Lawmakers question New York governor’s climate funding commitment

By Marie J. French | 01/30/2025 06:11 AM EST

Democratic legislators pushed for answers on Gov. Kathy Hochul’s delay of a climate funding rule and her $1 billion proposed one-time funding.

ALBANY, New York — Key lawmakers had more questions than answers about Gov. Kathy Hochul’s climate funding plans at a Tuesday budget hearing.

Several legislators asked interim Department of Environmental Conservation Commissioner Sean Mahar about the state’s implementation of “cap and invest” rules Hochul has previously championed but punted on this year. They also pushed for details on the governor’s alternative push to provide a one-time shot of $1 billion for climate priorities.

Mahar was not able to provide a timeline of when “cap and invest” would ultimately be implemented. The program would charge companies and fuel distributors for greenhouse gas emissions and invest the money in the state’s clean energy transition, with some rebated to consumers.

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“If we’re going to have an economywide program that addresses climate emissions, we need to make sure New Yorkers are ready for it and prepared for it,” Mahar said during the hearing.

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