New York, NY — Over 100 New Yorkers gathered on Earth Day to rally for the NY HEAT Act, a major climate and affordability bill that would cut emissions and saving low- and moderate-income New Yorkers an average of $136/month. Joined by a slate of top lawmakers — including U.S. Rep. Jerry Nadler, NYC Comptroller Brad Lander, City Council members, and representatives from the Office of the Public Advocate — community members and environmental leaders urged Speaker Heastie and Governor Hochul to pass the bill in this year’s state budget.

Backed by dozens of environmental groups, the event underscored growing support for NY HEAT, which has been passed by the Senate in previous years and has 70 cosponsors in the Assembly.

NY HEAT would help move buildings — the state’s largest source of climate pollution — off fossil fuels, while protecting New Yorkers from skyrocketing utility costs. The bill would cap household energy bills at 6% of income and eliminate ratepayer-funded subsidies for new gas hookups, helping align state policy with its landmark climate law.

“Donald Trump’s embarrassing retreat from American climate leadership means states like New York have to step up our game. The future of humanity is at stake, and everyone has a role to play. NY HEAT will save ratepayers billions of dollars every year and make significant progress toward our reality-based climate targets. The status quo of our utility gas system is expensive, old, leaky, cold, and dangerous. Repairing and replacing that system, not to mention expanding it, is driving rate increases around the state. NY HEAT will save ratepayers money while providing modern heating, cooling, and cooking options that work better and don’t endanger the health and safety of New York families. There is still time to include NY HEAT in the budget — let’s get it done for New Yorkers,” said New York State Senator Liz Krueger, the bill’s Senate sponsor.

“This Earth Day, as the federal administration doubles down on rolling back climate protections, New York must step up and lead. The NY HEAT Act is how we fight back — by lowering New Yorkers’ utility bills and slashing fossil fuel emissions. Our planet is out of time, and our communities can’t keep footing the bill for a broken system built on dirty fossil fuels. Let’s include NY HEAT in the state budget and build a better, modern system that also protects our planet — before it’s too late,” said Assemblymember Jo Anne Simon, the bill’s Assembly sponsor.

“This year, Earth Day is not only a time to celebrate our planet and recommit ourselves to its protection, but also a day of resistance,” said Congressman Jerrold Nadler. “As Donald Trump launches the most aggressive assault on environmental protections in history, we must respond with defiance, not despair. That’s why, in addition to fighting back in Congress, I am proud to stand with State Senator Liz Krueger, Food & Water Watch, and many others in advocating for bold action at the state level, such as the NY HEAT Act — legislation designed to cut energy bills, reduce pollution, and keep New York at the forefront of the climate movement. While Trump tries to drag us backward, New York should demonstrate what true climate leadership looks like by passing the NY HEAT Act into law.”

“Families across New York are struggling with high utility bills while gas companies keep passing the cost of their outdated systems onto working people. At the same time, the Trump administration is doubling down on fossil fuels which will exacerbate the climate crisis. The NY HEAT Act is a chance to make a real change — lower bills, stop wasteful gas expansion, and move toward a cleaner, more affordable energy future. We must act now and pass the NY HEAT Act into law,” said Congresswoman Nydia M. Velázquez.

“Passing the NY HEAT Act is one of the most meaningful steps we can take to protect our climate this Earth Day,” said Assemblymember Linda B. Rosenthal, Chair of the Assembly Committee on Housing. “With the Trump administration actively working to roll back climate protections, New York State should be leading the nation in the transition to clean energy. Passing the NY HEAT Act in our state budget will provide struggling households with relief from ever-rising utility bills and help move us away from the fossil fuel-friendly policies that have been harming our health and our environment for decades. The time for action is now.”

“New Yorkers need a safer, more affordable, climate-ready city — and the NY HEAT Act helps to achieve that. New York’s reliance on natural gas means our buildings emit more greenhouse gases that speed up climate change, while higher gas prices mean soaring energy costs for New Yorkers. This Earth Day, our state legislature should commit to passing the NY HEAT Act, which would modernize our energy systems for better heating, cooling, and cooking that’s cleaner and less costly in the long run,” said NYC Comptroller Brad Lander.

