The deep pocketed propaganda machine bankrolled by the fossil fuel industry and its allies has been running non-stop through the summer. Their latest effort attempts to exploit New Yorkers’ legitimate concerns over energy prices to advance their plan to undermine the state’s climate law.
First some background: The Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act (“Climate Law”) was approved six years ago and sets the state on a path toward “net zero” greenhouse gas emissions by the middle of this Century. The “net zero” goal is consistent with the standard set by the world’s climate scientists – who have warned that in order to avoid the worst consequences of global heating, all nations need to adhere to the net zero goal.
New York’s Climate Law set interim goals designed to guide policymakers as benchmark steps to meet the targets advised by the world’s climate experts. Those interim goals commit the state to generate 70 percent of its electricity from renewable power sources and achieve a 40 percent reduction in greenhouse gas emissions by 2030 – just five years from now.
After the Climate Law was passed the state convened a panel of “stakeholders” to develop a detailed blueprint to meet the law’s milestone goals. That blueprint was released at the end of 2022. Among its findings was that unless measures were taken, New Yorkers faced a considerable financial risk from climate-change impacts. The blueprint estimated “the cost of inaction in New York State exceeding the cost of action by more than $115 billion.”
As we have experienced in recent weeks, New Yorkers are already paying dearly for climate damages. This summer, Canadian wildfires have polluted the air leading to seemingly non-stop air quality warnings. And it’s not just our health: The state is already spending billions to cover the costs of damages caused by a worsening planet and to protect from storms to come.
Big-ticket spending to address climate problems is expected to be the norm over the coming decades. Here are some examples: Recent estimates put the price tags at $52 billion to protect NYC Harbor, $100 billion to upgrade NYC’s sewers to handle more intense storms, $75-$100 billion to protect Long Island, and $55 billion for climate costs outside of New York City. The state Comptroller has predicted that more than half of local governments’ costs will be attributable to the climate crisis.
Preparing for and dealing with those climate disasters has been a cornerstone for energy policy in New York. Actions by the state will not only protect New Yorkers but can also benefit the world. While New York’s contribution to greenhouse gas emissions is small relative to the global total, New York is one of the world’s leading economies. As a result, having aggressive science-based energy policies here can have impacts at the state, national, and international levels.
Despite the mounting evidence and the need for global – including New York – action, a well-funded backlash has been organized to erode public support for New York’s science-based climate goals. Opponents have been rallying around the call for a more “affordable” energy policy, one that – not surprisingly – calls for a weakening of the Climate Law.
Opponents are arguing that it is the Climate Law that is making New York’s electricity rates too high, all in an effort to block – or at least slow down – action in New York. This campaign is just the latest in the decades-long efforts to block climate protection policies.
Some opponents have argued that New York’s science-based goals are simply too ambitious. If so, then other states would be in the same situation. But that is not the case. For example, New York ranks 16th in the nation in its reliance on renewable energy. Obviously, there is room to improve.
New York’s residential electricity rates are high, however, relative to the nation’s. But that has been true for years. For example in 2018 – the year before the state climate law was signed – New York’s residential electricity rates were ranked the seventh-highest in the nation. In 2025, New York was ranked eighth highest. Still high to be sure, but the impact of the Climate Law’s passage didn’t make a meaningful difference.
Moreover, the amount of energy generated by wind and solar is a very small percentage of the electricity generated in the state (under 10%). How could such a small percentage substantially power increases in electricity costs? It can’t.
New York does have a problem of high utility rates, one shared by its neighbors in the northeast. That problem, however, is a long-standing one and one that requires a structural change to better protect consumers, not one that undermines its Climate Law.
Here is one thing that Governor Hochul can do right away to help.
The New York Legislature approved a bill to establish the “State Office of the Utility Consumer Advocate” to represent the interests of the state’s residential utility customers in energy ratemaking proceedings. Currently consumers don’t have a full-time, well-resourced advocate for their interests at the crucial decision points that affect utility reliability and affordability. As a result, utility regulators typically only get to hear fully developed arguments from industry sources. The average residential consumer voice can get lost in the cacophony of industry lobbyists, engineers, and economists. This legislation would ensure that consumers have an advocate at the table with only their interests in mind when their interests are at stake.
That Office has long been needed in New York. In order to do something meaningful to protect consumers – and not get bamboozled by the propaganda – Governor Hochul should sign that legislation.