Enacts the "home utility weatherization jobs act"

• Democratic72
• Republican9

◆ The sponsor's argument

Why Brian Kavanagh says this is needed

New York State homes are out of date when it comes to meeting insulation standards. In Buffalo, 90 percent of the housing stock was built before the 1980s, when modern insulation standards were put into place. This means that many houses are inefficient at retaining heat in the winter and staying cool in the summer. As summers and winters become progres- sively harsher due to climate change, wide-scale modernization is neces- sary. This weatherization effort will help homeowners and renters lower their utility bills and will also make their homes safer during significant weather events. When homes lose power during a winter storm, like many did in Buffalo in December of 2022, adequate insulation can save lives. Weatherization is also a key part of reducing climate emissions. Large- scale insulation upgrades will help the state meet its CLCPA goals. Installing heat pumps and electrifying homes will be key parts of our efforts to reach these goals. In order to more effectively reduce energy use, the insulation and building envelopes of these homes must be sound. Proper weatherization can have a significant climate impact independent of properly preparing the state for ambitious energy transitions as well: Properly insulating just 20,000 pre-1980s homes would generate a similar annual reduction of carbon emissions as taking nearly 2,500 cars off the road. Leveraging utility companies to perform the weatherization programs would allow the costs associated with large-scale insulation efforts to be amortized over many years and spread across the entire customer base. There would be no cost to the state or to the individual homeowners, and only a nominal cost to all ratepayers. This program will be focused on low-to moderate-income utility customers who would otherwise be unable to adequately insulate their homes. The increased efficiency of their heating and cooling systems will also lead to a decrease in their month- ly utility bill.

This is the sponsor's own case for the bill, quoted from their memorandum. It is not Agora's description of what the bill does.