Senate Republicans: Heat Act Must Not Be Included in Final Budget

ALBANY, NY - Senator Steve Rhoads joined Senator Mario Mattera, ranking member of the Senate Energy and Telecommunications Committee, and members of the Senate Republican Conference today along with stakeholders and business organizations to call for the removal of the HEAT Act from budget discussions. 

The HEAT Act is a radical energy policy that would effectively ban the use of natural gas as an energy source for homes and businesses. If enacted, the HEAT Act would have disastrous implications including: 

> further driving up already high utility costs;

> forcing homeowners to spend thousands of dollars to retrofit their homes to eliminate natural gas;

> removing consumer choice on how to heat their homes; and

> further driving up the costs of building homes and homeownership. 

“The HEAT Act is a direct attack on affordable energy and consumer choice. Albany Democrats believe they have the right to tell New Yorkers how to heat your home. The Senate Republican conference knows that one- size-fits-all mandates just don’t work, and we will continue to advocate for a diverse energy portfolio that ensures clean and affordable energy options are available for consumers. I want to thank the stakeholders and businesses who are joining us to speak out against this dangerous proposal, and we urge the Governor and Legislature to remove the HEAT Act from consideration in the final budget,” said Senate Republican Leader Rob Ortt. 

“The HEAT Act is yet another example of Kathy Hochul and Albany Democrats telling you that they know how to live your life and run your household better than you do…and they’ll force you to bend to their will by taking away every other option. While paying lip service to affordability, the HEAT act effectively bans safe and dependable Natural Gas and forces nearly every homeowner and business to pay tens of thousands of dollars to convert to electric for heat and hot water. This will drive up utility costs and make New Yorkers fully dependent upon an unreliable and overstressed electrical grid leaving you and your families unprepared. My Republican conference and I will continue to advocate for diverse, clean, and affordable energy options for consumers, ensuring you have the freedom to choose what works best for your home or businesses,” said Senator Steve Rhoads.  

“The facts demonstrate, and the Senate sponsor has admitted that 75 percent of New Yorkers will see increases in their energy bill as a result of the NY Heat Act. We estimate that if the bill were enacted, most consumers would see an $800 yearly increase in energy costs. Worse, the elimination of the 100 foot rule will eliminate thousands of good paying union jobs that support working families all across New York State. We thank Leader Ortt and the Senate Republicans for their support and ask the Assembly and the Governor to hold firm and keep this proposal out of the final budget,” said Daniel Ortega, Executive Director of New Yorkers for Affordable Energy.

“The Northeastern Retail Lumber Association represents over 350 independently owned and operated building material dealer locations across New York—small businesses that have been serving their communities for generations. These businesses provide the materials builders, contractors and homeowners rely on every day. But with costs rising across the board, they’re being squeezed, and so are the customers they serve. This bill will only drive prices higher, making it even harder for everyday New Yorkers to afford basic home repairs. The very people this bill aims to help will be the ones paying the price,” said Francis Palasieski, Director of Government Relations, NRLA.

“The NY Heat Act will put many of my specialty trained gas workers on the unemployment line. This bill is expensive and it will reduce jobs as well as consumer choice. I thank the Senate Republican Conference for their support and urge the Assembly and the Governor to reject the New York Heat Act in this year’s budget,” said Thomas J. Murphy, Vice President,  Power and Construction Group.

“The NY HEAT Act is nothing short of reckless. It strips away the right of New Yorkers to choose how to heat their homes and will force working families and businesses to spend thousands they do not have. And it will cost many hardworking men and women their careers. As the Ranking Republican Member of the Energy Committee, I have heard directly from homeowners, workers and small businesses who are deeply concerned that this mandate would crush them. We need an energy policy that is practical, affordable, and respects the needs of real people—not one driven by political agendas. The HEAT Act must be removed from the final budget,” said Senator Mario Mattera.