Buffalo, NY (WBEN) New York State Senator Rob Ortt is joining fellow Republican lawmakers to call on Governor Kathy Hochul to remove her proposal for a ban on fossil fuel powered equipment from new builds later this decade.
Ortt, the Senate Minority Leader, cites a court ruling that says a locality or state cannot ban natural gas hookups, as it is preempted by federal law. Ortt and fellow senators say they propose smarter energy solutions, putting affordability and reliability first for New York ratepayers.
"Seeking a cleaner energy future does not have to involve total government control within New Yorkers' homes," Ortt said. "The energy plan that Albany leaders are proposing is far too intrusive, not to mention unaffordable, unsafe, and unrealistic. Our state leaders need to prioritize common-sense policies that ensure affordability and reliability while seeking cleaner options, not costly agendas and aggressive timelines at the taxpayers' expense."
There are reports Governor Hochul's administration was considering a change in the proposed climate plan due to cost concerns. Department of Environmental Conservation commissioner Basil Seggos and NYSERDA president and CEO Doreen Harris touted the benefits of the changes in order to contain costs, but the administration quickly caved and flip-flopped, dropping the proposed cost-containment measures from negotiations.
The New York Senate Republican Conference proposed several affordable solutions in pursuing a cleaner energy future, such as:
Independent cost studies and full transparency;
Supporting diverse energy sources;
Keep needed power supply online to ensure reliability of our grid; and
Repealing and opposing and anti market mandates on consumers.
"As a state representative, I cannot in good conscience support policy that disregards safety, reliability, and affordability for New Yorkers, and that is exactly what the Governor's energy proposals do," insisted Ortt. "Instituting environmental policy and ensuring affordability and reliability are not mutually exclusive goals; they can and should be done simultaneously,"
