Dear Editor,
As you may have seen recently, I have embarked on a statewide energy tour, joining with my Assembly and Senate Republican colleagues at all locations across the state where the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) is holding public hearings on the state’s proposed energy plan.
The goal of this tour is simple: to make the public aware that Gov. Hochul and Democrats in the Legislature are pushing policies that will continue to increase utility rates for New York families and businesses. The fact of the matter is, the policies they continue to advance are designed to dismantle the affordable and reliable natural gas infrastructure, supply, and delivery system. This, even though 60% of New Yorkers heat their homes with natural gas, and 40% of our generation comes from natural gas.
The state’s draft energy plan says we need an “all of the above” approach to our energy plan, including the use of natural gas, nuclear, and fuel diversity. Unfortunately, the policies being pushed and advanced in Albany don’t match the words. Gov. Hochul and the Albany Democrat-controlled Legislature continue to side with far-left Green New Deal advocates instead of siding with everyday New Yorkers. Families and businesses across the state have already seen their energy bills skyrocket while utilities continue to call for even higher rates because of the Democrats’ green energy mandates, with more to come.
Some of these costly policies include the following. First, you have the CLCPA (New York Green New Deal), which requires net-zero generation by 2040 regardless of the costs, feasibility or how it jeopardizes energy reliability for families and businesses. In addition, the All-Electric Buildings Act will deny new home construction as of January 2026 the ability to use natural gas or propane and will require them to be fully electrified. Then there is the mother of all unfunded mandates, the Electric School Bus Mandate, which is as much as three times more expensive than a near-zero emission-free diesel school bus, which is estimated by the Empire Center to increase replacement costs by as much as $15 billion for school property taxpayers, not to mention the billions of dollars in charging infrastructure and energy grid upgrades. New York is requiring school districts to convert their entire bus fleets to electric by 2035, a full five years before the state is required to convert its fleet. In what world does this make any sense? Why should school districts be the guinea pig for this social experiment?
It’s long past time for Gov. Hochul and Democrats in Albany to finally listen to New York families and businesses when it comes to our state’s energy plan and policies instead of virtue signaling for votes.
Assemblyman Phil Palmesano, 132nd District