Lawmakers may finally pass New York’s long-stalled HEAT Act, according to Spectrum News, after amending the bill to exclude Western New York—where opposition has slowed progress for years.
The revised bill would let utilities opt out of clean energy transitions, a move aimed at easing tensions with National Fuel, a fracked-gas-heavy company central to the pushback. Sponsors say the changes clarify—not weaken—the bill, which would curb gas expansion, cap utility bills, and pilot neighborhood energy shifts starting in 2030.
Critics, including business groups, warn the measure risks economic harm and unexpected costs for homeowners. But supporters insist communities will choose their own path, with built-in protections to prevent abrupt transitions or unaffordable mandates.
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