NYS LAWMAKERS, 200+ ADVOCATES DEMAND ALBANY LEADERSHIP INCLUDE NY HEAT ACT IN FINAL STATE BUDGET

ALBANY, NY (03/13/2024) (readMedia)-- Dozens of state lawmakers joined with more than 150 residents and advocates at the Capitol to demand Albany leadership prioritize affordability and fight climate change by including the full NY HEAT Act (A4592-B / S2016-B) in their final state budget.

The NY HEAT Act would protect New Yorkers from rising energy costs by limiting household utility bills to 6% of a family's income. The legislation would also kickstart New York's transition from the outdated, expensive fracked gas system accelerating the effects of climate change and hurting communities across the State.

Watch a recording of the event here.

"Climate change is a global problem with consequences that fall disproportionately on marginalized communities. As we continue to experience the devastation of human-caused climate change, we must prioritize a transition to affordable and sustainable resources for communities like mine. The NY Heat Act puts environmental justice front and center, paving the way for a cleaner and more equitable future," said Assembly Member Brian A. Cunningham.

"Utility companies profit while families struggle to pay skyrocketing bills. The NY HEAT Act caps bills at 6% of income, saving families $136 monthly. It's time for action. Let's get the full NY HEAT Act passed now," said Assembly Member Manny De Los Santos.

"The NY HEAT Act is a fiscal policy in addition to a climate necessity-it must be included in the final state budget. We must finally end the absurdity of forcing New Yorkers to subsidize the expansion of expensive, polluting and dangerous fossil gas system. Instead, we can plan and execute an orderly transition to renewable heat, and bring down crushing utility costs, with the NY HEAT Act. It's time," said Assembly Member Emily Gallagher.

"The New York HEAT Act would limit utility bills to 6% of a family's income which could be about $136 in savings each month for 25% of New York residents that can't afford to pay their energy bills. Governor Hochul has said that she wants to make New York more safer, affordable, and livable for our neighbors and I agree, I want that too. That is why we must pass the New York Heat Act in the budget this year so we can combat climate change and help support working class families," said Assembly Member Jessica González-Rojas.

"Representing the 53rd Assembly District, we fought tirelessly to stop the production of a gas pipeline that threatened the health and safety of my constituents in North Brooklyn. This would have given leeway for energy companies to increase the gas prices. That is why I fully support the NY Heat Act - this bill will save our communities from disease, pollution, and help families save money on utility bills. We need to start thinking of a more sustainable and eco-friendly future, it starts now," said Assemblywoman Maritza Davila.

"I support the New York HEAT Act because it is common-sense legislation that ends fracked gas build outs and protects ratepayers from shouldering too much of the transition costs to sustainable energy sources. In other words, an environmental protection that values consumers and benefits them. The record-breaking heat from our recent summers and the climate-change fueled storms we are experiencing are telling us to enact this legislation before it is too late," said Senator Pete Harckham.

"We are in a Climate Crisis, and our reliance on polluting fossil fuel infrastructure cannot continue. New Yorkers deserve clean energy and lower utility bills, and the NY HEAT Act will pave the way for that future. I'm proud that we've put forth a Senate One-House Budget proposal with the full NY HEAT Act included, and we'll continue fighting for its passage," said Senator Michelle Hinchey.

"Burning fossil fuels in buildings-for heat, hot water, cooking, and powering other appliances-makes up about a third of New York's climate-changing pollution. We took a tremendous step toward addressing this last year by enacting the All-Electric Building Act, becoming the first state in the nation to require that new buildings are constructed without systems that require oil or gas. We must now build on that success, and our other efforts to achieve the ambitious goals of the Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act. The NY HEAT Act will remove incentives to invest in expanding unnecessary and increasingly expensive gas infrastructure that not only hurts our environment but also places an unfair financial burden on New Yorkers who pay indirectly for the new infrastructure, especially low income households. This bill will bring us one step closer to a future of healthy and sustainable homes. I applaud Senator Krueger, Assemblymember Fahy, and all the advocates who have backed this legislation. It is essential that we pass the NY HEAT Act," said Senator Brian Kavanagh.

