February 24, 2026
Today, Assembly Republican Leader Ed Ra (R-Franklin Square) and members of the Assembly Republican Conference unveiled the “Lights On With Energy Relief (LOWER) Plan” in response to growing concerns statewide about out-of-control energy costs and grid reliability. The legislative package is designed to deliver actionable solutions to immediately provide significant financial relief to overwhelmed New York ratepayers and identify long-term countermeasures to combat Democrats’ radical climate mandates. “For far too long, New Yorkers have fallen victim to Albany Democrats and their ‘green new deal’ agenda, which has done nothing but increase utility bills and take away consumer choice. We need a real all-of-the-above approach to our energy policy that promotes affordability, reliability, fuel diversity and energy choice. The package we introduced will achieve all of this and finally give New Yorkers an energy plan that works for them,” said Assemblyman Phil Palmesano (R,C-Corning) ranking minority member Assembly Ways and Means Committee,” said Palmesano.
The LOWER Plan is a comprehensive approach that promises to deliver where the governor and legislative majorities have failed. The first part of the Assembly Republican proposal includes quick relief initiatives aimed at reducing costs and putting money back into hardworking New Yorkers’ pockets.
· Energy Price Rebate Check Program – $2 billion in relief aimed at moderate- and middle-income households.
· Utility Bill Credits – requiring any surplus and uncommitted funds in the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority Climate Investment Account at the end of a fiscal year be returned to ratepayers as bill credit (current estimates: $2.4 billion).
· Immediate reinvestment into previously retired gas plants and investment in new natural gas plants.
The second part of the LOWER Plan identifies existing toxic climate directives and seeks to reverse their negative impacts on ratepayers as well as ensure consumer energy choice protections.
· Eliminate unreasonable energy mandates and protect energy choice, including: zero-emission school buses, energy and cooking choice protection, mixed-fuel buildings, fossil fuel appliances and supply rate increase notifications.
· Increase natural gas production and ease of transportation.
· Cost-benefit analysis of renewable energy goals based on CLCPA mandates.
· Establish the New York Advanced Nuclear Energy Office.
· Conduct a feasibility study on the use of small modular reactors.
· Expand the POWER UP Grant Program to support natural gas expansion projects and local pipelines.
