Peekskill, NY — Today, Westchester legislators and advocates held a press conference calling on Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie to champion passage of the NY HEAT Act in the Assembly One House Budget expected next month. Governor Hochul included key provisions of the bill in her budget proposal in January; advocates are calling for passage of the full bill, which includes provisions to save low- and middle-income New Yorkers money on their energy bills.

Food & Water Watch Senior New York Organizer Santosh Nandabalan said:

“New Yorkers are paying through the nose to finance climate chaos. It’s time to stop the consumer-subsidized expansion of our dirty, dangerous, fracked gas system. Speaker Heastie must stand with Westchester families struggling to keep the lights on and pass the NY HEAT Act in the Assembly One House budget.”

The NY HEAT Act would ensure an affordable transition off climate-killing fossil fuels by 1) stopping the expansion of the dirty, toxic gas system and 2) reducing utility bills by eliminating gas subsidies and directing the PSC to implement the goal of capping energy bills at 6% of income. Low- and middle-income households are the most impacted by volatile gas prices and high energy bills, paying three times more of their income on energy bills than other families.

A new analysis by Win Climate finds that nearly 1 in 5 Westchester County residents pay more than 6% of their annual income on electricity, gas, and delivered fossil fuels. Using data from the Census, the analysis finds that the NY HEAT could save these Westchester families as much as $183/month on energy bills. The push for cost savings comes as Con Edison begins phasing in rate hikes that will total an additional $60/month by January 2025 for customers who pay for gas heat.

“It is exciting that elements of the NY HEAT Act have made it into the Governor’s Executive Budget proposal, but we need the whole thing,” said Assemblywoman Dana Levenberg. “I have constituents calling and writing to my office about unaffordable energy bills constantly. New Yorkers need relief in their energy bills now – we need the 6% cap on household energy costs that is written into NY HEAT. This is a critically important goal.”

State Senator Pete Harckham, chair of the Senate Environmental Conservation committee, said, “The New York HEAT Act notably removes the 100-foot subsidy that incentivizes gas line expansion and will protect ratepayers with low incomes from shouldering too much of the transition costs to sustainable energy sources. The record-breaking heat from our recent summers and the climate-change fueled storms we are experiencing are telling us to enact this legislation in a hurry.”

State Senator Shelley Mayer said, “For many years, I have heard from my constituents about  the unacceptably steep increases in their gas and electric bills. Residents are keeping their home temperatures low and limiting their consumption, yet they are not seeing any relief from the high bills. I share the frustration that so many others have expressed. I thank Senator Liz. Krueger for carrying this bill in the Senate, and am determined to pass the New York Heat Act with my colleagues in the Senate and Assembly to protect New Yorkers from rising energy bills.”

Assemblymember MaryJane Shimsky said, “The transition off fossil fuels cannot be achieved on the backs of working New Yorkers. While I applaud the proposal in the Executive Budget to end fossil fuel subsidies, the fact is that we need the consumer protections from the NY HEAT Act to go with it. Spikes in utility distribution rates are causing serious problems for middle class families and people on fixed income in my district. I will be working with my colleagues to have the cap on costs restored. New York State must meet its climate reduction target through policy that is fair and equitable for New York residents.”

Assemblymember Chris Burdick said, “New York has the most ambitious climate plan in the country. We need to do our utmost to carry it out. Buildings are the largest source of greenhouse gas emissions in our state – approximately one-third. Removing incentives for gas system expansion is a key component to reaching our goals, and this commonsense legislation will do so in an orderly and equitable manner.”  

Town of Ossining Supervisor Liz Feldman said, “My constituents are begging for relief in their energy bills. New York HEAT will make it possible to transition to clean energy without increasing the burden on average New Yorkers.”

