Sierra Club Delivers Over 1,000 Comments on Unlawful NY State Energy Plan to Hochul’s NYC Office

The Draft Plan Threatens to Undo New York’s Climate Progress and Raise New Yorkers’ Bills

NEW YORK — Yesterday, the Sierra Club Atlantic Chapter delivered over 1,000 State Energy Plan comments submitted by members and supporters to Governor Hochul’s New York City office. Supporters and spokespeople gathered outside with signs and banners for remarks before delivering the comments. Earlier today, the State Energy Planning Board announced the final Board meeting of the year, where they will vote on the Draft State Energy Plan, will be December 16.

During the two month comment period this fall, Sierra Club supporters spoke out in droves against the Draft New York State Energy Plan. Notably, Sierra Club submitted the most comments of any environmental group and the third most comments of any organization. The over 1,000 written comments were submitted by New Yorkers from across the state, as seen on this map. In addition to the written comments, over 50 Sierra Club members and supporters testified at in-person hearings across the state. Sierra Club’s Environmental Law Program also submitted detailed technical comments critiquing the draft plan.

Click Here to See the Map of Sierra Club Public Comment Submissions. 

The Draft State Energy Plan unlawfully weakens existing emission-reduction commitments, walks back important plans to decarbonize New York’s energy sector, and does too little to onboard clean energy. Inaction and continued reliance on expensive gas to power homes and buildings could cost New Yorkers on their energy bills. Already, 1.3 million New Yorkers are two or more months behind on their energy bills, as local utilities report record profits. In addition to increased utility bills, a State Energy Plan that prioritizes fossil fuel will threaten public health and further exacerbate extreme weather, costing New York in medical bills and lost work days, and increasing the costs of climate adaptation.

Ultimately, the completed State Energy Plan will provide broad policy directions that guide New York’s energy decisions. The Plan is meant to be updated triennially, however New York is undertaking its first update to the Plan in a decade. This is the first Plan revision since the state enacted the Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act (CLCPA) in 2020.

“In the six years since New York enacted the CLCPA, the urgency of the climate crisis has only grown, along with the need for strong leadership from vanguard states like New York,” said Josh Berman, Sierra Club Senior Attorney. “Sierra Club will not stand by while New York turns its back on the requirements of the CLCPA. New York leaders must fulfill their obligations and use the final State Energy Plan to put New York back on track to achieve mandated emissions reductions.”

“The Draft State Energy Plan is missing something critical, a way to fund the clean energy transition that doesn’t fall on New York’s working families,” said Allyson Samuell, Sierra Club Senior Campaign Representative in New York. “Thankfully, developing a Cap and Invest program would lower New Yorkers’ electricity bills and directly support the transition to cleaner, renewable energy. This holiday season, we are asking Governor Hochul: release the Cap and Invest regulations.”

“As it stands, the Draft State Energy Plan would be a real gut-punch to New York’s climate progress,” said Gabe Recchio, Sierra Club’s Clean Heat Organizer in New York. “We are calling on Governor Hochul to use this State Energy Plan to make up for federal policies that favor polluting fossil fuels, but right now, the Draft Plan fails to meet the political moment or address New Yorkers’ health and affordability needs.”

“The current Draft Energy Plan does not do enough to connect clean, renewable energy to New York’s power grid,” said Jason Dragseth, Sierra Club Volunteer. “New York must commit to onboarding clean, homegrown, affordable energy, like offshore wind. South Fork Wind, our state’s first offshore wind farm, just celebrated its first year of operation and the data coming in from it is outstanding. New York’s Energy Plan must remain committed to developing 9GW of offshore wind.”

About the Sierra Club: The Sierra Club is America’s largest and most influential grassroots environmental organization, with millions of members and supporters. In addition to protecting every person’s right to get outdoors and access the healing power of nature, the Sierra Club works to promote clean energy, safeguard the health of our communities, protect wildlife, and preserve our remaining wild places through grassroots activism, public education, lobbying, and legal action. For more information, visit www.sierraclub.org.