Energy Square in Kingston, the first net zero, affordable multi-family mixed use building in the Hudson Valley, using geothermal and solar
Advocates propose long-term solutions to reduce energy bills as ongoing global conflicts cause heating bills to skyrocket
More than 140 New York businesses, consumer advocate organizations, and clean energy advocates today released the annual Building Electrification Equity Platform, a set of policy priorities that Governor Hochul can take to address New York’s growing energy affordability crisis. Building on momentum from last year, this year’s proposed policies would ensure New York’s energy investments yield economic, health, safety, and climate benefits, reaching communities and people who need them most.
In a letter to Governor Hochul, advocates stressed the importance of advancing policies that lower energy bills, including supporting the adoption of highly efficient heat pumps, investments into energy efficiency and climate programs, and an end to costly pro-gas mandates. After a summer of high electricity bills and health emergencies due to extreme heat, households are expected to face a nearly 9% increase in winter heating bills this year, underscoring the need for the Governor to take urgent action starting by spending the hundreds of millions of dollars of state funds already allocated for these purposes.
“We are eager to work with Governor Hochul to accelerate the progress New York has made in decarbonizing the building sector and investing in upgrading homes, schools, and workplaces. The importance of prioritizing energy efficiency and electrification investments cannot be overstated as fossil-fuel prices soar and extreme temperatures and air pollution take an ever greater toll on New Yorkers,” said Lisa Marshall, Director of Organizing and Advocacy, New Yorkers for Clean Power.
To reduce a significant barrier to home electrification, advocates are calling on Governor Hochul to direct the Public Service Commission to institute rate reform for electric heating customers who are currently overcharged for delivery costs. As the ongoing war in Iran drives up heating oil prices to record highs, advocates also urged Governor Hochul to direct the New York Green Bank to provide no- or low-cost financing to households that rely on costly electric resistance and delivered fuels—who face some of the highest heating costs in the state—to help them with heat pump upgrades.
“The New York League of Conservation Voters is proud to stand with the many organizations that have signed on to this year’s Building Electrification Equity Platform Letter”, said Jon Furlong, Clean Buildings Campaign Manager at NYLCV. “We must do everything within our power to scale up clean energy investments that will make a real difference for ratepayers and consumers and while limiting the expansion of the gas system.”
By investing in energy efficiency and climate programs, Governor Hochul can help reduce energy bills and strain on the grid while spurring the creation of good-paying contractor jobs. Advocates are urging the governor to commit at least $3 billion for the Sustainable Future Program next year, with at least $1 billion for building decarbonization, until the full implementation of the Clean Air Initiative is achieved. Advocates are also calling for Governor Hochul to quickly deploy hundreds of millions of dollars in already allocated funding for EmPower+, the Weatherization Assistance Program, and the Green Affordable Pre-Electrification Program to upgrade homes with cost-effective energy efficiency measures that reduce energy bills. The funding would also provide a steady stream of opportunities for contractors and service providers, many of whom specialize in offering support for New York’s low and moderate-income households.
“From a contractor’s perspective, consistent and predictable programs are critical,” said Paul Mendel, President of the Building Performance Contractors Association of NY. “Contractors are still rebuilding from last year’s funding reductions and uncertainty around changing programs. Continued investment in weatherization and energy efficiency will help maintain a skilled workforce, improve New York’s existing housing stock, and prepare more homes for electrification.”
Advocates are also calling on Governor Hochul to reform an outdated, pro-gas mandate that requires for-profit utilities to spend customer money on unnecessary gas pipelines, even if it would be more cost-effective to help households upgrade to modern, efficient electric alternatives.
“We are calling on Governor Hochul to help New Yorkers save energy and save money on their utility bills at a time when we are seeing rising energy costs due to global conflict. She can do this by funding programs that reduce reliance on costly fossil fuels and reining in utility spending on gas pipelines that we don’t need. This is a chance for New York to lead, and we’re ready to work with the governor to get it done,” said Jessica Azulay, Executive Director of Alliance for a Green Economy.
“Geothermal heat pumps provide a sustainable solution for New York families relying on oil, propane, or electric resistance heating. By leveraging the earth’s consistent temperature, these systems supply unmatched heating and cooling efficiency while safeguarding households against unpredictable fossil fuel costs. Governor Hochul can expand geothermal systems and thermal energy networks statewide by modernizing utility mandates from an obligation to serve gas to an obligation to serve heat, adjusting rate structures that unfairly burden electric heating users, and combining state incentives with affordable Green Bank financing. This strategic shift will yield reduced energy bills, cleaner air, and high-quality local jobs for the installers, drillers, and union labor constructing New York’s clean energy future,” said Christine Hoffer, Executive Director of NY-GEO.
Building Decarbonization Coalition, New York Director Allison Considine said, “New York has the workforce and the ambition to lead the nation in building a clean energy future, and now is the time to invest in it. We are proud to sign on to the Building Electrification Equity Platform Letter and look forward to working with Governor Hochul to utilize heat pumps and thermal energy networks to deliver more affordable, cleaner energy.”
“People experience the energy system in the bill they pay, the air they breathe, and whether their home helps them survive blizzards and heat waves. New York’s energy system runs on a bad bargain where struggling families get the bill and too little of the benefit,” said Eric Walker, Senior Policy Manager for Energy Justice at WE ACT for Environmental Justice. “Governor Hochul can help end the crisis by moving the hundreds of millions already allocated for EmPower+, weatherization, and the GAP Fund into homes now, then build the system we need with at least $3 billion for the Sustainable Future Program, so the buildings New Yorkers live in become an asset to their health, their wallets, and the grid.”
“New Yorkers are paying more and more for an energy system that isn’t working for us,” said Kim Fraczek, Director of Sane Energy Project. “Meanwhile, hundreds of millions of dollars that could lower bills and make homes safer and more efficient are still sitting on the table, and utilities continue pushing for more gas infrastructure that customers are on the hook for. We don’t need another year of business as usual. Put the money into people’s homes, stop making customers pay for unnecessary gas, and build an energy system that actually serves New Yorkers.”