Griffo Proposes Legislative Package to Address Energy Cost Burden in New York

With utility bills climbing for many New Yorkers, Senator Joseph Griffo is renewing his push for a slate of legislation he says would bring relief to ratepayers and offer a more balanced path forward for the state’s energy transition. The proposal follows the Public Service Commission’s recent approval of rate increases for National Grid customers, and as NYSEG moves to do the same.

At the heart of Griffo’s argument is concern over the implementation of the Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act (CLCPA), a landmark climate law passed in 2019 that mandates steep emissions reductions and a rapid shift to renewable energy. While the goals of the CLCPA enjoy widespread support across party lines, Griffo contends that the ambitious deadlines and lack of infrastructure planning have created financial pressures for consumers and strained the state’s energy grid.

He pointed to a 2023 report from State Comptroller Tom DiNapoli, which offered a conservative estimate of $340 billion in total CLCPA costs—costs that would largely fall on the shoulders of ratepayers. Griffo said the current approach to energy policy has left companies scrambling to meet targets while ratepayers are left to absorb the impact. He emphasized that while he supports clean energy, the state must embrace a diversified energy portfolio that avoids placing additional financial burdens on families, businesses, and communities.

The legislative package he is advancing includes a range of measures. One proposal would prevent the closure of power generation facilities unless equivalent renewable sources are already online, while another would require the state to provide a detailed cost breakdown of CLCPA implementation on every utility bill. Other bills would repeal the All-Electric Buildings Act, expand gas infrastructure in rural areas, provide tax credits, and delay the CLCPA’s emissions mandates by ten years to allow for further study and planning. One measure calls for reopening the Indian Point nuclear plant, and another seeks to ensure consumers retain the ability to choose gasoline-powered vehicles over electric models.

Griffo said the proposals aim to provide transparency and give residents a clearer picture of how energy policies are affecting their bills. “There are many driving factors that have contributed to this expensive situation,” he said. “The state’s ambitious energy goals and standards, which include unaffordable mandates and unrealistic and unreasonable deadlines, are not helping matters and are hurting ratepayers, families, seniors, business owners, and communities.”

The push comes at a time when energy affordability is increasingly a concern for lawmakers across the political spectrum. Many Democratic leaders continue to support the CLCPA’s goals of decarbonizing the grid and combating climate change, but some have also acknowledged the need to manage the transition in a way that protects working families and avoids unintended economic consequences. While Democrats largely defend the broader climate agenda, several have signaled openness to refining implementation timelines and improving transparency, especially in response to growing public concern over utility costs.

Whether Griffo’s proposals gain traction in the legislature remains to be seen, but the debate underscores a broader tension between environmental ambition and economic impact. With utility costs continuing to rise, lawmakers on both sides of the aisle may face increasing pressure to find middle ground.

“New Yorkers need relief,” Griffo said. “This package of legislation will help provide that to them by combating rising energy costs and making our state more affordable.”