NY Renews Statement on the One-House Budget Proposals
For Immediate Release: March 10, 2026
Contact: Marie Scarles, marie@nyrenews.org, (646) 389-8429
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In response to the one-house budget proposals released by the New York State Assembly and Senate, NY Renews Executive Director Stephan Edel issued the following statement:
We are thrilled to see $1 billion for the Sustainable Future Program in both one-house budgets, including expanded reporting language to make sure these funds are transparent and visible. While $1 billion is a fraction of what cap and invest could create every year for climate and clean energy in New York State, this is a strong step forward and shows that the Assembly and Senate know how important annual climate funding will be to help lower bills, improve our health and air quality, and create good union jobs across New York.
Both Houses of the legislature took an important stand by not including rollbacks to our climate law; they are telling the Governor that they will not negotiate New York’s Future behind closed doors or have vital budget issues that can be held hostage to her desire to cut protections.
New Yorkers deserve an honest conversation about energy affordability. Weakening the Climate Law will not lower bills. The Legislature was right not to advance proposals that would slow our transition to stable, predictable renewable energy. If affordability is the goal, the path forward is clear: reduce our dependence on fossil fuels that expose families to price spikes, and expand energy efficiency and demand management investments, ensure New Yorkers have access to affordable solar and battery storage, and modernize the grid.
The Climate Law is not just about reducing greenhouse gases. It is also about investing in disadvantaged communities, improving environmental justice, and protecting workers and communities during the energy transition. New Yorkers fought hard for this law because it makes our state more equitable and more resilient. Majority Leader Stewart-Cousins and Speaker Heastie must hold the Governor accountable and deliver a budget that lowers energy bills, builds NY’s clean energy sector, and protects our climate and our future.
NY Renews Steering Committee leaders also issued the following statements:
Bob Cohen, Policy and Research Director, Citizen Action of New York said, “New York’s climate law is not the cause of rising utility bills. The real driver is the volatility of fossil fuel prices, especially natural gas, and the costly infrastructure required to keep supporting them. The focus now should be on implementing it in a way that lowers costs, creates good union jobs, and ensures that the benefits reach the communities that have borne the greatest pollution burden. Instead of illegally refusing to comply with the climate law, as a judge has ruled, the administration should focus on implementing it fully and delivering the benefits it promises to working families and disadvantaged communities.”
Joe Sackman, Executive Director, Long Island Progressive Coalition said, “As New York moves closer to implementing its climate law, fossil fuel interests have dramatically increased their lobbying spending by more than 50 percent between 2021 and 2024. That pressure campaign is no coincidence. Some of the loudest voices claiming climate policy must be weakened to protect consumers represent industries whose profits depend on continued fossil fuel use. We appreciate that the Legislature did not advance these rollbacks in the budget. New Yorkers deserve an energy policy shaped by public interest, not fossil fuel lobbying.”
Caroline Chen, Director of Environmental Justice at the New York Lawyers for the Public Interest said, “We applaud the Legislature in holding strong to the truth that the Climate Law is not the reason for energy unaffordability and standing firm against attempts to weaken the climate, health and environmental justice protections New Yorkers fought for in the Climate Law. We further urge the Governor to heed the Legislature’s requests to fund the Sustainable Futures Program to keep moving New York in the right direction, and to finally issue a Cap and Invest Program that we know can work to lower our utility bills and transition us to a healthy future supported by renewable energy.”
Katherine Alford, Co-Facilitator, Third Act NYC said, “The question isn’t whether New York should move forward with the climate law. The question is how we implement it in ways that lower costs for households. Rolling back the CLCPA would only prolong our exposure to volatile fossil fuel markets. Instead, policymakers should focus on the solutions that actually reduce energy bills: expanding rooftop and community solar, accelerating efficiency programs and smart thermostats, supporting home batteries, modernizing the grid, and protecting renewable development like offshore wind. Those investments will deliver real savings for families while keeping New York on track to meet its climate goals.”
Eunice Ko, Deputy Director, NYC Environmental Justice Alliance said, “Today, the Senate and the Assembly spoke up for climate justice and our communities by adopting budget positions rejecting Governor Hochul’s attempts to weaken the Climate Law. We cannot ignore that the same New Yorkers struggling most with affordability, pollution, and asthma are also the ones paying the costs of the climate crisis and government inaction. Thank you to both Houses of the Legislature for ensuring that New York continues to lead unapologetically on climate as we make investments in clean energy and climate action. Efforts like this will create more jobs, speed economic growth, and build a safer, healthier, and more affordable New York.”
Jenille Scott, Climate Director, ALIGN said, “Extending our reliance on fossil fuels won't lower our energy bills or make New York more affordable. Instead, New Yorkers will pay the price for years to come, with volatile gas costs, hospital visits, and climate emergency cleanups. We are pleased to see $1 billion in both one-house budgets as a continuous and necessary investment protecting against climate change, but this is a fraction of what we need.We should be making our Climate Law a reality with good union jobs and community investments, and finally implementing Cap and Invest to make polluters pay for our climate future, not working families.”
Shiv Soin, Co-Executive Director at TREEage said, “At a time when energy costs are a real concern, the New York State Senate and Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins are advancing the solutions that actually lower bills. Restoring funding for the Sustainable Future Program, strengthening oversight of utilities, and supporting clean energy investments will help protect New Yorkers from volatile fossil fuel prices. The path to affordability is clear: energy efficiency, distributed solar, batteries, and renewable power that deliver stable costs and healthier homes.”