I want to begin by thanking our county and town highway crews who spent long hours in difficult conditions this winter to keep our roads safe. That work is demanding, and our communities benefit every time they head out before most of us are awake.
Severe weather is also a reminder that in Western New York, reliability matters. Energy policy debated in Albany has real consequences here at home. When temperatures drop, families need to know their heat will work.
That is why I am introducing resolutions in support of two state bills: Assembly Bill A9189, the Upstate Energy Choice Act, and Assembly Bill A8996. Together, these bills offer a more practical approach to energy policy for upstate communities like ours.
Current mandates under the Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act push aggressively toward universal electrification and restrict natural gas use in new construction. In Western New York, many homes — particularly older homes — rely on natural gas for heat and cooking. Converting those systems would be costly for homeowners and unrealistic for many families. At the same time, our electric grid is already under strain. The Blizzard of 2022 showed how vulnerable we can be during extreme weather. Moving too quickly toward an all-electric mandate without first ensuring grid capacity puts residents at risk.
The Upstate Energy Choice Act would ease certain electrification mandates outside of New York City and allow flexibility in energy infrastructure development. Assembly Bill A8996 would give local governments the ability to opt out of specific electrification requirements and benchmarks. Together, these bills reinforce an important principle: local communities should have a voice in policies that directly affect their homes, infrastructure, and economic growth.
Western New York is not New York City. Our climate, housing stock, and energy demands are different. We need policies that reflect those realities and balance environmental goals with affordability and common sense.
Closer to home, the Erie County Legislature continues important conversations following a recent audit of Fleet Services by the Erie County Comptroller’s Office. The audit identified concerns related to IRS reporting for personal use of county vehicles, fuel tracking, and overall fleet oversight. Taxpayers deserve transparency and accountability. County vehicles and fuel usage must be properly tracked, and there must be clear policies governing who is authorized to take home county vehicles. These discussions are ongoing, and I remain focused on ensuring stronger oversight moving forward.
Thank you for the honor of serving you in the Erie County Legislature. If you have a county-related concern, please contact my office at 716-858-8922 or Lindsay.Lorigo@erie.gov. You can also follow my Facebook page, Legislator Lindsay Lorigo, for updates on county issues.
