Legislators and Advocates Call For $200 Million For GAP Fund In Final Budget

 A new report from the Fiscal Policy Institute, released today at the New York State Capitol.

The report reveals that between 550,000 and 1.1 million low- and moderate-income (LMI) households in New York State face significant barriers to accessing energy efficiency and electrification programs due to unresolved health and safety issues in their homes. The report, for which WE ACT 4 Change provided financial support, finds that a $200 million annual investment in the Green Affordable Pre-Electrification (GAP) Fund (S.3315/A.2101) could help remediate at least 10,000 homes per year, enabling them to qualify for critical energy efficiency upgrades.

The report highlights that nearly 70% of LMI households in New York State reside in older housing stock, which often contains hazardous conditions such as lead, mold, asbestos, and other structural code violations. These health and safety issues make it nearly impossible for these households to access existing energy efficiency programs that could lower their energy costs and improve living conditions. Because state programs do not cover pre-electrification remediation costs, thousands of households remain locked out of New York’s clean energy transition.

At a press conference held today outside the Legislative Correspondents Association (LCA) press offices, state legislators and advocates joined forces to call for $200 million for the GAP Fund in the final budget.

Senators Kristen Gonzalez, Cordell Cleare, and Anna Kelles, Assembly Energy Committee Chair Didi Barrett, and Assembly Members Linda B. Rosenthal and Pete Harckham joined representatives from Alliance for a Green Economy, WE ACT 4 Change, NY Renews, New Yorkers for Clean Power, Energy Democracy Alliance, and NYPIRG in emphasizing the importance of this critical investment.

Read the full article here.