Report: The NY HEAT Act Would Secure Affordable, Clean Energy for New York Household
***FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE***: March 5, 2024
Contact: Marie Scarles, marie@nyrenews.org, (646) 389-8429
Web: @NYRenews | www.nyrenews.org
REPORT: The NY HEAT Act Would Secure Affordable, Clean Energy for New York Households
Analysis shows that NY households would cut their energy bills by over 44% and save an average of $136 a month
Data underscores the need to pass the affordability provisions of the
NY HEAT Act in this year’s state budget
New York State – A new report shows that if the full NY Home Energy Affordable Transition bill (NY HEAT Act) were passed in this year’s NYS budget, the 25% of New York residents who have high energy burdens would cut their bills by over 44% and save an average of $136 a month.
The report, released by NY Renews, a statewide coalition of over 370 environmental justice, faith, labor, and community groups, includes an analysis of potential savings for households in each region and county of the state, with dramatic implications for highly burdened households. Households with energy burdens above 6% are considered highly burdened.
Ninety-two percent of the households who would see bill reductions from NY HEAT are low or moderate-income. They would have their bills cut by 53% on average. In New York City, Queens and Staten Island would enjoy some of the highest savings in the state ($156 and $159 a month, respectively). Highly-burdened residents of the Bronx and Brooklyn would save an average of $135 and $139 every month.
Bill savings would be upwards of $160 a month in the Hudson Valley and Long Island due to the higher utility bills in those areas, which are 20-30% higher than the state average for highly burdened households.
New York State Senate sponsor, Senator Liz Krueger said, "With gas utilities raising rates across the state in order to double down on outdated fossil gas infrastructure, it's never been clearer that the status quo is not only unsustainable, it's also unaffordable. Whether it’s $200 million per year that ratepayers are forced to pay to subsidize gas expansion, $150 billion ratepayers will have to pay to fix leaky pipes, or the continually skyrocketing price of gas, the status quo is an albatross around New Yorkers’ necks. And thanks to this new report from NY Renews, we now know the enactment of NY HEAT would cut the monthly energy bills of the 25% of New Yorkers with high energy burdens by over 44%, saving residents an average of $136 a month. New Yorkers deserve a break - and that's just what NY HEAT will deliver.”
New York State Assembly sponsor, Assemblymember Patricia Fahy, said, “New Yorkers are grappling with a climate and affordability crisis, and the NY HEAT Act addresses both. Seven in ten New Yorkers say affordability is a crisis and six in ten believe we need to continue taking strong climate action – in the Capital Region, 19% of households are considered energy-burdened and the NY HEAT Act will end ratepayer subsidization of the expansion of fossil fuel infrastructure, saving them money on their utility bills. We can walk and chew gum at the same time, let’s lead on climate action and ensure New Yorkers aren’t shouldering the burden of our clean energy transition.”
NY Renews Executive Director Stephan Edel said, “New York is facing an energy affordability crisis because of the failures of our current fossil-fuel-based energy system—one that has only deepened under the Hochul administration. The NY HEAT Act and other Climate, Jobs, and Justice legislation were carefully tailored to address both the affordability and fossil fuel crisis simultaneously. The NY HEAT Act will save New Yorkers money while making it easier to build clean energy by capping energy costs at 6% of income, eliminating the 100-foot rule, increasing the efficiency of our energy system, and reducing expenditures on gas infrastructure.”
Eunice Ko, Deputy Director of NYC-EJA, said "Most low-to-moderate income households pay more than 6% of their annual monthly income on energy costs. If the State truly wants to keep costs for basic necessities like energy affordable during the just transition, a cap on energy costs is a critical and guaranteed way to reduce the energy burden of EJ communities who currently are paying for the cost of polluting infrastructure with not only their wallets but also their lungs and lives."
"As the climate crisis intensifies, low and middle-income New Yorkers are disproportionately unable to afford their energy bills. Our legislature can change that," said Rosemary Rivera, Executive Director of Citizen Action of New York. "Governor Hochul must make a commitment to equitably increase climate spending and include the NY Heat Act in the final budget. Ensuring low and middle-income New Yorkers have access to affordable energy bills isn't just about an allocation of resources; it's a commitment to the well-being of all New Yorkers, and the shared responsibility to build a New York where everyone can thrive, regardless of economic status.”
Working Families Party NY State Co-Director Jasmine Gripper said, "With more New Yorkers burdened with rising energy costs, the NY Heat Act would lower energy bills for working families and transition us away from polluting fossil fuels. It's a win-win for our communities and a meaningful step toward a cleaner, healthier, and more affordable New York. We join our grassroots partners and legislative champions in calling for its inclusion in the final budget."
