New York State Senator Mario R. Mattera (R-St. James), the Ranking Republican on the New York State Senate Energy Committee, and his colleagues in the Senate Republican Conference introduced a package of legislation aimed at increasing energy production around the State, pausing the green energy mandates championed by Albany Democrats, and providing ratepayers with increased transparency surrounding the true costs of the Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act (CLCPA).
Mattera’s legislation would require New York State to form a Climate Action Cost Council. The council will have nine unpaid members appointed by leaders from both parties and they must have expertise in the energy, environmental conservation, labor, public health and regulated industries. The members would meet quarterly to fully and realistically study and publicly release the true impact of the CLCPA on ratepayers, workers, and businesses. Additionally, this council would have oversight and input on all CLCPA-related regulations and codes before they go into effect.
The proposals from Mattera and others come in response to proposed rate increases across New York State by Con Edison, to the tune of $154 more per month for the average gas and energy bill, National Grid, which proposed rate increases of 15% for electricity and 20% for natural gas and the New York Power Authority (NYPA), which backed off a proposal of a 156.6% increase over 4 years on hydroelectric. Last year, State Comptroller Tom DiNapoli recently called for improved planning in order to achieve these goals; a conservative cost estimate of $340 billion will fall on the backs of New York ratepayers.
With the passage of the CLCPA and all the rules and regulations that came out of it, Mattera said, it is more important than ever to make sure that New Yorkers are protected from the costs associated with the Democrats’ energy fuel choice ban.
“The time has come for New York State to accept reality and formulate a workable plan that avoids forcing an ideological and ill-conceived ban on New Yorkers,” Mattera said. “The mandates of the CLCPA are already negatively impacting our ratepayers and businesses with rate increases that will eventually cost our hardworking men and women their jobs. The Climate Action Cost Council my legislation would create will protect New Yorkers from these costs by finally having a realistic approach to the financial implications of this policy. Our conference has been pushing commonsense initiatives that will help us find a cleaner energy future without sacrificing or harming our residents and I urge the Democrats in our state to work with us for the betterment of all we jointly serve.”
Mattera previously introduced two other bills: one that would repeal the All-Electric Buildings Act that prohibits the use of gas, oil and propane equipment in newly constructed buildings by the end of the year and another that would provide tax credits to build out gas infrastructure to rural areas where higher emitting fuel sources are typically used,
Patricia Canzoneri-Fitzpatrick (R,C-Valley Stream), who introduced legislation that would call for the Public Service Commission to determine a formula as to how much of a ratepayer’s utility bill is going to fund the CLCPA, said, “New Yorkers shouldn’t be left in the dark about why their utility bills keep climbing. Albany’s extreme energy policies are forcing families to pay more without a clear breakdown of the costs.”