Advocates call on Governor Hochul to quickly sign legislation that reduces costly gas pipeline expansion, advancing a key component of the NY HEAT Act.
Today, the New York legislature passed A.8888, an Act to amend the Public Service Law, making New York the fifth state in the nation to eliminate the outdated customer charge for fracked gas expansion, known as the “100-foot rule,” one of three policies in the NY Home Energy Affordable Transition Act (NY HEAT Act).
The 100-foot rule enables gas utilities to profit by continuing to build out the fracked gas pipeline system even while New York’s climate law requires a rapid reduction in the use of gas. The rule forces New Yorkers to fund new gas pipelines through utility bills, leading to increased energy costs and worse health and environmental outcomes. An analysis of recent methane gas pipeline spending found that this pro-gas mandate allowed New York’s utilities to profit by charging customers nearly $400 million to extend gas service to new customers between 2022 and 2023.
The successful elimination of the 100-foot rule is the result of years of advocacy by the Renewable Heat Now Campaign and allied organizations, businesses, health professionals, environmental and consumer protections groups, and New Yorker communities to pass the NY HEAT Act. In addition to eliminating the 100-foot rule, NY HEAT would have gone further by changing other costly gas mandates that allow utilities to relentlessly raise gas rates on customers to build unnecessary gas pipelines when cheaper and cleaner alternatives are available.
The Renewable Heat Now campaign applauds the passage of this common sense legislation that is a significant step in beginning a safe, affordable home energy transition that will save money for all gas ratepayers around New York. We thank our bill sponsors Senator Liz Krueger and Assemblymember Jo Anne Simon, who fought tirelessly alongside so many legislative champions to make this progress. However, the Assembly is once again leaving Albany without providing meaningful energy affordability or greenhouse gas emission reduction measures this year. Our work is not done and we will continue our advocacy.
Our campaign calls on Governor Kathy Hochul to sign this bill into law without delay and notes that the Governor supported this legislation in several of her past budget proposals.
See below for statements by organizations that are a part of the Renewable Heat Now campaign:
Jessica Azulay, Executive Director of Alliance for a Green Economy said, “Albany has made an important stride towards cleaner heat and lower bills for New Yorkers by passing this legislation to end the outdated gas expansion rule, which forces New Yorkers to waste money on expensive gas pipelines we don’t need. We now call on Governor Hochul to sign it into law without delay.”
Lisa Marshall, Director of Organizing and Advocacy, New Yorkers for Clean Power said, “The passage of this bill is a long overdue step in the direction of cleaner heat and lower bills for all New Yorkers. This legislation will save money for ratepayers while encouraging the adoption of clean home energy technologies such as air- and ground-source heat pumps, which offer so many benefits to homeowners and to society. We urge Governor Hochul to sign this bill into law at the earliest possible opportunity.”
Laura Shindell, New York State Director of Food & Water Watch said, “For years, everyday New Yorkers have been forced to foot the bill for fossil fuel expansion that pollutes our communities and drives up energy costs. Ending the 100-foot rule finally shuts down one of the most egregious fossil fuel giveaways in the state. This is a landmark step forward that will help curb further gas buildout and protect the public from bearing the cost. While there’s still more to do to address our energy affordability and climate crises, repealing this rule is a pivotal moment in the fight for a cleaner, fairer energy system. Governor Hochul should sign this bill into law immediately.”
Kim Fraczek, Director of Sane Energy Project, said, “It’s a good day when we stop a toxic and unfair industry from double-dipping into New Yorkers’ pockets. This legislation opens the door to cleaner, cheaper, and more reliable 21st-century solutions that provide both heating and cooling, and breaks us out of the endless loop of 19th-century fracked gas. For too long, corporations like National Grid have been on a gas buildout spree while spreading disinformation about real solutions. This bill challenges their monopoly and the myth that they’re the only game in town. Governor Hochul has said she prioritizes affordability, so we look forward to a swift signing of Krueger and Simon’s common-sense bill.”
Cameron Clarke, NY HEAT Campaign Coordinator at WE ACT for Environmental Justice said, “We are glad to see Albany take action to lower energy bills for New Yorkers across the state. We need to start investing in energy systems that are safer, healthier, and cheaper than fracked gas pipelines that are poisoning our homes and climate. We need Governor Hochul to show us that she is ready to tackle the affordability and climate crises by signing this bill into law.”
