Say NO to unnecessary gas hookups in New York

New York must crack down on the biggest source of climate pollution in the state: Buildings.

We only have until April 1 to convince Governor Hochul and state lawmakers to include the NY HEAT Act in their final budget. This bill will stop the practice of New York utility customers from being forced to shoulder the costs of an expanding gas system at a time when gas companies are making record profits AND when we must transition to clean energy to meet our climate goals.

Tell Governor Hochul and state lawmakers to include the NY HEAT Act (S2016) in the final budget due April 1.

Tell Governor Hochul and state lawmakers to end the gas industry’s unfair advantage and to make our buildings clean and healthy by including the NY HEAT Act (S2016) in the final budget due April 1.

New York must crack down on the biggest source of climate pollution in the state: Buildings.

We only have until April 1 to convince Govenor Hochul and state lawmakers to include the NY HEAT Act in their final budget. This bill will:

Put a price cap of 6% of income on electricity bills for low- and middle-income families so more families can afford their energy.
End the practice of automatically connecting buildings within 100 feet of a gas pipeline to that line at no cost for the building owner.
Save New York utilities customers a whopping $1 billion over the course of five years (because you’re actually the ones paying for these “free” gas hookups).
Stop expansion of the gas system by freeing up the $150 billion it would cost to replace gas pipes over the next 20 years, and invest it in building electrification instead.

New York utility customers shouldn’t be the ones forced to shoulder the costs of an expanding gas system at a time when gas companies are making record profits AND when we must transition to clean energy as fast as possible to meet our climate goals.

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Your Message

Subject Include the NY HEAT Act (S2016) in your budget

Dear Governor Hochul, Senator, and Assemblymember,

Message Body

I’m writing to urge you to include the NY HEAT Act (S2016 and part MMM of the Senate budget) in the final state budget.

The 100 foot rule currently allows for any new or existing building within 100 feet of a gas pipeline to be automatically connected to that gas line at no direct cost to the customer or building owner.

This rule doesn’t work for New Yorkers because:
- It is in direct opposition to the state’s climate goals of reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 40% by 2030, as mandated by the 2019 Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act (CLCPA) because it keeps New Yorkers unnecessarily hooked on fossil fuels – and continues to expand the gas system. In fact nearly 170,000 new customers each year get fully subsidized new connections to the gas system.
- Existing gas customers are shouldering $1 billion in utility costs over the course of five years to pay for these gas line extensions on their bills. This is coming at a time when the cost of living is rising.

The NY HEAT Act will eliminate this 100 foot rule. Additionally, it will allow the planned $150 billion in ratepayer spending to be redirected from replacing gas pipelines to investments in neighborhood-scale building electrification AND put a price cap of 6% of income on electricity bills for low- and middle-income families. While fossil fuel companies are posting record-breaking profits, this will ensure that energy stays affordable for New Yorkers.

Please include the NY HEAT Act in the final budget to protect the climate and New Yorkers’ utility bills.

Thank you.

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