Assembly Republicans and several Western New York officials are calling for action to address rising energy costs across the state.
The group unveiled a legislative proposal aimed at lowering utility bills and expanding energy supply for residents and businesses.
Assembly Republican Leader Ed Ra joined Assemblyman Pat Chludzinski and other lawmakers, along with local leaders from Lancaster and West Seneca, to promote the plan.
The proposal, called the “Lights On With Energy Relief” plan, includes several measures designed to reduce costs for ratepayers and increase energy production.
One proposal would create a $2 billion Energy Price Rebate Check Program aimed at moderate- and middle-income households. Lawmakers said roughly 585,000 households in Western New York could receive payments.
Another measure would require surplus funds from the NYSERDA Climate Investment Account to be returned to ratepayers as utility bill credits. Current estimates place those potential credits at about $2.4 billion.
The plan also calls for reinvestment in previously retired gas plants and the development of new natural gas facilities.
Additional proposals include increasing natural gas production, studying small modular nuclear reactors, expanding pipeline projects, and reviewing renewable energy goals tied to the state’s Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act.
Assembly Republicans pointed to rising electricity costs as part of their concerns. They said residential electricity prices have increased by more than 47% since the climate law took effect in 2019.
The proposal now heads to the legislative process in Albany.
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].