{"id":5819,"date":"2026-01-16T16:11:06","date_gmt":"2026-01-16T21:11:06","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/weact.org\/?post_type=update&p=5819"},"modified":"2026-02-16T21:22:23","modified_gmt":"2026-02-17T02:22:23","slug":"legislators-and-advocates-call-on-gov-hochul-to-address-rising-energy-bills-through-bold-investments-in-renewable-energy-energy-efficiency","status":"publish","type":"update","link":"https:\/\/weact.org\/es\/updates\/legislators-and-advocates-call-on-gov-hochul-to-address-rising-energy-bills-through-bold-investments-in-renewable-energy-energy-efficiency\/","title":{"rendered":"Legislators and Advocates Call on Gov. Hochul to Address Rising Energy Bills through Bold Investments in Renewable Energy & Energy Efficiency"},"template":"","class_list":["post-5819","update","type-update","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","update_type-press-release","person_tax-eric-walker"],"acf":{"details":{"":null,"featured_image":5221,"update_type":[366],"focus_area":false,"authors":[217],"abstract":""},"page_layout":[{"acf_fc_layout":"layout_hero_links","acfe_flexible_toggle":"","component_hero_links":{"title":"","abstract":"","links":null}},{"acf_fc_layout":"layout_wysiwyg","acfe_flexible_toggle":"","component_wysiwyg":{"content":"

As energy costs soar due to reliance on fossil fuels, a $1 billion investment into the Sustainable Future Program can lower energy bills for New Yorkers and boost the state\u2019s economy<\/strong><\/p>\r\n \r\n\r\nFOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE\r\n<\/strong>January 16, 2026\r\nContact: Ali Hameed, ali.hameed@sunstonestrategies.org<\/a>, 201-285-9649\r\n\r\n \r\n\r\nALBANY, NY <\/strong>\u2014 Today, Senator Pete Harckham and Assemblymember Dana Levenberg along with environmental advocates and energy experts called on Governor Hochul to include a $1 billion investment for the Sustainable Future Program as part of her 2026-2027 Executive Budget to rapidly advance clean energy and energy efficiency initiatives that can lower energy bills for New Yorkers and spur the state\u2019s clean energy economy. According to a recent study<\/a>, allocating $1 billion for the Sustainable Future Program would deliver 7,400 new, good-paying jobs, $1.5 billion in economic activity, and $685 million in labor income.\r\n\r\n\u201cAdvancing vital clean energy and climate infrastructure initiatives is key to providing real financial relief for residents and business owners combatting affordability issues, which is why we need to maintain the robust state investments that support them,\u201d said Senator Pete Harckham<\/strong>. \u201cLast year\u2019s $1 billion Sustainable Futures Fund was a major boost for families and communities in this regard, and it also created good paying jobs. Let\u2019s remain committed to funding these money-saving projects, as they are needed now more than ever.\u201d\r\n\r\nThe energy affordability crisis has become a top concern for voters<\/a> as the high cost of gas drives up both gas and electric rates<\/a> alike. Every major gas utility in the state has raised gas rates<\/a> since 2022. The cost of gas bills is outpacing the rate of inflation nearly fourfold, and Morgan Stanley has estimated that the Trump Administration\u2019s policies will raise gas costs by 128% between 2024 and 2026<\/a>. Meanwhile, nearly 14% of New York households are two or more months behind on their energy bills, while New York\u2019s five major, for-profit investor-owned utilities have increased their profit by 63% between 2015 and 2024<\/a>.\r\n\r\n\"When it comes to energy, affordability and sustainability go hand in hand. Renewable energy development is much less expensive than the continued buildout of gas infrastructure, which poisons New Yorkers' homes as well as our shared environment. Moreover, the green energy transition will create thousands of well-paying jobs right here in New York,\u201d said Assemblymember Dana Levenberg<\/strong>. \u201cWe need continued and significant investment in initiatives like the Sustainable Future Program if we are to have any hope of lower costs and lower emissions. I urge the Governor to include at least match last year\u2019s $1 billion for this program in her Executive Budget.\"\r\n\r\nA $1 billion investment in the Sustainable Future Program will fund critical renewable energy and energy efficiency policies that are proven solutions for creating an affordable, local, and modern energy system. Renewable energy is cheaper and faster to build than gas infrastructure, and can keep overall energy prices more affordable, especially in winter<\/a>, when gas prices tend to spike because of heating demand. Energy efficiency upgrades such as weatherization are also one of the primary ways to reduce energy consumption and thereby energy bills immediately.\r\n\r\n\"Energy costs are crushing millions of families in low-income and disadvantaged communities across New York. It\u2019s time for bold solutions beyond bill relief,\u201d said Eric Walker, Energy Justice Senior Policy Manager at WE ACT for Environmental Justice. \u201c<\/strong>Governor Hochul believes that the way forward is through fuels but that\u2019ll actually drive up prices and will worsen harms to health in environmental justice communities. By supporting the Sustainable Future Program, Governor Hochul can invest in energy efficiency in buildings to bring bills down for the long haul, boost New York\u2019s clean energy economy through renewables, and secure a healthier future for all New Yorkers.\r\n\r\nThe Sustainable Future Program was launched last year with $1 billion. In its first year<\/a>, the program helped advance clean energy projects such as thermal energy networks, supported EmPower+, the state\u2019s signature energy efficiency program, and accelerated multiple renewable energy generation projects. To continue to make energy costs more affordable and regain control of our energy system from fossil fuel corporations, Governor Hochul must continue funding the program.\r\n\r\n\u00a0<\/strong>\r\n\r\nAdditional statements from legislators and advocates are below:<\/strong>\r\n\r\n\u201cThe Sustainable Future Program was one of the most important investments the Governor made last year, driving programs to grow clean energy across the state and create jobs, and helping to ensure that thousands more New Yorkers could benefit from lower energy costs,\u201d said Katherine Nadeau, Executive Director of Policy and Programs at Environmental Advocates NY. \u201c<\/strong>But the work is not nearly complete. We need Governor Hochul to step up again in 2026 and provide a strong and substantial SFP investment in energy affordability for everyone, to build on what the SFP achieved in 2025.\u201d\r\n\r\n\u201cAs the Trump Administration embraces costly, polluting fossil fuels, Governor Hochul has the chance to choose a cleaner, more affordable path by positioning New York as a national leader in advancing clean energy and energy efficiency policies that lower energy bills,\u201d said Betta Broad, campaign director at New Yorkers for Clean Power<\/strong>. \u201cThe Sustainable Future Program is a $1 billion investment for long term energy savings, supporting thousands of good-paying jobs, and a stronger New York economy at the same time as reducing air pollution. We\u2019re urging Governor Hochul to boldly invest in the program to meaningfully address the growing energy affordability crisis in New York by investing in upgrading our homes and buildings.\u201d\r\n\r\n\u201cThis winter, families across New York are struggling as high gas costs strain household budgets,\u201d said Michael Hernandez, New York Policy Director at Rewiring America<\/strong>. \u201cGovernor Hochul has already taken a huge step by investing in EmPower+ and improving the program so that more New Yorkers can access this crucial funding for insulating their homes and cutting energy waste. She now has the opportunity to meet the scale of the affordability crisis by investing $1 billion in the Sustainable Future Program, lowering energy bills, reducing reliance on costly gas, and positioning New York as a leader in clean, affordable energy and efficient housing.\u201d\r\n

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