The New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) is responsible for supporting New York’s energy goals. Recently, the agency released a draft energy plan that looks ahead to 2040, but its public hearing schedule leaves out key regions of the state impacting millions of New Yorkers. With this plan impacting every single New Yorker, the New York State Assembly Minority Conference wants to give all our constituents a chance to voice the valid concerns they may have. In order to do so, we initiated a statewide media tour spearheaded by Assemblyman Phil Palmesano (R,C-Corning), the ranking Minority Conference member on the Energy Committee.

Earlier this week, Assembly and Senate Minority Conference members joined together in Buffalo and Rochester to speak out against policies that will further burden families and communities already struggling with unsustainable tax and utility bills. We are calling for an extension of the public comment period for an additional 90 days, giving New Yorkers ample time to review the energy policies being advanced, ensuring everyone is on the same page going forward.

The response at our first two events was significant. Our Conference has called for greater accountability of the governor’s energy plan—dictated by the disastrous Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act (CLCPA)—since it was pitched to the public. We are now seeing more and more residents come to terms with the realities of this plan. People are frustrated with the lack of financial accountability coming from proponents of the state’s energy plan, and their concerns have only been exacerbated by the absence of clear answers about how much more our rates will go up and how reliable the grid will be without dramatic changes to the plan.

Making matters worse, NYSERDA’s public comment hearing schedule ignores major swaths of the state, and that means many New Yorkers will not be afforded a chance to publicly express to the administration how financially damaging these changes are. Giving residents a chance to show up in person to discuss their concerns is the least NYSERDA can do ahead of any potential hikes.

Sadly, there are no hearings scheduled for the Southern Tier, North Country or anywhere in Central New York. This is unacceptable, and it seems like the state’s energy officials are content to ignore the very real concerns about these hikes rather than face them head on. There will be seven hearings in the coming month. The Assembly Minority Conference will continue to press for greater transparency—our members will be there to make sure the voices of New Yorkers are represented. We are calling on NYSERDA to do right by our Upstate communities and give them a chance to be heard. Until they do, we will continue to give frustrated New Yorkers an avenue to express their concerns about these changes, as we have seen so many do this week.

If you have any questions or comments on this or any other state issue, or if you would like to be added to my mailing list or receive my newsletter, please contact my office. My office can be reached by mail at 19 Canalview Mall, Fulton, NY 13069 and by email at barclay@nyassembly.gov.