New York Senate Republican Leader Rob Ortt, Senator Mario Mattera, Ranking Member of the Energy and Telecommunications Committee, Senators Thomas O’Mara and Mark Walczyk, and other members of the Senate Republican Conference have sent a letter to Governor Kathy Hochul, urging her to drop a proposal to ban fossil fuel equipment in residential and commercial buildings. They encouraged the governor to focus on affordable and realistic solutions to achieve a cleaner energy future.
The senators cited a recent United States Court of Appeals ruling, which stated that localities and states cannot ban natural gas hookups as it is preempted by federal law. They suggested focusing on smarter energy solutions that prioritize affordability and reliability for New York residents, rather than banning natural gas and biofuels.
The letter requested the governor to advocate for affordable cleaner energy solutions, such as independent cost studies, diverse energy sources, and maintaining a reliable power supply, while opposing unaffordable mandates on consumers. Senate Republican Leader Rob Ortt emphasized that seeking a cleaner energy future should not require total government control within New Yorkers’ homes.
Senator Mario Mattera urged Governor Hochul to accept the reality of the court decision and work with energy experts, labor leaders, residents, and elected officials to create an environmentally friendly plan that benefits all New Yorkers. Senator Thomas O’Mara called for a reevaluation of the governor’s energy mandates, while Senator Mark Walczyk pushed for realistic solutions to address cleaner energy without causing a financial crisis for residents.
This letter follows reports earlier this month suggesting Governor Hochul’s administration was considering changes to the proposed climate plan due to cost concerns. However, the administration later dropped the proposed cost-containment measures from negotiations.
FingerLakes1.com is the region’s leading all-digital news publication. The company was founded in 1998 and has been keeping residents informed for more than two decades. Have a lead? Send it to [email protected]