ABC

The memorandum from NYSERDA, released on February 26th highlights what employers, taxpayers, and energy experts have been warning for years: the implementation of the Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act (CLCPA), as currently written, comes with astonishing and unsustainable costs for New Yorkers.

According to NYSERDA’s analysis, upstate gas and oil households could see costs increased by over $4,000 while in New York City, gas households could see $2,300 in added costs. This could also raise the price of gas at the pump by over $2. New York already has among the highest costs in the country. We can’t afford to allow these spikes to continue.

This new analysis confirms that the state must take a more realistic and economically grounded approach. Families and businesses are already dealing with affordability challenges, and the
CLCPA’s current trajectory risks further undermining competitiveness, energy reliability, and long‑term economic stability.

“NYSERDA’s memo makes clear what our members experience every day: New York’s current approach to the CLCPA is financially unsustainable for the people who live and work here,” said Brian Sampson, president of ABC’s Empire State Chapter. “This new analysis should serve as a wake‑up call. We need a course correction, one that protects both our environment and the competitiveness of New York’s employers.”

We support a serious and immediate effort to reassess the law. New York can and should pursue ambitious climate goals, but it must do so in a way that is financially responsible, and achievable. Acknowledgment of the true costs is an important first step.

We stand ready to work with state leaders and industry partners to advance solutions that deliver environmental progress without sacrificing affordability or the health of New York’s economy.