New Yorkers already pay some of the highest energy costs in the nation to heat their homes and fill up their gas tanks.

And, unless state law is changed, it’s about to get even higher!

This winter, we’ve all been startled to see our electric bills double and even triple.

New Yorkers pay the 8th highest electricity bills in the nation, and according to the Empire Center, residential electric rates are 50 percent higher than the national average and nearly 8 percent higher than a year ago.

These surging energy bills are due in large part to a myriad of what I’ve railed and voted against — onerous and misguided state taxes, fees and new mandates from my colleagues on the other side of the aisle that have been passed down to consumers.

In 2019, then Governor Andrew Cuomo and then Lt. Governor Kathy Hochul with their Majorities, passed the Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act (CLCPA). The CLCPA included several energy mandates on consumers that were pointed out at the time by myself and my Senate Republican Conference as unrealistic, unachievable and unaffordable to many New Yorkers in the timeline they set with the current infrastructure and technology available.

I support exploring and incentivizing the development of alternative energy sources. While the dream of the CLCPA is a laudable one, how it’s been implemented lacks common sense and will create financial hardship for many New Yorkers.

Recently, Governor Hochul’s own energy experts at NYSERDA released an explosive and shocking new memo stating that the energy mandates in the CLCPA will increase utility bills up to $4,100 for Upstate residents and add as much as $2.23 per gallon of gasoline to fill-up your vehicle.

According to the NYSERDA Memo, absent changes, within five years:

• Gasoline prices could increase by $2.23 per gallon — on top of whatever market prices are at that time. At today’s prices, that would mean roughly $5.25 per gallon.

• Natural gas costs could increase by $16.96 per MMBtu.

• Upstate households using oil or natural gas could see energy costs increase by more than $4,100 per year.

• New York City households using natural gas could see annual gross costs rise by approximately $2,300.

• Utility costs for small and medium commercial businesses would increase by up to 45 percent – these costs would be passed down to consumers.

• Costs for operating a delivery truck would increase by over 60 percent.

It’s clear New Yorkers cannot afford these costly mandates in this boondoggle of a law – which I voted against.

No one should be opposed to reducing the energy costs related to the burden that falls on New York State taxpayers. And that can also mean alternative fuels if they’re accomplished in a realistic timetable and not a political one in an election year.

However, these alternative energy sources must be available within a realistic time frame as technology develops and implemented in a way that protects jobs and our economy, lowers – not increases – costs, and doesn’t lead to rolling blackouts like we’ve seen in California.

What we can’t afford is unrealistic political promises and policies leading up to a gubernatorial election, including a so called “pause” on the CLCPA to get through the election when the policies they have put in place are destined to create economic disaster and may be returned to after the election.

That’s why I have joined with my Senate Republican Conference to call for a repeal of these costly mandates.

Transparency matters! New Yorkers should know the true costs of the CLCPA and where their legislators stand on this affordability issue!

Nobody is against alternative energy. We need a reasonable approach to these energy sources and realistic timeframes to adopt them.

A wish and a prayer won’t get us there. Being responsible and having a commonsense approach will.

Senator Jim Tedisco (R,C-Ballston Lake) represents the 44th State Senate District which includes all of Saratoga County, Niskayuna and the City of Schenectady.

© The Saratogian