New York’s climate rollbacks will saddle communities with fossil fuel costs and pollution

ALBANY, N.Y. — Today, at Governor Hochul’s urging, New York state legislators adopted significant changes to the state’s landmark climate law – the Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act – critically weakening and delaying requirements to cut pollution and invest in clean energy. At a time when other states are demonstrating that affordability and climate progress go hand-in-hand, these delays are a significant abdication of leadership and come after years of pushing the law’s commitments down the road.  

“The reality is that fossil fuels pollute the air we breathe and are more expensive and less reliable than ever. Weakening our climate law prolongs this dirty, expensive cycle, and will saddle communities with higher bills and more pollution,” said Kate Boicourt, New York State Director at Environmental Defense Fund. “Our elected officials can demonstrate real leadership by moving forward as fast as possible to actually implement climate solutions that cut pollution to levels aligned with scientific recommendations, such as a cap-and-invest program that reduces our dependence on unpredictable and costly fossil fuels while advancing clean energy and efficiency here at home.” 

New Yorkers are facing soaring prices at the pump and on their utility bills as fossil fuel prices continue to rise. Since late February, New Yorkers have spent an additional $1.7 billion on gas and diesel, and that number continues to grow. During January’s cold snap, natural gas prices surged to their highest levels since 2022. New York’s grid operator pointed directly to high natural gas prices as the cause of increases in electricity prices. 

Changes to the climate law 

Crucially, the amendments delay the deadline for New York to adopt regulations reducing climate pollution to the end of 2028 – nearly a decade after the climate law was first passed. Pushing this deadline adds to the already delayed implementation of the climate law, costing New Yorkers hundreds in savings annually while communities continue to bear the costs of fossil fuel pollution, bill increases, and unchecked climate impacts. 

Other changes adjust how New York accounts for its greenhouse gas emissions, aligning the state’s accounting framework with most other jurisdictions in the U.S. and internationally. These changes de-emphasize the near-term warming impact of methane. Yet even under weakened standards and delayed deadlines, the scientific imperative to reduce methane, carbon dioxide, and other greenhouse gases remains. New York State must take rapid action to shift away from reliance on fossil fuels – including natural gas in the heating and power sectors – and put in place additional policies and investments to do so.  

Cap-and-invest can provide the investments New York needs 

New Yorkers are missing out on at least $3 billion for clean energy investments and utility bill rebates for each year that cap-and-invest is delayed, with changes to the climate law now allowing for even further delay. The final budget is expected to include a one-time investment of $1 billion in the Sustainable Future Program, funding clean heating, transportation, and efficiency programs. These are critical cost-saving and job-creating investments, and precisely the type that could be scaled and sustained by cap-and-invest.  The Hochul administration can demonstrate long overdue leadership in delivering pollution cuts and investments in clean and affordable energy by standing up cap-and-invest as soon as possible. At the same time, the legislature should seek every avenue to ensure robust, timely implementation of the amended Climate Law and the passage of additional legislation to improve affordability and reliability through clean energy progress. 

Environmental Defense Fund stands ready to work alongside Governor Hochul and state leaders to ensure New Yorkers still receive the cleaner air, lower energy costs, and economic benefits these policies were meant to deliver.