“New Yorkers are being slammed by ever-growing energy bills, while utilities use ratepayer dollars to expand the fracked gas system that’s driving the climate crisis,” said Laura Shindell, New York State Director at Food & Water Watch. “Governor Hochul talks a big game about fighting the climate crisis while quietly approving fracked gas pipelines, endless rate hikes and putting ratepayers on the hook for more fossil fuel infrastructure. Meanwhile, Speaker Heastie talks a big game about fighting for affordability, but has stalled on passing the NY HEAT Act which would do just that. Rather than sitting on their hands, Governor Hochul and Speaker Heastie should listen to the growing chorus of New Yorkers demanding climate action and lower bills and pass NY HEAT in the budget.”

“Every year, New Yorkers pay higher and higher energy bills and communities of color continue to disproportionately suffer the consequences of climate change. Yet, fracking companies that are largely responsible for this crisis are raking in government subsidies and seeing multi-million dollar profits,” said New York State Senator Julia Salazar. “I’m proud to be a co-sponsor of the New York Heat Act, which would lower energy bills, advance us toward a sustainable future, and prioritize the health and safety of New Yorkers over corporate greed.”

“On Earth Day we promote environmental protection practices, and celebrate the efforts made to keep our planet healthy. But the climate crisis and New York’s affordability crisis is an everyday matter. I stand with my colleagues and climate justice advocates; we need the NY HEAT Act for more affordable and sustainable energy,” said New York State Senator Kristen Gonzalez.

“As climate change accelerates and energy costs continue to skyrocket, the NY Heat Act offers a cleaner and greener path forward,” said New York State Senator John Liu. “It will protect consumers by making energy more affordable, reducing our reliance on harmful fossil fuels, and moving New York toward a more sustainable, resilient future.”

“New Yorkers deserve affordable utilities and a path to a future that is not fossil fuel dependent. NY HEAT can accomplish both. If we are serious about advancing affordability and livability for everyday people, we will pass it in the budget this year,” said New York Assembly Member Emily Gallagher.

“As people from around the world gather to celebrate Earth Day protecting the earth through our legislative tools is paramount. Residents in District 60 like around our state are facing higher utility bills and greater exposure to damaging climate changes. I stand with my colleagues in calling for the NY HEAT Act and an end to fracking,” said New York Assembly Member Nikki Lucas.

“At a time when more than 1 in 7 New Yorkers are behind on their energy bills, we cannot let exorbitant prices continue to rise,” said New York Assembly Member Harvey Epstein. “The NY HEAT Act, which I am proud to co-sponsor, will create a new path forward by capping low-to-middle-income New York residents’ energy costs at 6% of their total income while also phasing out natural gas infrastructure.”

“As we recognize Earth Day, we can be proud of what we have accomplished in New York State in terms of fighting climate change and protecting the environment — but it is past time to move on the NY HEAT Act. We need to stop building out fossil fuel infrastructure in our State and residents certainly shouldn’t be subsidizing this. The NY HEAT Act will both help New Yorkers be able to afford their utility bills and help our efforts to combat climate change,” said New York Assembly Member Robert Carroll.

“While New Yorkers desperately need relief from skyrocketing energy bills, fracking companies are working to block the NY HEAT Act by spreading false claims that it will hurt New Yorkers. It won’t. What will hurt New Yorkers are dirty energy companies desperately trying to protect their profits at the expense of our environment and our budget. With the NY HEAT Act, families across the state could save money every month on their energy bills, and in my district, the residents who need it most will save an average of $125 every month! Let’s not let another Earth Day pass without passing the NY HEAT Act!,” said New York Assembly Member Harry Bronson.

“New York must lead the way in taking on fossil fuel billionaires who offer nothing but rising costs and deepening climate instability. The NY HEAT Act will lower utility costs for working families, help us transition to cleaner energy, and align utility regulations with New York’s necessary emission-reduction goals. The governor must put New Yorkers first and agree to pass it this year,” said New York Assembly Member Claire Valdez.

