NEW YORKERS FOR AFFORDABLE ENERGY COALITION LAUNCHES STATEWIDE TELEVISION CAMPAIGN

Six-figure Campaign Will Air in Every Major TV Market in New York State;
Highlights How Energy Bills Will Skyrocket if Albany Lawmakers Current Plans Become Law

Recent Polling Shows Nearly Two-Thirds of New Yorkers Say Electric Bills Are Already Too High & 84% of Residents Support Use of Natural Gas

(Albany, NY) – The New Yorkers for Affordable Energy coalition today launched a statewide ad campaign highlighting the need for Albany to take a rational approach to energy policy – one that will ensure the lights stay on, and energy prices are affordable for all New Yorkers as the state transitions to a low-carbon future. The :30 second television advertisement will air in every major television market in New York, including New York City, Albany, Syracuse, Rochester and Buffalo. New Yorkers for Affordable Energy – a coalition of community, labor, business and industry leaders from across the state who support greater access to clean, reliable and affordable sources of energy for residential and business consumers – will continue the campaign for the duration of the 2022 legislative session.

The ad can be found here.

“We know two things for a fact: almost two-thirds of New Yorkers use natural gas in their homes, and the vast majority of all residents in this state have no idea that some lawmakers in Albany are pushing to take that away, which, according to recent projections, will send their energy bills through the roof,” said Michelle Hook, Executive Director of New Yorkers for Affordable Energy. “Advocates are pushing policies that will actually hurt the environment, and while most New Yorkers do support doing what they can to help the environment, we also know they’re concerned about their energy prices and the reliability of our energy grid. Instead of listening to the loudest voices who represent a small minority, Albany lawmakers need to start paying attention to the majority of New Yorkers who want to keep their lights on and heat working through our cold winters.”

Recent polling commissioned by New Yorkers for Affordable Energy showed that New York voters overwhelmingly believe that cost and keeping the lights on are the most important energy issues facing the state, with 92 percent of likely voters saying low-cost energy and reliable electricity are top energy concerns. The 2021 statewide survey of 700 likely New York voters also found that most New Yorkers support natural gas projects in the state. When data was analyzed at the demographic level, the survey found that only 1 in 5 self-identified liberals are opposed to natural gas projects. 

New Yorkers for Affordable Energy is a coalition of community, labor, business and industry leaders from across the state who support greater access to clean, reliable and affordable sources of energy for residential and business consumers. We understand the important role that natural gas plays in our everyday lives, from heating and cooling our homes to powering our communities. As demand for energy continues to grow, New Yorkers for Affordable Energy supports efforts to reduce stateside greenhouse gas emissions. Our coalition believes in a diverse, all-of-the-above approach to New York’s electric grid, and that natural gas can and should be used to facilitate decarbonization. Natural gas is still widely used in manufacturing facilities, power production, transportation, and serves as a catalyst for job growth, supporting New York’s economy and quality of life.