Governor Kathy Hochul is sounding the alarm after the federal government slashed nearly $500 million in clean energy funding for dozens of New York businesses and institutions — a move she says puts more than 1,000 jobs at risk and threatens the state’s growing clean energy economy.
The sweeping cuts, initiated by the Trump administration through the U.S. Department of Energy, target approved grants supporting projects across the state, from Buffalo to Brooklyn. Hochul says the fallout could total a $650 million blow to New York’s economy.
“These cuts directly impact local businesses and major companies, putting workers out of jobs, shuttering factories, and slowing our state’s economic progress,” Hochul said. “Donald Trump and his Republican allies in Congress are playing politics with the government shutdown, and New York’s economy and hard-working families are paying the price.”
Who’s impacted?
More than two dozen organizations and companies were listed among the affected, including:
- Plug Power Inc. (Rochester and Capital Region) — over $147 million cut
- GE Vernova and GE — more than $62 million cut in the Capital Region
- IBM — nearly $20 million cut in the Mid-Hudson region
- American Institute of Chemical Engineers — more than $79 million cut statewide
- Urban Mining Industries and Urban Electric Power — over $43 million cut in the Mid-Hudson region
Universities and research institutions like Cornell, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, and Columbia University are also impacted.
Local leaders react
Empire State Development President Hope Knight said the cuts will “stifle New York’s clean energy economy while killing good-paying jobs.”
Doreen Harris, head of NYSERDA, called the move “short-sighted,” adding that it creates “further uncertainty for organizations and businesses that need stability to plan, invest, and grow.”
Political fallout
A wave of elected officials joined Hochul in condemning the decision — including Senators Chuck Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand and nearly every Democratic member of New York’s congressional delegation.
Senator Schumer called it a “reckless campaign of chaos and revenge” that will “raise families’ electric bills just to score petty political points.”
Locally, town supervisors and mayors say the damage is personal.
- Henrietta Supervisor Steve Schultz warned that local companies like Plug Power will suffer.
- Brighton Supervisor William Moehle said losing nearly $5 million in research funding threatens innovation in clean energy.
- Schenectady Mayor Gary McCarthy said the cuts could derail clean energy progress at GE Vernova.
What’s next?
Governor Hochul and state leaders are calling on New York’s Republican members of Congress to pressure the Trump administration to reverse the cuts.
“These aren’t Democratic or Republican projects,” said Rep. Paul Tonko. “These are cutting-edge programs working to drive innovation and bring energy costs down for everyone.”
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