“New York seniors are solidly behind the NY HEAT Act. It’s our responsibility to leave behind a safer and cleaner city, state, and world,” said Pat Almonrode, Co-Facilitator of Third Act NYC. “The NY HEAT Act is an important step towards fulfilling that promise we made to our children and grandchildren. Especially now, with the frontal assault by the Trump administration on virtually every attempt to address the climate crisis, all eyes have turned to the blue states. Governor Hochul led on first-in-the-nation congestion pricing and the Superfund Bill, and now she and Speaker Heastie must pass the HEAT Act in this year’s state budget. We have no time to lose!”

“The NY HEAT Act, will help mitigate the causes of climate change by promoting a more efficient, safer, and less polluting energy system in the home (for example, with the use of electric stoves); it will reduce the expansion of the outdated and dangerous gas exploitation system in NY by eliminating subsidies; and it will reduce energy costs for low-income New Yorkers. For this reason we must pass the NY Heat Act,” said Gladys Puglla of Make the Road New York.

“The New York League of Conservation Voters is proud to stand with its partners in the Renewable Heat Now Coalition in calling for the passage of NY HEAT,” said Jon Furlong, Clean Buildings Campaign Manager at New York League of Conservation Voters. “The time is now for New York State to set its own course to mitigate the climate crisis, lower costs for ratepayers and ensure a clean energy future.”

“As the Trump Administration strips away all the federal protections for people and the environment, our local leaders — and Governor Hochul — need to stand up for New Yorkers and ensure an affordable and livable future for all,” said Lena Goings of Fridays For Future NYC. “Including NY HEAT in the already-late budget would make a real difference in our generation’s lives at a time when we desperately need action.”

“While my Con Ed bill keeps going up and up to pay for more pollution and pipelines around me, I can barely afford to just pay my bills and live a dignified life,” said New York Communities for Change Organizer Rachel Rivera. “My daughter has respiratory seizures and medical expenses and it’s getting tougher for people like me just to make ends meet. Speaker Heastie needs to stop caving to the fossil fuel industry and pass the HEAT Act now so that people like me don’t pay more for pollution that threatens our health and our children.”

“People across our state are facing a cost-of-living crisis, and over one million New Yorkers are behind on their electric and gas bills because of the failures of our current fossil-fuel-based energy system,” said NY Renews Executive Director Stephan Edel. “Low-income communities and communities of color are hit hardest by high bills and pollution in their homes and neighborhoods. The NY HEAT Act would immediately benefit households by capping energy bills and transitioning buildings away from polluting fossil fuels, improving the health and well-being of New Yorkers statewide.”

“The largest source of climate pollution in New York State comes from burning fossil fuels like methane gas for energy use in buildings. Methane is a climate super-pollutant that is dozens of times more potent for warming the climate than carbon dioxide. NY HEAT would direct state agencies and gas distribution companies to identify where we can safely and cost-effectively replace expensive, leaky old gas pipes with upgraded technologies for neighborhood-scale clean energy projects using heat pumps and thermal energy networks. We need to get New York back on track to meet our climate goals, and the only way we can do that is by starting to reduce our dependence on methane gas use in our buildings across the state,” said Gabriel Recchio, Campaign Organizer with Sierra Club.

“It’s outrageous that on Earth Day 2025, we’re still fighting for clean air, safe housing, and affordable energy, while utilities like National Grid double down on toxic gas projects like the Greenpoint LNG facility,” said Kim Fraczek, Director of Sane Energy Project. “We need to heat our homes, and we do not need gas to do that. We need leaders who invest in efficient, renewable thermal solutions, not 19th-century pollution. The NY HEAT Act is the bare minimum for justice. If Governor Hochul and the Assembly won’t protect our communities, they’ll have to explain why they deserve to stay in office in the 21st century.”

Organizations sponsoring the event included Food & Water Watch, New York Communities for Change, WE-ACT for Environmental Justice, Make the Road New York, Renewable Heat Now, Citizen Action of New York, Rise and Resist, 350 Brooklyn, New York Progressive Action Network, All Our Energy, Third Act! NYC, Sane Energy Project, Grassroots Environmental Education, TREEage, Environmental Advocates of New York, Long Island Progressive Coalition, Queens Climate Project, NYPIRG, NY Renews, ALIGN: The Alliance for a Greater New York, Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC), Sierra Club Atlantic Chapter, Climate Families NYC, New Yorkers for Clean Power, Earthjustice, New York League of Conservation Voters and Fridays For Future NYC.