paves the way for a cooler summer for all New Yorkers."

"For an environmental justice community like mine, every step toward a sustainable future is a step toward our safety. The NY HEAT Act is a crucial step toward the public maintenance of our gas utility systems. We have already seen climate effects from smog in our skies, to major floods, to the health effects of pollution. In order for us to meet our environmental goals and prevent tragedy, it's time to act now. We are preparing for the legislative session and making our neighbors aware of the NY HEAT Act so everyone is ready to advocate for our future when we return to Albany this year," said Assembly Member Marcela Mitaynes.

"The NY Heat ACT is a significant double win - both protecting our environment from pollution and saving working class New Yorkers money on utility bills. I co-sponsored this bill because we are facing skyrocketing heat and utility costs, compounded by NYC's heat island effect," said Assemblymember Rodneyse Bichotte Hermelyn. "New Yorkers deserve a healthy environment, where they shouldn't worry about affording large spikes in utility bills just to stay safe.

The NY Heat ACT would cap energy bills at 6% for low and middle-income families, shift New York to a brighter electric future, and achieve a cleaner, healthier and more affordable future for New York State. I thank the Renewable Heat Now Coalition for educating New Yorkers on this vital measure by coming directly to our communities."

Extreme weather has defined summer 2023 in New York: July was the planet's hottest month on record. Heat kills about 350 New Yorkers each year, with Black New Yorkers more than twice as likely to die from heat as white residents. This number will likely rise as climate change worsens. And according to new research in the New York Times, heat waves across the United States would have been 'virtually impossible' without the influence of human-caused climate change.

It's not just extreme heat costing New Yorkers' lives and wallets because of climate change. New Yorkers choked on toxic air several times throughout this summer thanks to smoke from the Canadian wildfires. During the first 'Smoke Bomb,' NYC ERs saw double the usual amount of asthma visits. And earlier in July, Assembly Member Sarahana Shrestha held a press conference at the Rhinecliff Amtrak Station, demanding the Assembly pass the NY HEAT Act following the devastating flooding in the Hudson Valley. The torrential rainfall with 9 inches of rain in over 24 hours killed an Orange County resident. It also knocked out Amtrak and Metro North service for three days and completely washed away highways, making it impossible for people to get to work. The damage from the flooding is estimated to cost New Yorkers over $35 million.

The NY HEAT Act 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 extreme heat, flooding, and wildfire smoke. 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 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.

??Background

In 2022 and 2023, NY HEAT gained serious momentum but was blocked by campaigns financed by the fossil fuel industry. In 2023, the utility National Grid used ratepayer money to finance a campaign against the NY HEAT Act. And 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." In 2023, the utility National Grid used ratepayer money to finance a campaign against the NY HEAT Act.

Nationwide, the fossil fuel industry is still heavily involved in misinformation efforts against necessary legislation like this. The New York Times reported 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 Renewable Heat Now (RHN)

RHN is a network of organizations working to accelerate the adoption of ground-source (geothermal) and air-source heat pumps in New York to reduce the amount of fossil fuels used to heat and cool our homes and workplaces. We are committed to environmental justice and a just transition to all-electric homes and buildings.