Abandoning natural gas system threatens health and safety of state residents Kory Schuler | Commentary
State of New York joins Califorlornia on the road to Energy Insanity.
Abandoning natural gas system threatens health and safety of state residents
Kory Schuler | Commentary
5 hrs ago
Just when you thought your gas stove was safe, Governor Hochul’s measure in her recently unveiled state budget would start the process of not only taking away your gas stove, but every other natural gas appliance in your home, including your furnace.
As if the recent snowstorm that dumped 80 inches in some part of Western New York and the crippling Christmas 2022 blizzard in which almost 50 people died isn’t enough to convince policy makers that natural gas needs to be part of our energy portfolio, the Governor’s proposal would start the process of taking away the right of the consumer for continued natural gas service.
The Governor’s Affordable Gas Transition Act authorizes the Public Service Commission to discontinue portions of the gas distribution system to meet the goals of the Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act (CLCPA).
It is being put forth under the guise that the state’s climate legislation requires the discontinuation of natural gas service when there is no such language in the law. In fact, New York State’s Public Service Law directly contradicts this premise by stating that natural gas is necessary for the preservation of the health and general welfare. That again was no more clear than after the most recent storm and Christmas blizzard when so many lives were lost.
Even if transitioning from the natural gas system did not jeopardize the health and general welfare, which it most certainly does, the electrical infrastructure needed to replace it does not exist. In fact, a dependable, reliable and affordable electric system in the foreseeable future is pure folly. Decommissioning or eliminating portions of the natural gas system while this electric infrastructure is on the drawing board is a dereliction of elected duty.
Another mechanism being proposed by both the Governor and New York State Senate to replace the natural gas system is the proposed HEAT Act. This proposal also fails to take into consideration issues of reliability and affordability. The latter component would cap utility bills at 6% of the income for low-to-moderate households. The balance of these bills would then be socialized across all other ratepayers.
As if energy bills have not skyrocketed enough over the last year as ratepayers are being forced to pick up the tab for renewable energy projects with more to come, this provision of the HEAT Act is another cost that will continue the outmigration of residents because of the cost to live and work in New York state.
Rather than transitioning from the natural gas system, the state should instead develop a plan so that whatever ultimately replaces the system there is an understanding of its cost and reliability. I also would argue that the natural gas system shouldn’t even be replaced, and in fact its infrastructure should be used for emerging technologies such as renewable natural gas and hydrogen.
Because at the end of the day, New York’s climate law is about achieving statutory emission thresholds. How that is accomplished should drive that goal and to outright dismiss the natural gas system having any type of role in this process should create alarm among New York state residents and businesses.
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Kory Schuler is president and CEO of the Niagara USA Chamber of Commerce.