Senate Passes NY HEAT Compromise - Attention Now Turns to Assembly To Get Deal Done Before End of Session

ALBANY, NY (06/13/2025) (readMedia)-- Last night, the Senate passed two compromises on critical elements of the NY HEAT Act, both of which end the "100 foot rule" requirement that has New Yorkers footing the bill for new gas pipes and pipelines. One of the bills also gives local communities more flexibility in how and when they transition to cleaner, more affordable energy sources. The Assembly now has just three days left to seal the deal and pass this legislation to address unaffordable energy bills.

In response, Jessica Azulay, Executive Director at Alliance for a Green Economy (AGREE) and Liz Moran, New York Policy Advocate at Earthjustice issued the following statement:

"The Senate has long stood with New Yorkers desperate for help with their energy bills, and we applaud them for leading by swiftly passing these compromises. We know lawmakers don't want to go home empty handed again to New Yorkers facing down a hot, smoky summer, high energy bills, and the crushing affordability crisis. The Assembly asked for a compromise they can support, and people across New York have asked for their legislators to take action on rising bills and cleaner energy. The Senate delivered, now it's time for the Assembly to finish the job."

Bill numbers:

• S8417/A8888 ends the 100 foot rule, so New Yorkers will no longer foot the bill for new pipes and pipelines they don't need
• S8421/A8889 ends the 100 foot rule and amends the gas mandate by:
  • Providing more flexibility to localities and adopting a regional approach to New York's energy transition
  • Empowering local communities by giving them greater say in when they transition and requiring the majority of affected customers on a gas line to approve before transitioning to cleaner, more affordable energy sources