Upstate United Respond to Revived Push for Passage of NY HEAT Act

October 27th, 2023

The following statement can be attributed to Justin Wilcox, Executive Director of Upstate United

“Instead of pushing for the NY HEAT Act in the 2024 budget, which would add another layer of bureaucracy and confusion to the state’s complex climate initiatives, lawmakers should focus on how to improve laws that are already in place. We all agree action is needed to curb climate change, but a one-size-fits-all approach is dangerous and unrealistic due to the diversity of New York’s landscape and communities. 

“It is important to understand the realities and consequences of a misguided proposal like the NY HEAT Act, and what it would mean for New York residents and business owners. On top of increasing costs for consumers, while reducing reliability, it will eliminate the availability of fossil fuels sooner than there would be alternative options to replace them with. 

“Ultimately, this is not a sound proposal to layer on top of the already complicated and costly climate goals New York State is struggling to comply with. As the governor and legislature prepare for the upcoming legislative session, we urge them to reject this proposal and focus on implementing a more realistic and cost-effective timeline for the CLCPA.”