Governor Hochul Expands Programs to Help New Yorkers Lower Home H...

Governor Kathy Hochul today continues to highlight Climate Week by announcing the plan for the second installment of her landmark Sustainable Future Program. This direct investment of nearly $1 billion will save New York families money, reduce building emissions, improve air quality throughout the state and specifically in schools, and grow renewable energy generation and infrastructure within the state.

The funding is part of Governor Hochul's Clean, Highly Affordable, Reliable, Grid Expansion (CHARGE) agenda also announced today and designed to continue New York's role as a national clean energy and climate leader. Also as part of the CHARGE agenda, the Governor is announcing the Energy Infrastructure Development Plan (EIDP), creating a new approach to energy planning as the State confronts an unprecedented surge in energy demand driven by manufacturing, electrification, and the rapid expansion of artificial intelligence.

"Our smart approach to sustainability will help lower home heating costs for more New Yorkers, increase statewide energy supply, and create good jobs," Governor Hochul said. "My administration will continue working with all stakeholders to deliver on our agenda for sustainability, affordability and stronger communities."

New York State Energy Research and Development Authority President and CEO Doreen M. Harris said, "Through the Sustainable Future Program, Governor Hochul has been a leader in supporting programs like Clean Green Schools and NY-Sun to deliver real energy savings for New Yorkers and offering meaningful clean energy solutions. The Governor's forward-thinking CHARGE agenda and the EIDP are imperative to meeting our State's growing energy needs in a way that is affordable and reliable for all New Yorkers and, as the Chair of the State Energy Planning Board, I look forward to reconvening the board to address New York's near and long-term needs through this expanded framework."

New York State Department of Public Service Chair and CEO Rory M. Christian said, "Under Governor Hochul's leadership, New York State is strategically investing in the clean energy infrastructure and programs needed to meet demand without compromising system safety, affordability and reliability. Unveiling the Clean, Highly Affordable, Reliable, Grid Expansion and the Energy Infrastructure Development Plan during Climate Week is a clear signal that New York is serious about implementing energy efficiency measures that can reduce costs and stimulate economic growth for a sustainable future."

New York State Homes and Community Renewal Commissioner RuthAnne Visnauskas said, "Thanks to Governor Hochul's leadership, New York State is committed to making the types of smart investments that reduce our environmental impact, improve resiliency, and create healthier communities. Across the state, HCR is proud to put a variety of energy-conservation measures to work that help lower costs for New Yorkers while we strategically transition away from fossil fuels. This latest investment announced today will help bring savings directly to tenants, homeowners, and building owners while also accelerating the types of holistic changes that ensure a greener future for all."

New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets Commissioner Richard A. Ball said, "Through the State's Climate Resilient Farming Grant Program, our Soil and Water Conservation Districts are able to work hand in hand with our farmers to implement best management practices that are improving our farms' sustainability and helping them mitigate greenhouse gas emissions. The program is a critical component of the State's broader efforts to combat climate change, protect water quality, and enhance soil health. With this additional funding being provided through the Governor's Sustainable Future Program, the Department will be able to reach more farms and continue to build on the success of this program, which has seen increasing demand."

New York State Department of Environmental Conservation Commissioner Amanda Lefton said, "By paving the path to offer real relief to New Yorkers, Governor Hochul continues to make nation-leading investments to meaningfully confront the impacts of climate change. The expansion of the Sustainable Future Program to also support forestry, waste reduction, and protecting public lands will further contribute towards New York's transition to an affordable, accessible, and sustainable green future."

This year's $1 billion for the Sustainable Future Program matches the largest investment in climate action in state history that was set by the Governor just a year ago and will allocate funding to key areas of the state's climate plan to help make the energy transition more affordable for all New Yorkers. The funding plan for this year includes:

Building Decarbonization & Energy Cost Savings ($500 Million Total)

