New York’s energy plan drew sharp debate Monday at a packed public hearing at Stony Brook University, where speakers urged policymakers to balance environmental goals with economic realities.
Local officials, union leaders, and business representatives, stressed that solar and wind alone cannot meet New York’s energy demand, pointing out that natural gas still generates more than 40% of the state’s electricity. Many warned that eliminating it would drive up utility bills, cost jobs, and make the state less attractive to energy-intensive industries such as artificial intelligence.
Sen. Mario Mattera, the ranking Republican on the Senate Energy Committee, told the crowd that the Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act’s mandates are already hurting families. “Utilities have begun passing costs onto families and businesses—so far that cost is over $2.9 billion,” Mattera said. “We need to pause or repeal the law’s all-electric mandate to protect our economy, and give New York ratepayers real energy choices. What New York needs is a plan, not a ban.”
Assemblywoman Jodi Giglio struck a similar chord, noting the State Energy Research and Development Authority’s push for green energy and warning that “families, seniors, and small businesses are feeling the burden every month when they open their bills. Until the proper infrastructure is in place, we cannot expect New Yorkers to bear skyrocketing utility costs.”
Others called for approval of the Northeast Supply Enhancement Project and Constitution pipelines to supply the region with natural gas, as well as construction of the Caithness power plant for a new source of power.
Environmental advocates, however, pushed back. Huntington Station resident Billi Roberts argued the state cannot retreat from its climate goals. “The problems with fossil fuel burning have caught up to us,” she said. “We need a real energy plan, not one that kowtows to out-of-state fossil fuel interests.”