Senate & Assembly Republicans Rally in Response to NYSERDA Memo

March 4, 2026

ALBANY N.Y. – Members of the Senate Republican Conference today were joined by members of the Assembly Conference at the Capitol for a press conference to highlight an explosive new memo from the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) regarding the shockingly high costs of New York’s so-called “green energy” mandates on New Yorkers. They also called on Democrats to repeal the statute requiring the state to implement a Cap-and-Invest program, a program the state now acknowledges could increase gasoline prices by as much as $2.23 per gallon and raise annual utility bills by up to $4,100 for upstate residents and $2,300 for residents in New York City.

Since Democrats passed the Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act (CLCPA) in 2019, Republicans have demanded answers about its cost, expressed concerns about its mandates and questioned if its goals were realistic or achievable. Last week, it was disclosed that NYSERDA has issued findings that fundamentally agree with much of what Republicans have been saying for the past 7 years – that the Democrat’s Climate Law is unaffordable and failing to meet its own benchmarks.

Cap and Invest is part of the Democrats’ CLCPA “green” mandates on ratepayers. Democrats’ ideological approach to energy issues in this state has caused the highest utility bills New Yorkers have ever seen. Republicans in both the Senate and Assembly are taking action now to provide relief by pushing to scrap the most damaging parts of the CLCPA, especially Cap and Invest.

Governor Hochul's New York State Energy Research and Development Authority released a memo outlining “likely costs of CLCPA compliance.” In the memo it reads, “The primary driver of these projected cost increases is the Cap-and-Invest program — “the greenhouse gas accounting approach incorporated in statute and regulation, in combination with current emission reduction targets, mean that current law attributes higher emissions to New York than other leading jurisdictions do for the same activity.”

According to NYSERDA Memo, absent changes, within five years:

Gasoline prices could increase by $2.23 per gallon — on top of whatever market prices are at that time. At today’s prices, that would mean roughly $5.25 per gallon.
Natural gas costs could increase by $16.96 per MMBtu.
Upstate households using oil or natural gas could see energy costs increase by more than $4,100 per year.
New York City households using natural gas could see annual gross costs rise by approximately $2,300.
Utility costs for small and medium commercial businesses increase by up to 45% - these costs would be passed down to consumers
Costs for operating a delivery truck would increase by over 60%.

In addition to the disastrous Cap and Invest program, the Senate Republican Conference has unanimously opposed other new energy costs and mandates within the CLCPA that have increased costs and decreased choices being forced under an extreme climate agenda that is unaffordable, unrealistic, and unattainable.

“This bombshell NYSERDA memo confirms that Governor Hochul and Albany Democrats have lied and are continuing to lie to every New Yorker. Even NYSERDA can no longer hide the common sense truth every one of us has felt in our utility bills and our wallets. NYSERDA is telling New Yorkers that it will only get worse - much worse. Democrats’ radical energy agenda is dangerous, infeasible and will cost every New Yorker family thousands of dollars a year in higher gasoline and home energy costs with fewer energy options. Our Senate Republican Conference has proposed immediate solutions to put money back in New Yorkers’ pockets, cut unnecessary fees, and bring real transparency to energy pricing. We’re fighting for a balanced energy approach that fuels reliability, sparks affordability, and finally puts New Yorkers first.,” said Senator Steven Rhoads, SD 5th.