This article appeared in the JCAN NYC newsletter published on February 2, 2025.
Governor Hochul has delayed the implementation of regulations for the Cap-and-Invest program that would provide billions of dollars to fund clean energy projects to help achieve the state’s climate law mandates and would offset the cost to low- and moderate-income households. After suggesting she would release the long overdue regulations for the program in early 2025, she failed to include a concrete plan in her proposed budget.
Governor Hochul claims to be concerned about affordability but fails to recognize that rising utility, insurance, disaster remediation and other climate crisis-related costs are beyond low and moderate income New Yorkers. A study issued by the NYC Environmental Justice Alliance concluded that if the Cap-and-Invest program were designed with rebates for New York households making $200,000 or less, overall household expenses will remain steady or decrease, while the investments in clean energy projects will help to minimize future costs Eddie Bautista, Executive Director of the NYC Environmental Justice Alliance, explains this and the overall program in a January 28th interview on Inside City Hall.
JCAN NYC is joining with a large number of advocacy groups, including NY Renews, the New York League of Conservation Voters, and Environmental Advocates, to call on Governor Hochul to release the regulations for the Cap-and-Invest program. On January 22, JCAN NYC members joined over 400 individuals from across the state at a NY Renews rally to support this call to the governor.
Governor Hochul and the NYS Legislature need to hear from New Yorkers that there’s no time to waste. With fossil fuel companies and utilities doing everything they can to slow down progress on climate, our leaders need to get the message loud and clear that we have a moral obligation to take bold action on climate and that delay will make addressing the crisis exponentially more costly for all New Yorkers. Please respond to the calls to action that you receive as often as possible.