State Senator Canzoneri-Fitzpatrick Joins Business and Labor Leaders in Opposition to NY Heat Act

ALBANY N.Y. – Senator Canzoneri-Fitzpatrick and the New York State Senate Republican Conference today were joined by New Yorkers for Affordable Energy Executive Director Daniel Ortega at a Capitol press conference today to call for a cost benefit analysis of New York’s climate policies and to oppose a costly new mandate, the New York Heat Act.

Since the passage of the Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act (CLCPA) in 2019, Republicans have demanded answers about its cost, expressed concerns about its mandates and questioned if its goals were realistic or achievable. 

Further, the Senate Republican Conference has unanimously opposed new energy costs and mandates such as the NY Heat Act/Affordable Gas Transition Act. These policies will raise rates for at least 75 percent of New Yorkers, eliminate thousands of good paying union jobs and slap up to $50,000 in costs on homeowners who may be forced to transition from natural gas to electric heat.

“The NY Heat Act poses a threat to the financial well-being of middle-class ratepayers in New York, a state already burdened by high costs of living and taxation. Albany Democrats' hyper focus on clean energy mandates, without regard for their affordability or feasibility, is exacerbating the outmigration of residents to more affordable states. We must seek affordable clean energy solutions that benefit all New Yorkers, considering their economic impact and promoting sustainability without added financial strain. The current approach risks further economic harm, including higher taxes, budget pressures for families, job losses, and damage to local economies, without delivering substantial benefits to the majority of New Yorkers,” said Senator Patricia Canzoneri-Fitzpatrick, 9th Senate District.

New Yorkers are already struggling to pay high utility bills, largely driven by policies conceived by Democrats. Even before CLCPA was passed in 2019, 25 percent of the delivery charges on utility bills were made up of New York State taxes and fees.

Since then, things have only gotten worse. According to an analysis by the Empire Center for Public Policy of the first CLCPA report published by the Department of Public Service last summer, rates have already been driven upward by as much as 9.8 percent.

Passing the NY Heat Act would be a disaster for most ratepayers. While the bill caps utility costs for 25 percent of New Yorkers according to its sponsors, the money needed to continue to operate the grid will merely be picked out of the pockets of the 75 percent of those who do not receive any assistance. This is a classic political bait and switch, where a small group benefits while hard working middle-class families bear the burden. Further, the NY Heat Act would eliminate the “100-foot rule” for gas service that would lead to thousands of utility workers losing their jobs.

“On behalf of our collation of business and labor organizations, I want to thank Leader Ortt and the Senate Republican Conference for fighting back against energy policies that are expensive, ill-conceived and bad for our economy. We need common sense and not extreme climate ideology to lead the way. New York is blessed with an abundance of resources. If we plan carefully, we can reduce emissions, protect jobs and keep costs reasonable for consumers. In order to get there, we must pause on our current course, appropriately measure the costs already imposed and stop passing new mandates like the New York Heat Act, which only make things worse,” said Daniel Ortega, Executive Director of New Yorkers for Affordable Energy.

The New York Heat Act (S2016-A) passed the Senate in 2023 and again, this year. Governor Hochul has included a version of it in her budget that she calls “The Affordable Gas Transition Act."