The Senate included the full NY HEAT Act in its one-house budget, continuing its climate leadership. The Assembly included affordability language in its budget proposal, but the proposal falls well short of what is included in the NY HEAT Act. The Assembly's one-house also ignores the climate crisis, and does nothing to prevent wasteful, taxpayer funded investments in gas infrastructure.

Utility companies across the state are implementing double-digit rate increases and almost every New Yorker is feeling the pinch. ConEd, National Grid, National Fuel, CenHud, NYSEG, and RG&E are ALL raising prices, forcing everyday New Yorkers to pay more for the same dirty, fracked gas.

Better Buildings New York, a coalition of organizations working for the equitable decarbonization of homes and buildings in New York State, is launching a digital ad buy across the state that calls for passage of the NY HEAT Act and features Mone, a NY senior who struggles to afford her energy bills.

The NY HEAT Act would limit the amount families are forced to pay for household utility bills to 6% of income. In addition to protecting families from rising energy costs, the bill will also kickstart New York's transition from the outdated, expensive fracked gas system accelerating the effects of climate change.

According to the new statewide report from WIN Climate and NY Renews:

• 1 in 4 New York residents statewide have a high energy burden, meaning they pay more than 6% of their annual income on energy
• With the NY HEAT Act, the 25% of New Yorkers with high energy burdens could see their bills cut nearly in half (44%), saving an average of $136 per month.

"A decade after we defeated fracking in New York, we are still a leading consumer of fracked gas, that's a travesty. Even worse, the cost of the gas system is passed on to families and seniors struggling to stay afloat while gas utilities rake in record profits. This ends now! We are looking to Governor Hochul and legislative leaders to negotiate in good faith to pass the full NY HEAT Act in this years' budget," said Lisa Marshall, Director of Organizing and Advocacy New Yorkers for Clean Power.

"Governor Hochul, Senate Majority Leader Stewart-Cousins and Assembly Speaker Heastie are under serious pressure to ensure an affordable transition off fossil fuels. New Yorkers from all corners of the state are demanding passage of the full NY HEAT Act in the budget. We cannot wait another year to act on our rising bills fueling climate chaos," said Food & Water Watch Senior New York Organizer Laura Shindell.

"For ten years, NEST has worked to support residents and businesses getting clean energy improvements on their buildings. In that time we've seen the energy burden rise with unaffordable rate increases - rates which continue to subsidize climate-killing, asthma-producing methane gas. The NY Heat Act will substantially reduce energy burden, and remove a $200m gas subsidy. If Speaker Heastie and Leader Steward Cousins can put the full bill into both one-house budgets, and the Governor agrees in budget negotiations, that can be a reality this year!" said Adam Flint, Director of Clean Energy Programs, Network for a Sustainable Tomorrow (NEST).

"In the face of rising energy costs and worsening climate impacts, Mothers Out Front NY stands firm in our demand for immediate action to secure a livable future for all children. Our message to Albany leadership is clear: prioritize the well-being of families over utility profits by including the full NY HEAT Act in the final state budget. Every New Yorker deserves affordable energy and a healthy environment, and it's time for our leaders to make that a reality," said Bella Cockerell, NY State Manager, Mothers Out Front.

"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.

"We're rallying to call for the NY Assembly and Governor to join with the Senate and pass the full NY HEAT Act in the final state budget. The NY HEAT Act frees New York from outdated rules that force us to burn more fossil fuels, and moves us towards a 100% renewable future. As the generation that will grapple with more severe storms and damage from the climate crisis, students are standing up today to say "pass the HEAT Act in the final budget now," said Kaylee Evans, NYPIRG Policy Associate and SUNY Cortland student.

