Erie County Republican Legislators are standing in opposition to overly aggressive and dangerous energy proposals put forth by some Democrat Albany lawmakers. Legislators John Mills, Chris Greene, Frank Todaro, and Lindsay Lorigo submitted a resolution in support of Congressman Nick Langworthy’s Energy Choice Act, which would safeguard households, small businesses, hospitals, farmers and manufacturers from government overreach and allow them continued access to multiple energy forms, including natural gas.
New York State enacted the Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act (CLCPA) in 2019, mandating aggressive emissions reductions and sweeping energy restrictions, including efforts to phase out natural gas.
“All politicians should be fighting for the working class. By eliminating the option of utilizing natural gas, it escalates the cost of new construction as well as utility costs for existing homes, making home ownership more difficult. Everybody needs to heat their homes. The doctors in the hospitals are able to absorb these costs much easier than the cafeteria workers who feed them. We shouldn’t lose focus of the ones we represent,” said Legislator Chris Greene.
Governor Kathy Hochul and the New York State Legislature enacted provisions in the 2023 state budget banning natural gas and other fossil fuel hookups in most new residential and commercial buildings, effective 2026 for smaller buildings and 2029 for larger buildings.
In the resolution, Erie County Legislature Republicans are urging Congress to pass the Energy Choice Act, defending consumer choice, protecting energy affordability, and preserving reliable access to natural gas.
