Assembly Republican Leader Ed Ra (R-Franklin Square) and members of the Assembly Republican Conference unveiled the “Lights On With Energy Relief (LOWER) Plan” in response to growing concerns statewide about out-of-control energy costs and grid reliability. The legislative package is designed to deliver actionable solutions to immediately provide significant financial relief to overwhelmed New York ratepayers and identify long-term countermeasures to combat Democrats’ radical climate mandates.
“From blackouts to bloated heating bills, a harsh reality has set in New York’s energy consumers. While Democrats have signaled little concern or willingness to address skyrocketing costs, Assembly Republicans refuse to sit idle while people are forced to decide between heating their homes or feeding their families,” said Leader Ra. “Our LOWER Plan looks to tackle the current crisis head on, by getting
immediate relief into the hands of New Yorkers and facilitating improved power
generation to meet growing demand.”
The LOWER Plan is a comprehensive approach that promises to deliver where the governor and legislative majorities have failed. The first part of the Assembly Republican proposal includes quick relief initiatives aimed at reducing costs and putting money back into hardworking New Yorkers’ pockets.
“Affordable, reliable energy isn’t a want for New York’s families-it’s a need,” said Joe Peluso, Vice President and Assistant Business Manager for IBEW Local 97, on Behalf of New Yorkers for Affordable Energy. “The Assembly GOP energy package recognizes the reality that we can only lower power bills through more natural gas supply and generation, paired with an all of the above approach to other
energy sources. This plan prioritizes immediate cost relief, reform of our regulatory system, and getting to the truth about past mandates such as CLCPA. It’s exactly what New Yorkers need.”
“New York is having an energy heart attack that we cannot ignore. The LOWER plan provides targeted rebate checks, returns unspent funds back to ratepayers and restores balance to our energy policy by investing in nuclear, natural gas, renewables and advanced technologies. This is about immediate affordability, reliability and common sense for a sustainable future,” said Assemblyman Matt Slater (R,C, Yorktown).
This month, New York State Senate Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins reaffirmed that Senate Democrats are not considering any rollbacks or delays to the state’s ambitious climate mandates. Her
comments came during a period of intense legislative debate in Albany, specifically in response to the “LOWER Plan” introduced by Assembly Republicans.
Despite pressure from opposition lawmakers who cited a 47% increase in residential electricity prices since 2019, Stewart-Cousins stated that changing the targets set by the Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act (CLCPA) is “not a conversation that we’ve had.” She emphasized that the Senate Majority remains committed to the law’s primary goals:
A 40% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions by 2030. At least an 85% reduction by 2050.
While Stewart-Cousins acknowledged growing concerns about utility costs, she argued that the solution lies in deliberate legislative action rather than abandoning environmental goals. She highlighted recent Senate efforts to protect consumers, such as legislation requiring utilities to notify customers of proposed rate hikes and expanding the Public Service Commission to better consider the economic impact on New Yorkers. Stewart-Cousins framed the Senate’s position as a dual mission to “alleviate the pain and save the planet,” rejecting the idea that climate action and affordability are mutually exclusive.
In the view of many Westchester residents, we need an all-of-the-above approach. Why not try the Republican plan, or parts of it?
