ALBANY, New York — Nineteen Assembly Democrats want Gov. Kathy Hochul to punt on a mandate for electrifying new buildings, raising affordability concerns about a signature New York climate policy.
The signatories to the letter, organized by Assemblymember William Conrad, included members from New York City, Long Island and upstate, as well as Assembly Majority Leader Crystal Peoples-Stokes.
The letter was sent to the governor Monday. Hochul has already said she’ll seriously consider the request given her own focus on lowering energy costs for New Yorkers.
Why it matters: New York is not on track to meet the 2019 climate law’s statutory emissions reduction targets. Democratic lawmakers and the governor have balked at enacting potentially costly up-front policies recommended to achieve the goals.
