ALBANY – Republicans are teeing off on Governor Hochul after a leaked memo from the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) revealed that residents will pay about $4,000 annually if the state fully implements its Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act (CLCPA) to meet 2030 targets for greenhouse gas emissions.
City and State publication obtained a memo on Thursday in which Jackie Bray, NYSERDA’s director of state operations, outlined the projected rise in costs to President and CEO Doreen Harris during a time when energy prices are already soaring.
“New Yorkers cannot afford an energy experiment that was rushed from the start,” Assemblyman Matt Slater (R,C-Yorktown). “Now, the state’s own energy experts are warning the Governor that new costs could exceed more than $4,100 for residents who are barely surviving. That’s less money for groceries, medications, childcare, and other essentials. It’s time to pause, reassess, and pursue a responsible all-of-the-above energy strategy that protects both our environment and our wallets. This week, we rolled out our LOWER Plan, which will accomplish all of this and more.”
Per the memo, absent any changes, by 2031, the impact of CLCPA on the price of gasoline could reach or exceed $2.23/gallon on top of current prices at that time. Meanwhile, upstate oil and natural gas households would see costs in excess of $4,000 a year. Only a portion of these costs could be offset by the current policy design.
The memo concludes that the energy targets adopted in 2019 did not anticipate factors such as: “the substantial reversal in the federal policy landscape, the disruptive and lingering impacts of COVID-19 and the subsequent supply chain crisis, the return of an inflationary economy, and the influence of geopolitical events on energy costs generally.”
“NYSERDA’s statement today is yet another sign of the unfortunate reality working families across our state are facing,” Assemblyman Karl Brabenec (R,C-Deerpark) said. “Instead of allowing consumers to have a choice in how they heat their homes and cook their food, this governor pushed rushed, unrealistic, and unaffordable mandates that drive up costs for ratepayers. Until we implement an all-of-the-above energy approach, we will continue to see the consequences of these radical policies.”
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