New Yorkers for Clean Power Urges Assemblymember Barrett: Save Hudson Valley Families $75/Month w/ NY HEAT

HUDSON VALLEY, NY (05/15/2023) (readMedia)-- This morning, Politico reported that Assemblymember Didi Barrett, Chair of the NYS Assembly Energy Committee, "supported ending the subsidies for new hookups but questioned whether the bill was necessary given the requirements for new buildings to be zero-emissions included in the budget. 'How relevant is that now?' she asked." Betta Broad, Campaign Director of New Yorkers for Clean Power and the Director of Advocacy and Organizing at the Association for Energy Affordability, issued the following statement in response:

"Hudson Valley families would say that it's very relevant to save over $75/month on their utility bills. Right now, New Yorkers are forced to subsidize the fossil fuel industry to the tune of at least $200 million every year. But NY HEAT would protect families across the state from those outrageous costs and put a 6% income cap on utility bills, saving low and middle income families $75 on average every month. Especially in the face of proposed utility rate hikes, these savings are more than relevant - they're 100% necessary. We know the legislature wants to prioritize affordability for families across the state as we meet our climate goals, and NY HEAT is the obvious solution."

Background

The NY HEAT Act (formerly the Gas Transition and Affordable Energy Act) ensures that New York State will be able to meet the crucial climate justice and greenhouse gas emission reduction mandates set forth in the Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act for buildings without sticking everyday New Yorkers with the bill for misguided expansion of the gas system. It will allow gas utilities to invest in safer, cheaper, neighborhood-scale non-pipe alternatives to new gas infrastructure to protect New Yorkers from spiraling bills and enable zero emissions alternatives to the gas system. It also puts a price cap of 6% of income on electricity bills for low- and middle-income families to ensure energy stays affordable.

55 percent of New York voters are "very concerned" about the cost of their home energy bills. Currently, the average low- and middle- income household in NYC spends 9.3% of their annual income on energy. On top of these savings, the NY HEAT act gets rid of the unfair 100 foot rule, which forces New Yorkers to pay for subsidized gas hookups for new customers to the tune of $200 million every year. Plus, it could redirect up to $150 billion by enabling neighborhood-scale electrification projects, money that would otherwise be spent replacing old gas pipes with new infrastructure that will become obsolete well before it's paid off by ratepayers. In fact, a new report from the Building Decarbonization Coalition finds that every new mile of a gas pipeline costs customers an average of $6 million - that's $60,000 per customer on that line! But a new memo from Alliance for a Green Economy shows how NY HEAT would redirect money NYS is already spending on costly gas investments toward climate-friendly solutions, while saving money for hardworking New Yorkers.

Last year, NY HEAT (formerly known as the Gas Transition and Affordable Energy Act) enjoyed support from Governor Hochul, Senate leadership and environmental groups, but 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."

Nationwide, the fossil fuel industry is still heavily involved in misinformation efforts against necessary legislation like this. The New York Times reported recently 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 Better Buildings New York (BBNY)

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.