New York’s Governor Pushes to Delay a Key Portion of the State’s Climate Law
Why it matters: This delay could stall New York's climate progress, impacting energy markets and the transition to renewables.
- Governor Kathy Hochul proposes delaying the 2030 greenhouse gas emission target to 2040 and postponing the implementation of related regulations until the end of 2030, citing potential utility cost increases.
- Environmental organizations, including Citizen Action of New York, previously sued Hochul for failing to release the mandated cap-and-invest regulations by the January 2024 deadline, a lawsuit she lost but is appealing.
- State Senator Kristen Gonzalez opposes the proposed changes, emphasizing that delaying climate action harms constituents reliant on fossil fuels and hinders necessary investment in renewable energy, despite the Governor's significant leverage in budget negotiations.
New York Governor Kathy Hochul is pushing to significantly delay key components of the state's ambitious Climate Act, proposing to eliminate the 2030 emissions target and postpone crucial regulations until 2030. This move, which environmental groups have already sued her over, faces strong opposition from climate advocates and some legislators who argue it undermines the state's commitment to renewable energy and disproportionately impacts vulnerable communities.
