New York Governor Kathy Hochul's administration has taken a surprising U-turn on its stance towards renewable energy, prompting widespread criticism from environmental groups and lawmakers alike.
The latest move came in the form of a deal reached with an appellate court, which halted the implementation of the All-Electric Building Act, a law aimed at electrifying new building construction. The law was set to take effect in January but is now on hold until the court rules on a lawsuit brought by a coalition of fossil fuel companies and organizations.
The move has been seen as a significant backtrack from Hochul's initial support for the legislation, which passed in 2023 as part of the state budget. Environmental groups have long argued that the law would help reduce greenhouse gas emissions and improve public health, particularly among children who suffer from asthma caused by exposure to fossil fuels.
However, some lawmakers had expressed concerns about the affordability implications of the law, prompting a group of 19 Democratic assemblymembers to send a letter to Hochul asking her to delay its implementation. The administration has cited affordability concerns as a reason for reversing its support for the legislation.
Critics have accused Hochul's administration of changing its tune on renewable energy and climate change mitigation in light of recent court decisions and Republican opposition from Washington. "It is enraging, but not surprising," said Assemblymember Emily Gallagher, who represents Brooklyn neighborhoods. "Given this governor reversed course on a toxic gas pipeline, cryptocurrency mining, and now the All-Electric Buildings Act – in the last week alone."
Environmental groups have taken aim at Hochul's administration for abandoning its climate goals. "After following the science and signing the All-Electric Buildings Law to save families money and fight climate change, Governor Hochul is taking a machete to state law," said Lisa Marshall, director of New Yorkers for Clean Power.
Despite this criticism, Hochul remains committed to the legislation, arguing that it will help defend it against lawsuits and reduce regulatory uncertainty for developers. "The governor remains committed to the all-electric-buildings law and believes this action will help the state defend it, as well as reduce regulatory uncertainty for developers during this period of litigation," said Ken Lovett, the governor's adviser on energy and environment.
However, many observers remain skeptical about Hochul's claims. A recent report by Switchbox found that new all-electric homes can save households more than $1,000 annually, a benefit that could be significantly increased for homes in rural areas. The state's grid is also capable of handling the implementation of the law, according to an analysis by Switchbox.
As tensions between environmental groups and Hochul's administration escalate, it remains to be seen whether the governor can find a way to reconcile her stance on renewable energy with the growing demands from lawmakers and activists.
The latest move came in the form of a deal reached with an appellate court, which halted the implementation of the All-Electric Building Act, a law aimed at electrifying new building construction. The law was set to take effect in January but is now on hold until the court rules on a lawsuit brought by a coalition of fossil fuel companies and organizations.
The move has been seen as a significant backtrack from Hochul's initial support for the legislation, which passed in 2023 as part of the state budget. Environmental groups have long argued that the law would help reduce greenhouse gas emissions and improve public health, particularly among children who suffer from asthma caused by exposure to fossil fuels.
However, some lawmakers had expressed concerns about the affordability implications of the law, prompting a group of 19 Democratic assemblymembers to send a letter to Hochul asking her to delay its implementation. The administration has cited affordability concerns as a reason for reversing its support for the legislation.
Critics have accused Hochul's administration of changing its tune on renewable energy and climate change mitigation in light of recent court decisions and Republican opposition from Washington. "It is enraging, but not surprising," said Assemblymember Emily Gallagher, who represents Brooklyn neighborhoods. "Given this governor reversed course on a toxic gas pipeline, cryptocurrency mining, and now the All-Electric Buildings Act – in the last week alone."
Environmental groups have taken aim at Hochul's administration for abandoning its climate goals. "After following the science and signing the All-Electric Buildings Law to save families money and fight climate change, Governor Hochul is taking a machete to state law," said Lisa Marshall, director of New Yorkers for Clean Power.
Despite this criticism, Hochul remains committed to the legislation, arguing that it will help defend it against lawsuits and reduce regulatory uncertainty for developers. "The governor remains committed to the all-electric-buildings law and believes this action will help the state defend it, as well as reduce regulatory uncertainty for developers during this period of litigation," said Ken Lovett, the governor's adviser on energy and environment.
However, many observers remain skeptical about Hochul's claims. A recent report by Switchbox found that new all-electric homes can save households more than $1,000 annually, a benefit that could be significantly increased for homes in rural areas. The state's grid is also capable of handling the implementation of the law, according to an analysis by Switchbox.
As tensions between environmental groups and Hochul's administration escalate, it remains to be seen whether the governor can find a way to reconcile her stance on renewable energy with the growing demands from lawmakers and activists.
. I mean, yeah, she made some decisions that environmental groups might not agree with, but come on, she's trying to balance competing interests 
. Those 19 Democratic assemblymembers were super vocal about their concerns over affordability, and I get it, they're right to care about the financial impact on homeowners 
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! That's a huge step forward for climate action. I'm not saying she should've stuck with her original stance, but this u-turn is just so... dramatic 
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. Hochul's still got a lot of momentum on her side – let's give her some space to figure this out 
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this is crazy... i mean, first they were all for it and now its just a pipe dream 
. and what about the science? didnt she sign up to fight climate change in the first place? 
. imo this whole thing is just a PR stunt to placate the fossil fuel companies and republicans 
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. I mean, we just want clean air and water for our kids, right? 
The All-Electric Building Act was a huge step forward, but now it's being yanked away from us? 
What were they thinking? They said one thing in 2023 and another thing now. It's all about politics, isn't it? 
It's like they're more concerned with being liked by the fossil fuel companies than actually helping our planet 
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They're just settlin' for less progress on clean energy. The science is clear, we gotta switch to all-electric buildings ASAP! 
. I think Hochul's admin is just playing a game of " delay the inevitable" 
, hoping that the courts will decide in favor of fossil fuel companies or something. But honestly, we should be seeing more action on renewable energy, not less 
. What's good for the people and the planet is always supposed to be a priority, right? 
Hochul should just stand firm and show that politicians can actually be committed to change, not just say one thing and do another... or at least explain why they're backtracking on this one... 
and now Hochul is all "oh no, I gotta defend us against these bad guys"? 
that are literally so good! But then, I started thinking about how hard it must be for the farmers who grow the veggies that go into those burgers. Like, do you guys ever think about where your food comes from? I swear, every time I try to order something new at this cafe, they're always out of my favorite vegan milk alternative... anyway, back to the topic at hand - renewable energy