ALBANY, New York — Gov. Kathy Hochul’s “all of the above” approach to meet New York’s increasing energy needs has been slammed by environmental groups.
But the Democrat’s recent embrace of new nuclear energy and growing openness to gas pipelines has exhilarated many in the labor movement — particularly those who have long worried the state’s transition to clean energy would harm their members.
“We are appreciative of the fact that she’s taking a second look at these issues,” said John Samuelsen, president of Transport Workers Union International, which represents over 160,000 workers including some in the utility industry.
“She’s probably going to have a heart attack if she reads me saying that,” he said. “It’s probably the first positive thing I’ve said about Hochul publicly in years.”