Village of Ossining Deputy Mayor Omar Lopez said, “As Deputy Mayor of Ossining, I wholeheartedly support the NY Home Energy Affordable Transition Act. This legislation is a crucial step towards aligning our energy systems with the climate justice and emission reduction goals set by the Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act. By prioritizing the decarbonization of our energy infrastructure and ensuring affordability for low-to-moderate income families, we are not only combating climate change but also fostering equity. This bill represents our commitment to a sustainable and equitable future for all our residents.”

Peekskill City Councilmember Brian Fassett said, “Fluctuating prices and soaring energy bills profoundly affect all of us, but they disproportionately affect low- and middle-income families. I strongly support including the full New York HEAT Act in the state budget. I applaud the state legislators who are supporting it for taking action to safeguard our families by putting a cap on energy bills. Our residents should not be forced to choose between paying their energy bills and meeting their basic needs such as buying groceries, paying rent, or affording healthcare.”

Peekskill City Councilmember Kathleen Talbot said, “Vigorous advocacy for this whole bill is exactly what’s needed to ensure we reach New York’s clean energy target goals and cap energy costs for communities such as Peekskill.”

“The data is clear. If implemented, NY Heat would make a significant dent on Westchester’s energy affordability crisis,” said Juan-Pablo Velez, executive director of think tank Win Climate and author of the new analysis. “One in five area residents are energy burdened, and their bills would be cut nearly in half, on average.”

Megan Dyer, with NW Mothers Out Front said: “Members of our local team have been getting calls from elderly neighbors, friends and family, reeling from the increase in their Con Ed bills. They are panicked. We know that the extra 30% added is meant to pay for the new gas infrastructure. This infrastructure will be soon outmoded if we abide by the CLCPA law from 2019 that sets climate deadlines. As mothers, we also fear for low income families and we know the likelihood that mothers will lose custody of their children if they cannot afford to heat their homes. Alternatives to gas heat is essential to mitigate the climate crisis. It is also a social justice issue.”

“The gas industry poses threats to our community without providing any means for recourse,” said Tina Volz-Bongar of United For Clean Energy in Peekskill.  “We firmly advocate for the cessation of subsidies directed towards them, particularly as our utility bills soar. It is imperative that we safeguard the future of Peekskill from predatory corporations masquerading as local utilities. They should not be allowed to exploit the system by receiving subsidies while simultaneously imposing unprecedented rate hikes to expand its environmentally damaging, fracked gas infrastructure for the benefit of their shareholders. Our community deserves access to cleaner energy and relief from exorbitant bills. Pass the NY HEAT Act now!”

“Amidst the current energy landscape, the NY HEAT Act stands as a beacon of progress,” said Dr. Courtney Williams of Safe Energy Rights Group in Peekskill. “By putting this bill in the New York budget, we’re not just lowering energy bills; we’re creating the pathway for investment in cleaner heating programs beyond the confines of gas dependency. It’s time to break free from the shackles of antiquated energy models and embrace a future where sustainability and affordability go hand in hand. Let’s ensure that every dollar saved doesn’t just benefit our pockets but also fosters a healthier tomorrow for our children.”

“The NY HEAT Act champions power for the people of New York,” said Kim Fraczek, Director of the Sane Energy Project. “With a broad coalition of legislators rallying behind this initiative, there is unified commitment to reducing energy costs and directing resources towards cleaner heating solutions. To modernize our legislation and elevate our quality of life, we urge the comprehensive passage of the NY HEAT Act within this year’s budget.”

New Yorkers for Clean Power Communications & Advocacy Manager, Brynn Fuller-Becker, said: “Outdated laws propping up the toxic gas industry are keeping us from the modern clean energy systems we need. Instead, wealthy corporations force us to fill our homes with fracked gas that poisons the air our children breathe today, and the planet they’ll live on tomorrow—all while charging us higher and higher prices every year. Speaker Heastie must pass the NY HEAT Act in the Assembly One House budget so that we can move into the cleaner, healthier, and more affordable future we deserve.”

Press conference recording available here.