Gov. Hochul Backtracks On Support For NY HEAT Act As Energy Bills Rise

All eyes turn to State Assembly to pass popular legislation to tackle skyrocketing energy bills, fossil fuel use

Published Jan 21, 2025

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Climate and Energy

All eyes turn to State Assembly to pass popular legislation to tackle skyrocketing energy bills, fossil fuel use

All eyes turn to State Assembly to pass popular legislation to tackle skyrocketing energy bills, fossil fuel use

Albany, NY — As utilities across the state are expected to charge New Yorkers 18% more for heat, Governor Hochul has omitted the popular NY HEAT Act from her Executive Budget Proposal, released today. The Governor has included key components of the legislation in her budget for several years, beginning with her 2022-2023 budget proposal.

All eyes now turn to the State Assembly, who reportedly killed bill negotiations last session, to pass the popular legislation which would cap skyrocketing energy bills and end subsidies for new gas lines.

In response, Food & Water Watch Northern Region Director Alex Beauchamp issued the following statement:

“At the very time New Yorkers need relief, Governor Hochul is backsliding on her commitment to lower energy bills and move off costly fossil fuels. While millions of people struggle to keep the heat on, Assembly Speaker Heastie must fill this leadership void and act swiftly to pass the popular NY HEAT Act.

“New York’s climate movement will continue to fight for NY HEAT as the main climate priority this session. Simply put, we must pass NY HEAT this year, and the movement will now focus all our attention on the Assembly to get it done.”

The NY HEAT Act would cap every New Yorker’s energy bill, saving the 1 in 4 families who can’t currently afford their bills up to $136/month on average. The NY HEAT Act would also eliminate the unfair 100-foot rule which forces New Yorkers to pay $200 million every year for new gas hookups accelerating the costly climate crisis.

The NY HEAT Act is popular across party lines. The Senate has passed the bill twice, and the bill has support from a majority of Assemblymembers.

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Press Contact: Phoebe Trotter [email protected]

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