Republican members of the New York State Senate Energy and Telecommunications Committee are urging Gov. Kathy Hochul to reconvene the state’s Climate Action Council to review the Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act.
Sen. Tom O’Mara joined other Republican lawmakers in sending a letter asking the council to meet again and issue recommendations within 30 days on possible changes to the law.
Lawmakers said the request comes as Senate Democrats advance budget proposals that continue implementation of the state’s clean energy mandates.
The Climate Action Council was created under the Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act, approved in 2019, to guide the state’s transition to a zero-emissions economy.
Republican lawmakers argue the law has increased costs for ratepayers and businesses.
The letter cites rising electricity costs and says many residents are struggling to pay energy bills.
The council approved a scoping plan in 2022 outlining how the state would implement the law’s climate and clean energy goals.
Republican senators have also proposed legislation aimed at reducing utility costs, including measures to return unspent clean energy funds to ratepayers, repeal the statutory basis for a cap-and-invest program and provide temporary tax and surcharge relief on utility bills.
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