Albany, NY — Today, the New York State Senate announced their One-House budget proposal, inclusive of the full NY HEAT Act. The New York State Assembly also announced their One-House budget proposal, inclusive of NY HEAT Act components.

In response, Alex Beauchamp, Northeast Region Director at Food & Water Watch, released the following statement:

“We applaud Senate Majority Leader Stewart-Cousins for once again championing the passage of the full NY HEAT Act. While New Yorkers statewide face skyrocketing energy bills, Speaker Heastie has missed the moment to send constituents a lifeline. Instead, he omitted most of NY HEAT in the Assembly one-house budget. As our fossil fuel addiction careens us toward climate chaos, there is no time like the present to move off fossil fuels and ensure affordability in the process. New Yorkers need less fracked gas and lower energy bills — legislative leadership and Governor Hochul must pass the full NY HEAT Act in the state budget.” 

New Yorkers pay $200 million every year to subsidize new fracked gas lines into buildings. With a landmark ban on fossil fuels in new construction going into effect next year, this loophole hampers the transition of existing buildings off costly, climate-killing fossil fuels. As communities statewide face double-digit utility rate hikes, the full NY HEAT Act would additionally direct the state to implement the goal of capping everyone’s energy bills at 6 percent of income.