Groups are demanding Gov. Hochul put NY HEAT in the final budget to save NYers $1,000 for necessities like food, medicine, rent
As Governor Hochul and Assembly leadership continue to negotiate the budget, groups are calling on them to include the NY Home Energy Affordable Transition Act (NY HEAT). Among crucial measures that would save New Yorkers statewide hundreds of millions every year for unnecessary and outdated gas system expansion, NY HEAT would put a 6% of income cap on utility bills for low and middle income New Yorkers.
"With NY HEAT, low and middle income New Yorkers could save nearly $1,000 on their utility bills every year. After a winter where New Yorkers across the state were forced to choose between eating and heating because of record-high utility bills, this is $1,000 that hardworking families can instead spend on food, medicine, and rent. Governor Hochul has made it clear that energy affordability is paramount - she must include NY HEAT in the final budget," said Sonal Jessel, Director of Policy at WE-ACT, a member organization of Better Buildings New York.
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.
Crucially, the NY Home Energy Affordable Transition Act will do away with the unfair 100 foot rule, which sticks everyday New Yorkers with the bill for gas hookups in new buildings totalling $1 billion in added costs to utility bills for New Yorkers over just five years.
In January, 200 advocates and 25 NYS legislators and called on Governor Hochul to uphold her State of the State commitments by including the All-Electric Building Act (S562A/A920), the NY Home Energy Affordable Transition (NY HEAT) Act (S2016/A4592) and the Energy Efficiency, Equity, and Jobs Act (S3126/A3996A) in her Executive Budget, and for the Assembly's support. Previously, 220 groups across New York State sent a letter to Governor Hochul, urging her to include the All-Electric Building Act, the NY HEAT Act, and other key energy affordability provisions in her executive budget.
Buildings account for a third of New York's greenhouse gas emissions, and 66 percent of likely New York voters support a statewide proposal to end fossil fuels in new construction. 55 percent are "very concerned" about the cost of their home energy bills. These proposals will help New York meet the Climate Act's requirement of reducing emissions by 40 percent by 2030 while also saving New Yorkers money.
Getting off gas and going all electric over the next 30 years is a massive, net-positive jobs creator, creating more than 200,000 new jobs (more than doubling current employment) in the buildings sector. NY State has passed legislation backing utility thermal networks for district heating and cooling with dramatic energy savings.
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.