• EmPower+ Program ($150 Million): Delivers no-cost home energy assessments, efficiency upgrades, and heat pump installations for low- and moderate-income New Yorkers to permanently lower home heating and cooling costs.
• Affordable Green Transition for Housing ($150 Million): Assists eligible homes with affordable energy-efficient upgrades, including heat pumps, by directing $40 million to fill federal funding gaps in the Weatherization Assistance Program, $10 million for all-electric multifamily housing, and $100 million for the Clean Energy Initiative, including $20 million for NYCHA and $30 million for Mitchell-Lama housing.
• Clean Green Schools Program ($50 Million): Upgrades under-resourced public school facilities to reduce carbon emissions and significantly improve indoor air quality for students and teachers.
• Thermal Energy Network Projects ($150 Million Total): Funds utility-scale thermal energy networks to transition neighborhoods to clean heating and cooling systems. These projects enable utility customers to use thermal energy without fossil fuels, providing affordable and clean solutions for space heating and cooling, and domestic hot water needs. These projects significantly reduce greenhouse gas emissions from buildings.

Expanding Affordable Renewable Energy ($300 Million Total)

• NY-Sun Program ($200 Million): Expands solar incentives for single-family homes, multifamily buildings, businesses, and local municipalities to boost clean power production and reduce electric utility bills.
• NYPA Renewables ($100 Million): Enables the New York Power Authority to finance public renewable energy projects.

Methane Reduction & Agricultural Resiliency

• Municipal Recycling & Food Waste ($25 Million): Provides grants to local governments for wasted food reduction, food donation, and municipal composting.
• Climate Resilient Farming & Urban Forestry: Allocates $25 million to help farmers implement soil health and methane-reduction technology, and $12.5 million to expand urban tree canopies and restore state forest health.
• Parks, Public Lands & Community Stewardship ($25 Million Total): Funds land acquisition for state forests and parks alongside infrastructure repairs for public campgrounds, trails, pools, and recreational facilities.

Energy Infrastructure Development Plan

The Governor's Energy Infrastructure Development Plan announced today will update New York's energy planning process with an actionable blueprint designed to cut through red tape and match resources with economic growth. Governor Hochul is directing the New York State Energy Planning Board to engage in comprehensive integrated planning to ensure the State has a clear and actionable perspective on the infrastructure it needs to reliably meet demand. The plan will guide the infrastructure investment decisions by the State over the coming decades.

Under the new approach, New York will set a course for the State's energy system that maximizes the benefits of investments in our energy system, leverages the tools available to the State including neighborhood-scale alternatives, distributed solar, and energy storage, and coordinates the development of new utility-scale clean generation and transmission. The EIDP will ensure the lights stay on and that progress towards a zero-emission grid continues all while controlling costs. The EIDP process kicks off this year as part of the State Energy Plan, with an Interim Plan due in 2027 and the first comprehensive plan finalized by December 2029. New York will carry out new EIDPs as part of the ongoing State Energy Planning process thereafter.

• Driving Down Costs: Launching a one-time $1 billion energy rebate program for more than 8 million New Yorkers -- with checks going out beginning this week and continuing through December -- to help those struggling with higher utility costs and prices at the pumps.The Governor also successfully pushed a Ratepayer Protection Plan to hold utilities more accountable by tying CEO pay directly to affordability, requiring rate hike requests include a budget-constrained option, refusing mid-project bailouts, and prohibiting use of ratepayer dollars on hidden costs like lobbying, executive travel and political donations.
• Holding Energy Companies and Data Centers Accountable: Governor Hochul placed the nation's first statewide moratorium on new hyperscale data centers to allow time to develop regulations that protect communities, the environment and the energy grid. The Governor is also demanding data center developers provide their own power sources or pay higher rates to meet their massive energy demands so everyday New Yorkers don't foot the bill.
• Building Clean Energy at Scale: Expanding large-scale renewables, investing $200 million in distributed solar in 2026 alone, and launching an ambitious 8.4GW "Nuclear Backbone" initiative empowering the New York Power Authority to build new, around-the-clock emission-free nuclear power.
• Modernizing NY's Aging Grid: Executing a multi-billion dollar transmission buildout that has already added nearly 1,000 miles of grid infrastructure by slashing permitting timelines by 50%, backed by a $3.81 billion commitment to scale energy storage.
• Creating a Clean Economy: Investing in generational workforce development and setting nation-leading labor standards to greatly expand on the 184,000 clean energy jobs New York has created as of 2024, among the most in the country.