Upstate United Releases Troubling Trends Fact Sheet on How Cap-and-Invest Will Impact New Yorkers Statewide

March 13th, 2026

Following the release of a NYSERDA memo, Upstate United asks the Legislature to heed serious warnings and address unconscionable increases.

Today, Upstate United released a new fact sheet detailing the gasoline price impacts associated with Cap-and-Invest, including the state’s own projection that the policy could raise gasoline prices by $2.23 per gallon. Based on data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA), and state projections, the latest edition of Troubling Trends shows how much more the average household could pay at the pump.

“This latest fact sheet further demonstrates the impact on consumers using the state’s own projected gasoline price increase of $2.23 per gallon and hard data from the BLS and EIA,” said Justin Wilcox, Executive Director of Upstate United.  “Higher prices at the pump are just the beginning. The cost of transporting goods, as well as the costs of natural gas used in commercial and manufacturing businesses, will rise, and ultimately be passed on to consumers as well.”

“A recent Marist Poll found that 86% of New Yorkers say the cost of living in the state is not affordable for the average family. Meanwhile, many of the same members of the legislature who entered 2026 with affordability as a top priority are ‘pushing back’ on the notion that provisions within the state’s climate law – like Cap-and-Invest – will increase energy costs for their constituents.”

“It’s time for members of the legislature to accept the reality of the data and the magnitude of the costs that have finally come to light and do what’s right for the people they represent. Until they take action to address these serious concerns, the question remains: What increases in energy costs are you willing to pass on to New Yorkers?”