by State Senator Bill Weber (R, New City). Weber represents the 39th State Senate District which comprises most of Rockland County.
Activism is and always should be a part of politics because it leads to discussions of new public policy topics and can help to accelerate needed societal change.
The problem with some activists, however, is that they can go too far in pushing out of touch, expensive solutions that end up hurting the very people they purport to be trying to help. Such is the case with the so called “New York Home Energy Affordable Transition Act (HEAT ACT) as proposed in the legislature and the ironically named “affordable gas transition act” included in Governor Hochul’s budget.
Rather than look for ways to enhance and protect the kind of jobs that help build New York’s middle class, this legislation puts those families right in the cross hairs by threatening their long-term employment and raising their utility bills. The bill directs the State’s Public Service commission to encourage a transition away from natural gas, discontinue portions of the natural gas system and thereby force consumers to convert their houses and businesses to electricity.
The last thing we need is a heavy-handed Legislature and Governor egged on by out of touch activists to impose some kind of one-size fits all system that won’t work, can’t be easily adjusted and hurts cash strapped ratepayers.
Homes and businesses who are forced to switch to electric, will face $20-$50,000 in new costs mandated by the State of New York. There is absolutely no mechanism in this bill for working families to recover even one penny of that cost.
The bills also claims to help struggling New Yorkers by capping energy costs at 6% of income for anyone at or below 80% of the area median income. The problem? The rest of us who aren’t covered by the cap will simply see higher bills to make up the difference-and that’s most of us!
To add insult to injury, this…
Read the full article here
Leave a Reply