News Archive | Page 2 of 35

Mar 20 2026

New Yorkers Deserve to Know the Cost of the Proposed Climate Act Changes

As Governor Hochul proposes amendments to the Climate Act, questions remain about the cost of those changes and their impact on households and businesses. The following statement can be attributed to Justin Wilcox, Executive Director of Upstate United. “We appreciate the Governor’s recognition that the current law has flaws and needs to be revisited. But the […]

Mar 20 2026

PoliticoPro: Environmentalists seethe, business groups applaud Hochul’s proposed climate changes

The governor’s pitch to weaken New York’s climate law has support from powerful business interests and labor unions. By: Marie J. French | 03/20/2026 – Read on PoliticoPro here. ALBANY, New York — Gov. Kathy Hochul’s push to weaken New York’s climate law is sparking outrage from environmental groups and support — with some skepticism — from business […]

Mar 19 2026

State of Politics: Lawmakers await Hochul’s climate law proposal as Senate EnCon chair signals she’ll likely win changes

BY Jack Arpey New York State – Read Online. Mar. 19, 2026 Planet Albany continued to wait Thursday for a formal proposal from Gov. Kathy Hochul detailing what she would like changed in New York’s landmark 2019 climate law as part of this year’s state budget. According to state lawmakers, the wait continues. It’s a budget crusade […]

Mar 19 2026

Rochester Beacon LTE: Albany’s energy policies are driving higher bills—and lawmakers won’t own it

March 19, 2026 Read at the RochesterBeacon.com here. New Yorkers are paying more for energy than ever—and the gap is only widening. Even before this winter’s cold snap, electricity bills in New York were already 44 percent higher than the national average, placing a growing strain on households and businesses alike. These rising costs are […]

Mar 18 2026

City & State NY: Hochul says plan to amend climate law won’t lower utility rates

Gov. Kathy Hochul said her bid to change the emissions reduction deadlines are meant to prevent future rate increases, but it’s “stupid” to say it would impact current rates. By Rebecca C. Lewis | March 18, 2026 02:44 PM ET Gov. Kathy Hochul wants to help New Yorkers with high utility rates by delaying the state’s climate law […]

Mar 13 2026

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

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 […]

Mar 10 2026

Upstate United: Senate and Assembly One-House Budget Proposals Fail to Address Energy Affordability

Statement attributed to Justin Wilcox, Executive Director of Upstate United “While the Senate and Assembly One-House Budget proposals include modest measures intended to provide relief, nothing outlined within them comes close to offsetting the additional $4,000 in annual energy costs that Cap-and-Invest is projected to impose on upstate households for home heating. “It is infuriating […]

Mar 6 2026

Rochester Business Journal: New York needs health insurance reform | Guest Opinion

Justin Wilcox // March 6, 2026 – Read here. For small businesses across New York, health insurance is no longer just a benefit issue — it is a cost-control crisis. Premiums continue to rise faster than wages and revenue, based on skyrocketing healthcare costs, forcing difficult tradeoffs for employers who lack the scale or leverage […]

Mar 5 2026

WHAM1180: NYSERDA Memo

March 5, 2026: Bob Lonsberry talks to Justin Wilcox of Upstate United about the NYSERDA memo. Listen here.

Feb 26 2026

Press Release: CLCPA-Related Costs Continue to Loom Over New Yorkers

The following statement can be attributed to Justin Wilcox, Executive Director of Upstate United “State Budget Director Blake Washington recently warned that the energy transition could cost many New Yorkers an additional $3,000 a year – approximately 4.5% percent of the average upstate household income. At a time when New Yorkers are already struggling, adding $3,000 in […]