Christine Hoffer, Executive Director; New York Geothermal Energy Organization said, “Elimination of the 100 foot ratepayer subsidy, historically provided to anyone requesting methane gas, creates a much fairer and competitive business environment for healthier heating, cooling and hot water systems like geothermal. Elimination means citizens will be more informed and able to make better choices when selecting how to heat and cool their homes and businesses. As a result, the geothermal/ground source heat pump industry will accelerate its growth, providing good paying opportunities in the geothermal industry. Thanks to those legislators with the foresight to move our economy and environment in a positive direction.”
George Povall, Executive Director of All Our Energy said, “Though we are disappointed NYS Democratic Assembly members refused a vote again on The NY HEAT Act for the 3rd time – even after the bill was heavily watered down to call their bluff- they still support the fossil gas industry over ratepayers and the climate so ending what had become an indefensible subsidy for utilities to literally dig in and keep us in the past, on ratepayers’ dime is a bare minimum. We thank the Senate and the tireless sponsors, and urge Governor Hochul to sign it to assure this basic overdue utility affordability measure helps right away.
Sarah Smiley, Distributed Senior Organizer for Mothers Out Front, said, “Today we are grateful that New Yorkers can finally stop subsidizing methane pollution, which we have known for years is a threat to our children’s future. Ending the 100-foot rule is an important and sensible step toward cleaner heat and a healthier planet, and we urge Governor Hochul to quickly sign this bill into law.”
Megan Ahearn, Executive Director of NYPIRG said, “We applaud the Senate and Assembly for ending the “100 foot” subsidy for the fossil fuel industry for gas hookups. Gas customers, many of whom are struggling to afford skyrocketing utility bills, have been footing the bill for gas expansion for too long. We urge Governor Hochul to sign the bill without delay.”
Adam Flint, Director of Clean Energy Programs, Network for a Sustainable Tomorrow (NeST) said, “As of today the New York State Legislature showed much needed leadership by ending the unfair and counterproductive “100 foot” subsidy for methane gas hookups, which will also help reduce the burden of out-of-control utility bills. We look forward to Governor Hochul’s signing at the earliest possible opportunity.”
Betta Broad, Director, Advocacy & Organizing, Association for Energy Affordability said, “It has been heartening to see the incredible leadership of NY HEAT’s sponsors, Senator Krueger and Assemblymember Simon, and the many advocates who have been fighting for a strategic downsizing of the gas system and more affordable energy bills. This is a small step forward but there is much more that must be done to prevent those who can least afford it to be burdened by the cost of maintaining an outdated, polluting system. We look forward to Governor Hochul signing this bill into law and continued progress towards the clean energy future that New Yorkers deserve.”
Michael Richardson, Co-Facilitator, Third Act Upstate New York said, “At a time when New York State law mandates the rapid transition away from fossil fuels to renewable energy generation and storage the NYS Assembly should be taking big, bold steps to end the expansion of the fossil fuel infrastructure. By ridding the 100-foot rule, the NYS Assembly has taken one of those steps, which will also save ratepayers and disincentivize dirty home energy. Now Governor Hochul must sign this bill.”
Gabriel Recchio, Electrification Organizer, Sierra Club said, “Eliminating the hundred foot rule for gas hookups removes a “thumb on the scale” that big polluters have enjoyed for decades, allowing subsidized fossil fuels to outcompete cleaner, more efficient heating technologies. We applaud Senator Krueger and Assemblymember Simon for their tireless negotiations to bring all New Yorkers cleaner, more efficient, and climate-friendly infrastructure upgrades like thermal energy networks. The Sierra Club urges Governor Hochul to remove the hundred foot rule once and for all and help usher in this new era of renewable heating and cooling.”
Delia Kulukundis, Organizer, 350Brooklyn said, “Every new gas pipe will eventually leak planet-warming methane into the atmosphere, and for too long, New Yorkers have been paying utilities to hook up new customers to this polluting system. We applaud this necessary first step in cutting our state’s methane pollution, and we will continue to advocate for a utility system that benefits all New Yorkers and the planet. We urge Governor Hochul to sign this bill into law immediately.”
Graham Hughes, Director of Policy & Advocacy with the Climate Solutions Accelerator, said, “At a time when we need New York to lead on addressing climate and affordability, ending the 100 foot rule will do both. This legislation opens the door to cleaner heat and lower bills for all New Yorkers, and is an important step toward meeting the goals of the CLCPA. We need Governor Hochul to sign this bill as soon as possible.”
