Long Island Families Could Save $164 Each Month if Lawmakers Pass NY HEAT Act!

LONG ISLAND, NY (03/07/2024) (readMedia)-- Today, Assembly Member Taylor Darling held a press conference with dozens of Long Island residents and advocates to release new research that shows energy-burdened families could save an average of $164 on their monthly utility bills if Assembly Speaker Heastie and Senate Majority Leader Stewart Cousins include the NY HEAT Act (A4592B/S2016B) in this year's budget. As the Long Island Power Authority begins phasing in gas rate hikes that will raise energy bills by an average of 11.6% more each month, NY lawmakers have an opportunity to provide urgently needed relief by finally passing the NY HEAT Act.

The NY HEAT Act would curb future rate increases and put a limit on household utility bills to 6% of a family's income. It will also help kickstart New York's transition away from the fracked gas system that accelerates climate change and makes Long Island increasingly vulnerable to devastating flooding and erosion caused by extreme storms.

Watch the presser here.

According to the new one-pager from NY Renews and WIN Climate:

• Nearly 1 in 4 (23%) Long Island residents have a high energy burden, meaning they pay more than 6% of their annual income on energy
• With the NY HEAT Act, the 23% of Long Island residents with high energy burdens could see their bills cut nearly in half, saving an average of $164 per month.

The group also highlighted a new calculator tool developed by Spring Street Climate Fund that any New Yorker can use to find out how much they could save each month on their utility bills with the NY HEAT Act in place.

"Passing the NY HEAT Act is not just about fighting climate change; it's about empowering residents to take control of their energy bills. By prioritizing energy affordability and sustainability, lawmakers can pave the way for a future where New Yorkers can save on their monthly utility expenses while collectively combating climate change," said Assemblywoman Taylor Darling.

"The NY HEAT Act is not only a transformative bill to combat climate change, it is also a consumer protection measure that ensures working New Yorkers do not foot the bill for our energy transition away from heavily subsidized fossil fuels. This bill takes us one step closer to achieving climate justice for our communities, and I am pleased to be supporting its passage," said Assembly Member Michaelle Solages.

"As our state grapples with unprecedented heatwaves, severe flooding, and soaring utility bills, constituents are looking to this year's budget for climate action. The New York Heating Energy and Affordable Transition (NY Heat) Act, which I proudly co-sponsor, serves a pivotal role in aligning gas utility regulation with our state's climate and equity goals. Including NY HEAT in this year's budget, would provide the necessary relief on expensive energy bills while addressing urgent climate challenges," said Assembly Member Fred Thiele.

"In recent years, our communities have experienced record-breaking storms, which will persist unless we take bold action. The NY HEAT Act is essential to help the state achieve our climate goals and ensure that climate change no longer negatively impacts our neighborhoods and cities across the state. I appreciate all of the advocates and bill sponsors who are working extremely hard to see this bill through. I look forward to continuing my support for this legislation and hope to see it included in this year's enacted budget!" said Assembly Member Kimberly Jean-Pierre.

"The data is clear: if implemented, NY HEAT would make a significant dent on Long Island's energy affordability crisis. A quarter of Long Islanders are highly energy burdened, and their bills would be cut by forty percent, on average," said Juan-Pablo Velez, executive director of Win Climate.

"The NY Heat Act will enable us to transition off of fossil fuels, reduce public health issues, ensure that financially strapped New Yorkers' costs are capped at 6% of their income and stop the requirement that current gas customers subsidize new customers, wasting money to prolong a technology that, sooner rather than later, must become a relic of our past, like the horse and buggy," said Karen Zilber, Campaign Coordinator, All Our Energy.

"From food to medicine, costs for everything on Long Island are only going up. We simply cannot afford to foot the bill for more climate-killing fracked gas. I am fighting for a livable future for my grandchildren - that's where I want my money to go, not toward the very fracked gas imperiling our future. Assembly Speaker Heastie and Senate Majority Leader Stewart-Cousins must include the full NY HEAT Act in their budget proposals. It's time we cut the fossil fuel cord and put money back in New Yorkers' pockets," said Joe Varon, Food & Water Watch Volunteer and West Hempstead resident.

