Today, the Assembly killed any chance of a strong deal on the most watched climate legislation, the NY HEAT Act, before the close of the 2024 legislative session. The Senate passed the legislation earlier this year. Additionally, NY HEAT was in the Senate’s one-house budget proposal and partially in the Governor’s proposal as “the Affordable Gas Transition Act.” 

The NY HEAT Act, supported by New York’s climate movement and many lawmakers across the state, saves New Yorkers money on their energy bills while ensuring that state regulation and oversight of gas utilities provides for the equitable achievement of the climate justice and emission reduction mandates set forth in the Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act (the CLCPA). The bill provides the Public Service Commission with the authority and direction to align gas utility regulation and gas system planning with the CLCPA’s mandate while ensuring affordable access to heating, cooling, and other necessary services.   

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

“With Governor Hochul dropping a major bomb on climate action by delaying congestion pricing, the Assembly failed to rise to the occasion to pass the key climate policy New Yorkers need to cut energy bills and ensure the state is on track to meet our climate goals – the NY HEAT Act. With utilities already proposing to raise already high bills rising due to our reliance upon gas infrastructure, and one year after we saw orange skies, the Assembly has turned their backs on the policy solution. The same body that once championed our nation-leading climate law has now earned a reputation as the body holding back the policies New York needs to meet what is laid out in this law. 

New Yorkers won’t forget this inaction to address energy affordability and climate. Earthjustice, our partners, and the thousands of New Yorkers across the state have waged a powerful campaign that will continue until the Assembly passes NY HEAT.”