New York — On Friday afternoon, dozens of New Yorkers rallied on the Upper West Side alongside Senator Jessica Ramos, Senator Brad Hoylman and Assemblymembers Micah Lasher, Tony Simone and Linda Rosenthal to demand passage of the NY HEAT Act — a bill that would cap utility bills, end wasteful fossil fuel subsidies, and deliver real relief to households struggling with rising energy costs.

With the end of the legislative session just weeks away, advocates and lawmakers are ramping up pressure on Assembly leadership to bring the widely supported bill to a vote. The NY HEAT Act has passed the Senate in previous years and has broad support in the Assembly, but Speaker Carl Heastie and his leadership team have yet to advance it.

“The NY HEAT Act is not just about tackling climate change, it’s about New York leading the charge towards a sustainable future,” said Assemblymember Micah Lasher. “By reducing our reliance on fossil fuels, we’re not only protecting our environment but also shielding New Yorkers from the ever-increasing costs of gas. This legislation will pave the way for more affordable, cleaner alternatives, and ensure that our state remains at the forefront of climate action while prioritizing the financial well-being of our residents. We are here today to show that the West Side is ready to pave the way and build a more resilient and equitable energy system for all.”

“We know that one of the most impactful ways to protect the environment is by switching to clean energy, but right now too much of the financial burden to do that is falling on the backs of well-intentioned New Yorkers rather than the gas utility executives who are responsible for getting us into this climate crisis in the first place,” said Senator Brad Hoylman-Sigal. “Passing the NY HEAT Act will provide assistance for households to make the switch to clean energy appliances and will save low and middle income New Yorkers an average of over $130 a month on their utility bills, while also helping the environment in the process. Let’s do what’s right for our people, and for our planet, and pass the NY HEAT Act.”

“The NY HEAT Act will help our state make the crucial transition away from natural gas while also making energy more affordable for low-income New Yorkers,” said Manhattan Borough President Mark Levine. “In the final weeks of the legislative session, our representatives have the chance to advance our state’s climate goals and bring down energy costs by passing this important bill. Thank you to all of the legislators and climate advocates who are fighting hard every day for a greener future for all of New York.”

“Skyrocketing energy bills are hitting families hard, and the NY HEAT Act offers urgently needed relief,” said Eric Weltman, New York Senior Organizer at Food & Water Watch. “This widely supported, commonsense bill would lower costs for everyday New Yorkers and help the state move away from outdated fossil fuel infrastructure. With the legislative session ending soon, lawmakers must seize this moment to pass NY HEAT and deliver a historic win for communities across the state.”

“New Yorkers are already struggling under the weight of rising costs, and another year of inaction will only deepen the financial strain on low-income and environmental justice communities,” said Cameron Clarke, NY HEAT Campaign Coordinator at WE ACT for Environmental Justice. “While fossil fuel corporations continue to profit, our communities are left to bear the burden of skyrocketing energy bills. This is exactly why we need lawmakers to pass the NY HEAT Act — to protect families from excessive utility costs and transition toward an affordable, clean energy future. The time for action is now.”

“New York families are struggling to make ends meet. As prices of everyday items go up week after week, we should not have to choose between having heating and cooling during extreme weather events and putting food on the table,” said Lena Goings, a 17-year-old organizer with Fridays For Future NYC. “Especially as climate forecasts for the coming months look as extreme as ever, Governor Hochul has a choice between affordability and hardship, corporate accountability and price gouging, fossil fuels and renewable energy — and it’s a matter of life and death.”

The NY HEAT Act would:

• Cap energy bills at 6% of household income — saving one in four New Yorkers an average of $136/month
• End the “100-foot rule,” a subsidy that wastes $200 million a year expanding gas pipelines
• Empower clean energy upgrades and reduce dependence on volatile fossil fuel prices

The event was organized by Food & Water Watch and cosponsored by New York Communities for Change, Renewable Heat Now, NYPIRG, TREEage, WE ACT for Environmental Justice, Climate Reality Project NYC, Jewish Climate Action Network NYC, Fridays For Future NYC, Earthjustice, ALIGN, 350Brooklyn, and Three Parks Independent Democrats.