New York Governor Hochul’s Energy Scheme Bad for State

New York State’s long-running war on natural gas is a case study in lazy climate policy, and Governor Hochul’s latest proposal is no exception. The New York Cap and Invest (NYCI) program brands itself as a market-based solution to climate change, but in reality, it is anything but. At a moment when New Yorkers need affordable and reliable energy, NYCI jeopardizes the state’s energy security while delivering minimal climate benefits.

New York State has been leading the charge against natural gas for years. In trying to reach the state’s goal of 70 percent renewable energy by 2030, Governor Hochul championed the state’s ban on fossil-fuel equipment in newly constructed buildings, set to take effect in 2026 for buildings under seven stories and 2029 for larger buildings. Having already made New York the first state to ban gas stoves, Hochul’s administration has also been working with state-senate Democrats on the HEAT Act, legislation that would be repurposed to begin weaning New York off natural gas for good by targeting fossil-fuel infrastructure, making it anywhere from unprofitable to impossible for utilities to service certain homes. If successful, the HEAT Act would also make it possible for the state to forcibly transition neighborhoods off fossil fuels entirely without homeowners’ consent.

New York State’s long-running war on natural gas is a case study in lazy climate policy, and Governor Hochul’s latest proposal is no exception. The New York Cap and Invest (NYCI) program brands itself as a market-based solution to climate change, but in reality, it is anything but. At a moment when New Yorkers need affordable and reliable energy, NYCI jeopardizes the state’s energy security while delivering minimal climate benefits.

New York State has been leading the charge against natural gas for years. In trying to reach the state’s goal of 70 percent renewable energy by 2030, Governor Hochul championed the state’s ban on fossil-fuel equipment in newly constructed buildings, set to take effect in 2026 for buildings under seven stories and 2029 for larger buildings. Having already made New York the first state to ban gas stoves, Hochul’s administration has also been working with state-senate Democrats on the HEAT Act, legislation that would be repurposed to begin weaning New York off natural gas for good by targeting fossil-fuel infrastructure, making it anywhere from unprofitable to impossible for utilities to service certain homes. If successful, the HEAT Act would also make it possible for the state to forcibly transition neighborhoods off fossil fuels entirely without homeowners’ consent.