"Long Island pays some of the highest utility bills in the country, which is why we need the NYS legislature and Governor Hochul to pass the full NY HEAT Act in the NYS budget. The bill puts a needed cap on energy bills for low- and middle-income households, which will lead to more than $150 per month in savings for burdened ratepayers in Nassau and Suffolk County. That's a deal we can't afford to miss,” said Ryan Madden, Climate & Energy Campaigns Director, at the Long Island Progressive Coalition.
Jonathan Bix, Executive Director For the Many, said “As we approach a critical election, Democrats need to show New Yorkers they're taking working families' concerns about affordability seriously, and there's no better way to do that than by passing the full NY HEAT Act. The Hudson Valley and Long Island residents who would save the most money with this bill ($164 per month) are also the people who are going to be deciding who controls the House (and State Legislature) in November. Passing the full NY HEAT Act in the budget would show everyday New Yorkers that our Governor and Legislature are here for them and that contrary to the fear-mongering from the Right, we can actually save money in the transition to a renewable energy economy if we do it in a way that prioritizes regular New Yorkers over the bottom-lines of greedy fossil fuel and utility companies.”
"Over the past year, PUSH Buffalo has engaged thousands of poor and working-class community members in a campaign to defeat overlapping efforts by National Fuel Gas to undermine the goals of the Climate Law. National Fuel has pedaled misinformation about the costs and benefits of transitioning to a renewable energy economy while serving up a long-term gas plan to regulators that would squander over $1 billion of our money on wasteful gas system maintenance. In late October, National Fuel announced plans to raise gas delivery rates by nearly 30% for the average customer in Western NY. The NY HEAT Act, including the Act's 6% energy affordability provisions, must be included in the state budget this year. It represents a powerful tool for frontline communities fighting for equitable climate solutions in a regulatory environment that continues to advantage the monopoly power of gas utilities," said Clarke Gocker, Sr. Director of Movement Building with PUSH Buffalo.
"The NY HEAT Act's inclusion in this year's budget is not just necessary—it's a mandate for justice. Caps on energy bills for our most vulnerable communities are a lifeline. At UPROSE, we champion the NY HEAT Act because it embodies our mission to fight for those hit hardest by environmental and economic inequities. It's critical that the New York State legislature and Governor ensure its passage. This Act is key to transitioning away from fossil fuels to renewable energy, prioritizing equity and setting a national example for inclusive climate action," said Elizabeth Yeampierre, Executive Director of UPROSE.
"We know that burning fossil gas in our homes harms New Yorkers' health and that pipelines leak methane into the air, a leading cause of climate change. And yet gas pipeline companies and utilities keep pushing to build even bigger, more expensive pipelines in communities like Dover and Athens, NY," said Justin Wood, Director of Policy at New York Lawyers for the Public Interest. "Passing NY HEAT is a critical step the legislature can take to end this cycle of destruction and shift our valuable resources toward truly affordable and clean home heating."
Kim Fraczek, Director of Sane Energy, said, "New York Renews has taken a crucial step in demonstrating the tangible benefits of the New York Heat Act with their forthcoming study that provides invaluable insights into how this legislation will help New Yorkers reduce their energy bills, particularly those from low-income households," said Kim Fraczek director of Sane Energy Project. "We are confident that the findings of this study further solidify the case for the NY Heat Act and help pave the way for its implementation. We are grateful for New York Renews' dedication to this legislation and their efforts to bring the financial benefits of this legislation to light."
"As residents in North Brooklyn, living next to a large gas plant, El Puente emphasizes the urgent need for the NY HEAT Act, particularly its energy bill caps for low-and-middle-income households and EJ communities. Our support is rooted in addressing energy affordability and environmental justice, ensuring all New Yorkers can access heating without financial strain. The bill's immediate impact on countless lives makes its inclusion in the final New York State budget crucial, providing relief from rising energy costs and securing our communities' economic interests. Beyond immediate benefits, the NY HEAT Act propels our transition to renewable energy, safeguarding a sustainable and affordable energy landscape. We urge the New York State legislature and Governor to prioritize this legislation, showcasing a commitment to equity, environmental justice, and a thriving future for all,” said Rami Dinnawi, Environmental Justice Campaign & Policy Manager at El Puente.
Our communities and workers are on the frontlines of the climate crisis and continue to bear the brunt of the lack of proper investment to adequately prepare New Yorkers for the climate crisis. NY HEAT will lower energy burdens for low to moderate-income and disadvantaged communities and create more opportunities for neighborhood-scale decarbonization projects like thermal energy networks. It calls for a prevailing wage for workers on decarbonization projects and provides an opportunity to create green, family-sustaining union jobs for current workers transitioning to green jobs and for new workers,” said Jenille Scott, Climate Director at ALIGN.
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NY Renews is a coalition of over 370 environmental justice, faith, labor, and community groups, and the force behind the nation’s most progressive climate law. We fight for good jobs and climate justice, and we’re not finished yet.