State lawmakers are demanding changes to how New York gathers public input on its long-term energy plan—saying key regions are being shut out of the process.
Assembly Minority Leader Will Barclay and members of the Assembly and Senate Minority Conferences say the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) failed to schedule public hearings in large areas of the state, including the Southern Tier, Central New York, and the North Country.
The draft plan, which outlines energy policies through 2040, is part of the state’s efforts to meet climate mandates laid out in the Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act (CLCPA). Lawmakers argue that the plan will have wide-reaching consequences for residents—and that all communities should have a say.
“People are frustrated,” Barclay wrote in a statement. “They deserve to know how much more their utility bills might go up, how reliable the grid will be, and why these questions aren’t being clearly answered.”
Legislators are calling for NYSERDA to extend the public comment period by 90 days and schedule additional hearings across upstate. A total of 10 hearings were scheduled by state leaders.
Republican lawmakers, including Assemblyman Phil Palmesano of Corning, have been holding media events across New York to raise awareness and pressure officials to act. They say they’ll continue to push for more transparency and broader participation before the energy plan moves forward.
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