"As we confront the urgent reality of climate disruption, the Long Island chapter of the Climate Reality Project calls for the enactment of the New York Heat Act. It is a critical step in our commitment to environmental justice and ending dangerous pollution of our communities. By aligning methane gas utility regulation with the mandates of the Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act, it would take decisive action to combat dangerous climate impacts. Fossil fuel consumption for heating and cooking not only contributes significantly to carbon pollution but also poses serious health risks to our communities, particularly on Long Island, such as extreme storms, rising sea levels, increased disease from migrating pathogens and insects, and saltwater pollution of our sole source aquifer. Methane gas in our homes poses serious health risks, such as asthma, heart disease and cancer. This legislation not only addresses these pressing issues but also ensures equitable access to affordable energy, safeguarding low-to-moderate income households from disproportionate burdens. The era of expanding gas systems at the expense of our planet and public health is over. With the New York Heat Act, we're charting a course towards a more sustainable and just energy future for all New Yorkers," said Francesca Rheannon, Chair, Climate Reality Project Long Island Chapter.

"We desperately need to transition off fossil fuels, to both mitigate climate change and meet the requirements of NY's Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act (CLCPA). Existing policy provides several subsidies, including the '100-foot rule,' which allows gas utilities to continue to build more natural gas infrastructure at ratepayer expense. This hits low-income communities the hardest. The Act also protects low income folks from bearing energy bills that exceed 6% of their income. We, the Sierra Club Long Island Group, fully endorse the NY HEAT Act, which will shift incentives away from gas and towards green energy and climate justice!" said Gail Payne, Sierra Club Long Island Group.

"RAC-NY, the advocacy arm of the Reform Jewish movement in New York, is proud to join with these committed and effective advocates for environmental justice in urging the Senate and Assembly to include in their one house budgets – and in the final Fiscal '25 State budget – the HEAT Act, which provides a sensible roadmap to a livable future by hastening decarbonization. Our State must transition away from fossil fuels, or face devastating consequences – especially here on Long Island," said Ben Elkind, Lead Organizer, RAC-NY.

"Long Island pays some of the highest utility bills in the country, which is why Speaker Heatie and Governor Hochul must act to pass the full NY HEAT Act in the NYS budget. This legislation will help address the unaffordability crisis by lowering the cost of living for those most in need. For today's working class and tomorrow's energy future, we need the NY HEAT Act to lower bills and ensure cleaner and safer communities," said Mike Guaqueta, Community Organizer, Long Island Progressive Coalition.

"Ten years after Sandy, and a few years after Ida, New York State has not done enough to protect Long Island. When the flash floods pour down our streets, we joke that we can finally afford a waterfront property. But we all know that it's no laughing matter. The NY HEAT Act is the solution to stop fossil fuel expansion. We can no longer afford to put our climate, lives, and homes at risk. We are calling on the Legislature to include the full NY HEAT Act in the final state budget, including provisions to cap utility bills at 6%. Anything less would be compromising our futures here on Long Island," said Becca Lewis, Project Coordinator, New York Public Interest Research Group (NYPIRG) and lifelong resident of the South Shore of Long Island.

"To build the safe and sustainable future that we all need, the old and harmful practices of fossil fuel consumption of today which prevents us from realizing that future, must be replaced with better, more protective energy construction. It is through the passage and implementation of the NY HEAT Act that we achieve our climate goals and help to create a better future for all New Yorkers," said Joe Sackman, Chair of the Working Families Party of Nassau County.

"The NY HEAT Act must pass in the budget this year with consumer protections that help us save money while saving us from climate disaster. Moving off fossil fuels will save the planet, but $164 every month in savings is a real lifeline for us today. This is money that can help me pay my rent. There are times I have to use the stove in the kitchen to heat up the house because we can't afford the heat bill. There are times I have to choose between feeding my kids or paying some high bill and that ain't right. So an extra $164 in my pocket can go a long way," said Peggy Perkins, Member of NY Communities for Change.

Governor Hochul embraced key parts of the HEAT Act in her Executive Budget proposal. The Senate passed the bill last year, and the HEAT Act now has 76 co-sponsors in the Assembly. Advocates are calling on Assembly Speaker Heastie to include the full bill in the chamber's one-house budget.

Background

According to a recent Siena Poll, cost of living is the single most important issue facing most New Yorkers this election season. A previous Siena Poll found 8 in 10 New Yorkers statewide agree the high cost of living in New York is a major problem, and double-digit rate hikes from ConEd, National Grid, RG&E, NYSEG, National Fuel Gas, Central Hudson, and O&R have only exacerbated the already high cost of living.

The NY HEAT Act, which stands for Home Energy Affordable Transition, will stop the expansion of the dirty, outdated, fracked gas system to protect the climate. In addition to cost savings detailed above, the bill 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 and drives deadly extreme heat and cold.

About Food & Water Watch

Food & Water Watch is a national advocacy organization that mobilizes people to build political power to move bold and uncompromised solutions to the most pressing food, water and climate problems of our time. We work to protect people's health, communities and democracy from the growing destructive power of the most powerful economic interests.