Hochul removes looser methane emission rules from budget talks
By Rick Karlin, Times Union
Facing an unexpected firestorm of opposition from environmentalists, Gov. Kathy Hochul on Wednesday removed from budget negotiations a proposal to ease the rules regarding methane emissions in future years.
“That’s a fair way to put it. It’s not that we won’t be taking up the matter,” said Doreen Harris, president and CEO of the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority.
She and state Environmental Conservation Commissioner Basil Seggos have been the point people for Hochul on climate issues.
They both agreed, under questioning by reporters on Wednesday, that the methane proposal would be revisited after the 2023-24 state budget is completed, and perhaps after the state Legislature finishes its session in late June.
The proposal, which was first reported by Politico, would have extended from 20 to 100 years the period over which methane gas emissions are accounted for.