SC New York News

Senator O'Mara expressed his concerns about New York's current energy mandates, referring to them as unaffordable and unworkable. He criticized the Albany Democrats for their continuous efforts to impose unrealistic mandates that could have devastating consequences on the state's economy. O'Mara highlighted the approval of the "New York Heat Act," which he believes will not be affordable for New Yorkers despite being labeled as the "Affordable Gas Transition Act" by Governor Hochul.

During a news conference, Senate Republicans, including O'Mara, emphasized the potential negative impacts of Albany Democrats' goal to achieve 70 percent renewable energy by 2030 and zero emissions by 2040. They pointed out that even if New York were to achieve these goals, it would have minimal impact on the global climate due to the state's small contribution to total global emissions. O'Mara warned that these drastic measures would burden taxpayers, ratepayers, and lead to unforeseen environmental crises.

O'Mara criticized the Heat Act for disproportionately affecting ratepayers, with only 25 percent of the lowest-income New Yorkers benefiting while the majority bear the financial burden. He also expressed concerns about the potential loss of local jobs in the utility sector due to the Act's elimination of the "100-foot rule" for gas service.

Despite New York's previous efforts to reduce emissions, O'Mara stressed the importance of a realistic and achievable energy strategy that considers the state's energy grid reliability and affordability. He emphasized the need to address the current flaws in the energy mandates to prevent further economic hardships and environmental consequences in the state.