ALBANY, N.Y. (NEXSTAR) — New York Senate Republicans held a press conference on Tuesday to announce a suite of bills that disable several elements of 2019’s Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act (CLCPA). Led by State Sen. Mario Mattera—who represents Long Island and is the ranking Republican on the Senate Energy Committee—the legislators said they want the state to study real costs, delay new mandates, and support proven sources of power.

“Our utility bills will go up ten times more due to these unfunded mandates,” Mattera said while announcing the first legislative package from the Republicans’ “Liberate New York” agenda. “Over 2 million New Yorkers have left the state due to costs here that are gouging all New Yorkers.”

You can watch video of the press conference above. Alongside Mattera, State Sens. Tom O’Mara, Dan Stec, and Patricia Canzoneri-Fitzpatrick spoke about bills they’re sponsoring. The Republican Conference also championed bills from State Sens. Rob Rollison, Joe Griffo, and Rob Ortt. Other senators present to support the announcement in person included Alexis Weik, Dean Murray, Pamela Helming, Peter Oberacker, and Anthony Palumbo.

The CLCPA—S6599/A8429 of 2019—created goals for renewable energy consumption, calling for a great portion of renewable power statewide by and lower emissions. The bill allows state officials to make temporary adjustments should fuel sources become unreliable or if bills for consumers increase by over 5%. It also required a review every four years to verify the costs, benefits, and practicality of meeting those energy consumption goals.

The Republican Senators want to pause certain green energy rules from the CLCPA that they say send power bills soaring, hurting small businesses and pushing hardworking families out of New York. They claimed the climate law the rushed transition to electric at the expense of gas while hiding the real costs from New Yorkers. They added that their constituents deserve options that keep bills low, power steady, and jobs safe.

“New York is falling well short of the goals in the CLCPA,” Stec said. “We’re behind [on] these goals already, but we’re still seeing the rate increases and your bills.”

S2712/A5395 would require the Public Service Commission (PSC) and state agencies to review every dollar spent to meet the climate law. It mandates a full cost-benefit study showing how switching to renewables affects bills, power plant upgrades, and the loss of natural gas statewide. It also delays new emissions mandates for 10 years—to 2040 for 70% renewables, for example—and until the study proves their benefit to New Yorkers.

“It is against federal law and the Constitution of the United States [for] New York to ban natural gas,” Mattera argued.

To that end, S1167 would repeal state law requiring electric power in new construction starting in 2026, preventing an impending ban on using gas, oil, or propane. Republicans argued that giving crews free rein to choose the best option would lower building costs and energy bills, while keeping the real estate market from spiking.

S1031 would make the PSC and the Comptroller calculate how the CLCPA mandates impact individual New Yorkers, display and label those charges on their utility bills, and fund a Ratepayer Protection Tax Credit to help pay for them. The credit applies to individuals making under $250,000.

“We need to see a breakout of the costs of the CLCPA and find out what it is truly costing us,” Canzoneri-Fitzpatrick said.

And speaking of tax credits, S1178 would offer a credit to New York taxpayers who invest in gas service pipeline construction in rural areas, expanding access to affordable fuel. The bill includes a formula based on the construction costs and the taxpayer contribution, and would cover a five-year period.

S1927A would create a commission to study reopening Indian Point energy center in Westchester County. That commission would assess costs, safety, and grid impact. The bill would also add nuclear to the official list of renewable energy sources, exploring potentially safe sources of power, like small modular nuclear reactors.

S3652 would block state and local rules requiring consumers to buy electric vehicles. It wouldn’t allow state or local agencies to restrict sales based on fuel type.

S5436, the Grid Resiliency Act, bars closing any power plant until a new energy source with equal capacity comes online. Those include smaller plants, like peaker plants that only operate when there’s high electricity demand—like on hot days when air conditioners run on full blast—while emitting more pollution per unit of energy. The bill also offers tax credits to homeowners who install backup power and for energy customers who experience service disruptions.

S5515 requires utility companies to list the cost of climate law projects on every residential bill. It makes the OSC create a formula representing each customer’s share of renewable expenses like power projects and grid upgrades. Unlike S1031, it would not create any tax credits.

“Does everybody realize that we’ve lost a congressional seat? We have lost a congressional seat for people that are exiting out of here. We’re ready to lose another congressional seat because of gouging our New York ratepayers,” Mattera said. “We have seen Con Ed and National Grid and others raised rates to comply with the unreasonable mandates of the CPA and pass those costs onto our ratepayers, residents.”

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