Assemblyman Sam Pirozzolo joined members of the Assembly Minority Conference on Feb. 24 to criticize New York’s current energy policies, saying that state mandates are increasing costs for working families and limiting the rights of Staten Islanders.
The issue is significant as residential electricity prices in New York have risen by 47.1 percent since 2019, with recent winter price spikes expected to drive bills even higher. Pirozzolo said these increases are linked to the Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act, which he argued has led to reliable power plants being shut down while relying on energy sources not yet able to meet demand. The New York Independent System Operator has also warned about potential short-term grid reliability problems.
The legislative package proposed by Pirozzolo and his colleagues includes income-based rebate checks of up to $400 for ratepayers, returning surplus funds from NYSERDA’s Climate Investment Account directly to utility customers, and requiring utilities to provide more transparency when supply rates rise sharply. Up to $2.4 billion collected from ratepayers could be returned under these proposals.
However, Pirozzolo said that financial relief alone is not enough. He called for reopening energy plants, investing in new natural gas generation, expanding infrastructure, and rejecting what he described as “command-and-control” policies such as the gas ban in new homes and other restrictions. “The CLCPA is a textbook example of top-down government overreach. It reflects an ideology that says bureaucrats know better than families how they should live. That’s not freedom, that’s government control. Staten Islanders believe in affordability, reliability, and the right to choose. I will not stand by while Majority lawmakers experiment with policies that drive up costs, limit energy options, and strip away those rights.” said Pirozzolo.
Pirozzolo serves in state government as part of the New York Assembly according to the official website. His district covers parts of Richmond County according to the official website. He is a member of the Republican party according to the official website and focuses on backing law enforcement, reforming bail and parole systems, promoting small business growth according to the official website, advocating for educational improvements including a gifted and talented program for middle school students according to the official website, and contributing efforts that returned more than $4 billion to New York public schools through litigation according to the official website.
Observers will be watching how these proposed measures progress through Albany as debate continues over balancing environmental goals with affordability and reliability for residents.
