Cap and invest will help the Bronx with energy

This year, New Yorkers experienced one of the coldest winters in recent history, and if last summer is any indicator, we are about to enter a season of record-breaking heat. For many Bronx residents, extreme weather means extremely high utility bills as folks crank up their homes’ heat or A/C. As many households in our borough face rising costs of living due to inflation and tariffs, New York needs a solution now.

About 1 in 3 (34%) Bronx residents have a high energy burden: they pay more than 6% of their annual income on electricity, natural gas, and delivered fossil fuels. The key to tackling the energy affordability crisis in the Bronx and New York lies in the state’s cap-and-invest program, proposed by Gov. Hochul back in 2023 as a way to make good on the promises of New York State’s Climate Leadership and Community Protection Plan (CLCPA).

The 2019 climate law, which aims to significantly slash planet-warming emissions by 2030, passed at a time when, similar to now, the Trump administration was helping energy and utility companies make money off of fossil fuels while people were stuck dealing with the increasing energy bills and air pollution.

Today, the administration is not only deepening our reliance on volatile fossil fuel energy but also attacking programs that help people pay for their utilities, weatherize their homes, and receive tax rebates for efficient heating and cooling equipment. 

New York has a golden opportunity in the cap–and-invest program to help Trump-proof the state and ensure residents have access to clean air and affordable energy for years to come.

Read the full piece here.