"We're here because on June 6th, our sky was orange, because while last summer was the hottest summer in the history of the planet, it'll be the coolest one for the rest of our generation's lives. We're looking at Governor Hochul and Speaker Heastie: stop failing our communities and turning a blind eye to fossil fuel and utility companies' continued exploitation, and instead follow the Senate's lead on climate and include the full NY HEAT Act; our generation's future and our communities' livelihoods are all on the line," said Keanu Arpels-Josiah, Policy Co-Lead, Fridays For Future NYC and a lead organizer of the 9/17 March To End Fossil Fuels.

"A level playing field encouraging cleaner, affordable heating/cooling systems rather than dirty, ratepayer subsidized, utility installed gas pipes makes both micro and macro economic sense. The full NY HEAT Act does just that and more, and should be included in the Assembly and Senate one house budgets. 'More' includes saving ratepayers and taxpayers billions on an unnecessary electric grid expansion and using that savings to limit electric bills and create sustainable jobs," said Christine Hoffer, Executive Director of the New York Geothermal Energy Organization (NY-GEO).

"New Yorkers need relief from the growing affordability and climate crisis in our state. The Legislature has the opportunity right now to save money for New Yorkers, cut climate pollution, and create jobs with the NY HEAT Act. The Senate and Majority Leader Stewart-Cousins has stepped up by including the full bill in its budget proposal. Speaker Heastie must lead the Assembly to do the same - that means capping all energy bills at 6%, not just electric bills, and protecting low-income New Yorkers from price hikes for gas utility delivery," said Denise Patel, Climate Campaigns Consultant for NY Communities for Change.

"The Sierra Club Atlantic Chapter applauds the leadership of the Senate Majority for recognizing that we will not meet our climate obligations if we continue to allow existing Public Service Laws in New York to facilitate, subsidize and obligate the expansion of fracked gas infrastructure at the expense of ratepayers. The Assembly cannot continue to hold this crucial reform out of budget negotiations while millions of New Yorkers are facing rising energy costs and increased pollution from dirty fossil fuels. The Governor and the Legislature must pass the NY HEAT Act in the FY 2025 budget to rectify the crippling inconsistencies between our old energy laws and our new climate goals," said Roger Downs, Conservation Director, Sierra Club Atlantic Chapter.

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.

Governor Hochul included key provisions of the NY HEAT Act, which stands for Home Energy Affordable Transition, in her Executive Budget proposal. The bill previously passed the NYS Senate during last year's session and for the first time now has majority support in the Assembly. Now, lawmakers have an unprecedented opportunity to pass legislation that would modernize New York's utility regulations and include critical language to save New Yorkers struggling to afford their heating bills more money for other crucial expenses.

Attendees at the rally included the Renewable Heat Now campaign; Better Buildings New York Coalition; Food & Water Watch; Alliance for a Green Economy; New Yorkers for Clean Power; WE Act for Environmental Justice; Sane Energy Project; NRDC; New York Communities for Change; Sierra Club Atlantic Chapter; Third Act; Rewiring America; New York Geothermal Energy Organization; NYPIRG; Climate Solutions Accelerator; Network for a Sustainable Tomorrow; All Our Energy; Mothers Out Front New York; Association for Energy Affordability; Fridays for Future; Building Decarbonization Coalition; and New York State Coalition of Climate Reality Chapters.

Lawmakers at the event included Assembly Members Patricia Fahy, JoAnn Simon, Yudelka Tapia, Chris Burdick, Anna Kelles, Brian Cunningham, MaryJane Shimsky, Bobby Carroll, Dana Levenberg, Manny de los Santos, Linda Rosenthal, Marcel Mitaynes and Emily Gallagher, Latrice Walker, and Steven Otis; and Senators Liz Krueger and Brad Hoylman-Segal.

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 utilities across the state have only exacerbated the already high cost of living.

The NY HEAT Act 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 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.