HOCHUL CLCPA CHANGES ARE NEEDED TO RESCUE RATEPAYERS & PROTECT JOBS
New Yorkers for Affordable Energy (NYAE) has long raised concerns about the Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act (CLCPA), particularly the cost impact it may have on working families and employers. While NYAE hasn’t always aligned with the Administration on energy issues, the organization recognizes that the Governor’s recent proposals offer a practical path to refining how the CLCPA is implemented.
We applaud Governor Hochul for taking on the fight to adjust the 2019 Climate Law. As the recent NYSERDA memo points out, New Yorkers could see increases in their utility bills of between $2,500 and $4,000 per household, along with gasoline prices rising by up to an additional $2.25 per gallon. Roughly, this could cost families in the Hudson Valley and on Long Island as much as $600 more each month on top of current expenses. Additionally, we know the impact that higher gasoline prices have on basic staples such as meat, dairy, bread, vegetables, and eggs! Rising energy costs for all New Yorkers—combined with this onslaught on working families—cannot be allowed to continue.
The suggested changes are straightforward but meaningful. Since the Department of Environmental Conservation did not meet the 2024 deadline for issuing CLCPA emissions regulations, the Governor proposes extending that deadline to 2030 to better reflect current conditions. The 40% emissions reduction target for 2030 would stay in place, but the extended timeline would ease immediate regulatory pressure.
The Governor is also recommending that New York shift from its current 20 year greenhouse gas accounting method to the 100 year standard used by every other state. The existing 20 year metric results in higher calculated emissions and tougher compliance requirements. Aligning with the 100 year method would help moderate projected cost impacts for households and businesses.
While these proposals don’t change the CLCPA’s long term goals, they represent a balanced effort to keep the state’s climate commitments achievable and affordable. NYAE views these steps as important progress toward a more workable implementation approach.
The next step to keep the positive momentum going is to build more pipeline capacity in order to increase supply and stabilize and reduce long term prices. If we can marry this change to the changes proposed for CLCPA, we will go a long way toward decreasing costs and improving reliability.
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