Earthjustice Statement: Efforts to Gut New York’s Climate Law Off the Budget Table After Attempts to Weaken by the Fossil Fuel Industry Fails

Today, the Hochul administration announced it will not prioritize an effort to undercount the effect of methane emissions on the New York State budget negotiations. A “rollback” bill submitted at the 11^th hour of the state budget negotiations looked to change the state’s method of accounting for greenhouse gas emissions which would likely enable more combustion of natural gas and other fuels for longer than currently envisioned under the Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act’s (CLCPA) Final Scoping Plan approved in December.

The following statement is attributed to Liz Moran, New York Policy Advocate for Earthjustice:

“Thankfully, the Governor has listened to the voices of hundreds of New Yorkers by backing down from a proposal that would gut New York’s climate law by changing how we account for greenhouse gas emissions. Right now, New Yorkers are stuck paying millions every year for the needless expansion of gas infrastructure — we’re literally forced to pay for something that exacerbates climate change and impairs our health.

“With rolling back the climate law off the table, the Governor and lawmakers can focus on the real policies that will fight climate change and save New Yorkers money for a final budget — a strong mandate for all-electric new construction starting January 1, 2025, the NY HEAT Act to cap energy bills for low-middle income New Yorkers, and other policies to stop the fossil fuel industry from squeezing every last dollar out of us. At no time should the legislature accept any efforts that would undercut our landmark climate law.”