A pledge to dismantle New York’s sweeping climate law and dramatically reduce energy costs is now at the center of the 2026 governor’s race, with Nassau County Executive and Republican candidate Bruce Blakeman promising immediate action if elected.
Blakeman said this week that on “Day One” of his administration, he would move to end what he calls Gov. Kathy Hochul’s “green energy scam,” targeting the state’s Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act (CLCPA). He described the law as a “utility bill bomb that is exploding on kitchen tables across New York.”
“The CLCPA is the law behind your higher utility bills—it’s Albany deciding how you power your home and then charging you thousands more for it. And Kathy Hochul didn’t just support this insane law; she sold it to New Yorkers,” Blakeman said. “Hochul traveled the state touting it as the ‘gold standard’ for energy. What families and seniors got instead were skyrocketing utility bills they can’t afford and an energy system designed to fail our state.”
Blakeman pointed to new estimates associated with the state’s energy transition that project significant increases in annual household energy costs. According to figures cited by his campaign, some of the most impacted households, particularly families who rely on heating oil and commute by car, could face energy cost increases exceeding $4,100 annually under the CLCPA framework. Even after limited affordability programs are factored in, those families could still see more than $2,400 in additional yearly costs, he said.
Beyond home heating and electricity, Blakeman warned that transportation and fuel prices would also climb. By 2031, projections indicate gasoline prices would rise by $2.23 per gallon, natural gas prices would skyrocket, and other fuels would see steep increases as well.
“This is a direct hit on utility bills, plain and simple,” Blakeman charged. “Every month, families open their electric and heating bills and see the consequences of Hochul’s policies. Seniors on fixed incomes are forced to choose between heat and groceries. Small businesses are paying more just to keep their doors open. That is yet another tremendous failure from Kathy Hochul.”
He framed the issue not simply as an environmental debate, but as an affordability crisis. Blakeman argued that New York’s aggressive renewable energy mandates and emissions targets are being implemented without adequate consideration for grid reliability or household budgets. He warned that the state risks higher costs alongside an unstable power supply if fossil fuel infrastructure is phased out before renewable alternatives are fully capable of meeting demand.
The CLCPA, signed into law in 2019, requires New York to dramatically reduce greenhouse gas emissions and transition to a zero-emission electricity system over the coming decades. Supporters say it positions the state as a national leader in climate action and clean energy investment. Blakeman, however, contends that its real-world effect has been rising costs and regulatory overreach.
If elected, he said his administration would pursue what he called a “practical, affordable energy strategy” designed to protect the environment without punishing ratepayers. “On Day One, I will put an end to the CLCPA and Hochul’s green energy scam,” he said. “A Blakeman administration will cut your utility bill in half and ensure you have reliable power. That’s a promise.”
With energy affordability emerging as a central campaign issue, Blakeman is positioning himself as a direct counterpoint to Hochul’s climate agenda, arguing that the next governor must prioritize reliability and lower costs over what he calls “Albany mandates.”