31-01-2025
Local legislators voice concerns on CLCPA
MARCY, NY (WUTR/WFXV/WPNY) — Senator Joe Griffo and Assemblymembers Brian Miller and Marianne Buttenschon were at Utica Mack in Marcy on Friday, January 31 to express their concerns with the Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act (CLCPA).
The bill was signed by Governor Kathy Hochul in 2019 to reduce statewide greenhouse gas emissions by 40 percent by 2030 and make the state grid completely powered by renewable energy by 2040. However, the legislators have said that the act did not provide adequate guidelines for how the goals were to be achieved.
Other concerns raised at the legislator's press conference included the effect on energy bills and the possibility of jeopardizing the security and reliability of the state's energy grid.
'I clearly support continuous efforts to keep our communities environmentally sound,' Assemblywoman Buttenschon said in a statement. 'However, we must also be sure that our businesses can thrive. As chair of the Small Business Committee in the New York State Assembly, I am confident that if we listen to our small business owners we can accomplish this collaboratively. They have expressed to me that they want a vibrant environment for their families and employees to live in. We must take a commonsense approach to have a balance between a productive work community and a healthy environment.'
Other concerns brought up in the press conference included:
The implementation of the Advanced Clean Truck Rule. This rule went into effect on January 1 and requires all medium and heavy-duty vehicles to be manufactured as zero emission. This rule includes all municipal plows. The goal of the rule is to have all trucks over 8,500 pounds be zero-emission by 2045. However, several groups — including Utica Mack — have pushed back against this rule, saying that it is detrimental to businesses and Griffo and Assemblywoman Buttenschon have introduced legislation delaying the implementation of the rule to understand the impacts it would have on industries and municipalities in the state. Miller has said he will co-sponsor the bill in the Assembly.
Regulations prohibiting products with hydrofluorocarbons. The legislators said that this new regulation will cripple businesses across the state by imposing significant costs. The National Supermarket Association has said it would cost New York grocery stores between $300,000 and $1 million to replace cooling compressors that power their refrigerators.
The electric school bus mandate. This mandate requires all new school buses purchased in New York State be zero-emission. The goal is for all school buses in operation to be electric by 2035. However, school districts have shared their concerns about finances to buy these buses, among others. Yesterday, Assemblyman Robert Smullen — who is an Assemblyman for Herkimer County — and Senator Griffo voiced their concerns and introduced legislation for an opt-out waiver from the mandate.
'These regulations have created an almost insurmountable burden on businesses like Utica Mack in New York State, forcing us to sell a product that consumers do not want, and that the state's current infrastructure cannot support,' Tom Heiland, President of Utica Mack, said in a statement. 'These laws are not just hurting individual businesses, they are undermining our ability to operate effectively in a state already strained by overregulation. It has become nearly impossible to conduct business in New York under these conditions. We are committed to advocating for a practical solution. Please join us in welcoming Senator Griffo and Assemblymembers Buttenschon and Miller to discuss these issues and direct us all on ways move forward and potentially stop this law.'
All three legislators have asked their constituents to contact the offices of Governor Hochul, Senate Majority Leader Andrea Stewart Cousins, and Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie with their concerns. Their information is below:
Gov. Kathy Hochul1-518-474-8390https:// (to send a message)
Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins(518) 455-2585scousins@
Speaker Carl Heastie518-455-3791Speaker@
'The CLCPA has placed an undue burden on our communities, businesses, and schools, all while failing to provide the necessary guidance or resources to achieve its lofty goals,' Assemblyman Miller said in a statement. 'From costly mandates on electric school buses to regulations impacting small businesses and municipalities, the implementation of this policy is creating significant challenges for the people of New York. I did not support the CLCPA because it lacks actionable solutions and imposes unrealistic expectations that disproportionately harm rural and upstate communities. It's clear that this policy needs immediate adjustments to ensure fairness and practicality, and I stand with my colleagues in calling for changes that will better serve our residents while protecting their livelihoods and local economies.'
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