The recent approval of steep rate increases for National Grid customers has Senator Joe Griffo of Rome once again pushing a package of legislation he says will reduce pressure on rising energy costs. The Republican has long complained about what he calls the state’s burdensome Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act championed by Democrats. Griffo said it’s forcing utilities like National Grid to meet unrealistic emissions goals by reducing reliance on fossil fuels under unreasonable deadlines. In turn, he said, customers ultimately foot the bill.
Griffo’s bills repeal the all-electric buildings act, prohibits electric vehicle mandates, delays emission mandates, and requires a cost analysis of the CLCPA and how it impacts individual ratepayers.
Here's a list of the bills supported by the Senate Republican Conference.
S.5436 - Introduced by Sen. Griffo, this bill prohibits the closure of power generation facilities (peaker plants) before equivalent renewable sources are brought online to ensure a reliable energy grid;
S.1031 - Directs the Public Service Commission and the Comptroller to determine the cost of the Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act mandates for each ratepayer and establishes a credit for ratepayers and businesses to cover those costs;
S.1167 - Repeals the All-Electric Buildings Act. The All-Electric Buildings Act prohibits gas, oil and propane equipment and building systems in new buildings beginning at the end of this year, a mandate that would drive up the costs of new construction;
S.1178 - Provides tax credits to build out gas infrastructure to rural areas where higher emitting fuel sources are typically used;
S1927 - Establishes the commission on reopening the Indian Point energy center. The ill-conceived closure of Indian Point resulted in a substantial amount of clean, reliable energy coming offline. With other states looking to reopen nuclear power plants, it makes sense for New York to do the same with Indian Point. Adds nuclear energy to the list of energy sources the State considers renewable energy systems;
S.2712 - Requires a cost analysis of the CLCPA and delays the emission mandates of the CLCPA for a decade;
S3652 - Prohibits electric vehicle mandates and provides consumers with the choice to select the vehicle of their choosing; and
S.5515 - Requires the Public Service Commission to develop a formula to determine the portion of each residential ratepayer's utility bill that is attributed to the implementation of the CLCPA and requires utility companies to place such cost on monthly utility bills to provide cost transparency to customers.
