By Hank Russell
Assembly Republican Leader Ed Ra (R-Franklin Square) and members of the Assembly Republican Conference unveiled the “Lights On With Energy Relief (LOWER) Plan” on February 24 in response to growing concerns statewide about out-of-control energy costs and grid reliability. Ra noted that 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 for 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,” Ra said. “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.”
Ra said 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.
- Energy Price Rebate Check Program — $2 billion in relief aimed at moderate- and middle-income households.
- Utility Bill Credits — requiring any surplus and uncommitted funds in the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority Climate Investment Account at the end of a fiscal year be returned to ratepayers as bill credit (currently estimated at $2.4 billion).
- Immediate reinvestment into previously retired gas plants and investment in new natural gas plants.
The second part of the LOWER Plan, Ra said, identifies existing toxic climate directives and seeks to reverse their negative impacts on ratepayers as well as ensure consumer energy choice protections.
- Eliminate unreasonable energy mandates and protect energy choice, including: zero-emission school buses, energy and cooking choice protection, mixed-fuel buildings, fossil fuel appliances and supply rate increase notifications.
- Increase natural gas production and ease of transportation.
- Cost-benefit analysis of renewable energy goals based on CLCPA mandates.
- Establish the New York Advanced Nuclear Energy Office.
- Conduct a feasibility study on the use of small modular reactors.
- Expand the POWER UP Grant Program to support natural gas expansion projects and local pipelines.
In addition to repeated warnings from the Assembly Republican Conference, leading energy experts, business groups, schools and local elected officials have all raised significant issues emerging from the state’s Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act (CLCPA), according to Ra. Since it was signed into law in 2019, electricity prices for residential consumers have risen by over 47%.
Further, Ra said, the New York Independent System Operator (NYISO) has sounded the alarm in multiple instances about energy shortages and grid stability. Most recently, in January, the NYISO cited historical highs for forecasted energy prices — a figure more than double the next highest value since the CLCPA was passed.
“Long Islanders are already paying some of the highest energy costs in the country,” Assemblyman Keith Brown (R,C-Northport) said. “Families, seniors and small businesses in Suffolk County are feeling the strain every month. We must focus on affordability and reliability before imposing additional mandates, such as the repeal of the 100-foot rule and passage of the gas stove ban that make life even more unaffordable.”
Long Island Life & Politics reached out to some Assembly Democrats for comment, but did not hear back as of press time.