Rising utility bills are driving a major funding push in Albany, according to Times Union. Gov. Kathy Hochul plans to propose an extra $50 million for New York’s EmPower+ program to help low- and moderate-income residents cut home energy costs.
The money would reverse planned cuts to EmPower+, which helps pay for upgrades like insulation and heat pumps. Hochul says participants save about $600 a year on average, but many eligible households still don’t use the program.
The proposal will be part of her State of the State address and ties into a broader energy agenda that includes grid upgrades and expanded nuclear power. Hochul also plans to streamline access to energy assistance programs statewide.
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].