New York Governor Kathy Hochul has proposed weakening the state's climate law, citing affordability concerns
Governor Kathy Hochul formally proposed delaying key deadlines under the state's Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act by up to a decade in response to looming utility price hikes. Citing that New York is already behind on implementing this 2019 law, which mandates an initial reduction of greenhouse gas emissions from its baseline year (the same as it was before) until at least twenty percent lower than the current level and then eighty-five percent by two thousand thirty-two hundred fifty-six million dollars per person annually if not addressed immediately.
Key Points
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1Governor Kathy Hochul has formally proposed delaying key deadlines under the state's Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act to address looming utility cost increases.
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2The proposal suggests postponing a 40 percent greenhouse gas emissions reduction target by ten years due from its original 2035 deadline, citing an affordability crisis for New Yorkers. This move comes as part of her budget process despite criticism that the state is already behind on implementing existing climate mandates.
Developments
Perspectives
Governor Kathy Hochul is formally asking the state legislature for relief by proposing to delay crippling green policies that are set to take effect soon.
— (Nypost)Hochul's proposal involves postponing New York State greenhouse-gas emissions rules, which were originally scheduled to hit in 2030
— (Bloomberg)Governor Kathy Hochul formally requested to delay New York's climate mandate implementation deadline by ten years from 2030 to 2040 and altered emissions calculation methods. She cited soaring utility prices as the primary driver for this proposal, despite her administration previously claiming that current cost increases are unrelated to these mandates.
Governor Kathy Hochul has proposed postponing New York's 2030 greenhouse-gas emissions targets by ten years, citing factors ranging from COVID-19 to NIMBYism and President Trump as justification for her decision. Critics argue the original Climate Leadership & Community Protection Act was flawed because it imposed severe restrictions without adequately calculating costs like increased gas prices or higher heating expenses that would burden residents in upstate New York.
Governor Kathy Hochul proposed three specific amendments to weaken state greenhouse gas emission targets in an op-ed published Friday amid concerns over affordability and federal opposition on renewable energy. She aims for lawmakers to delay regulations until 2030, revise carbon limits, alter emissions counting methods as part of the upcoming budget process due by April.