Rally to Urge Hochul to Sign Repeal of 100 Foot Rule

More than 100 climate activists came to the State Capitol on Thursday December 11 to urge Governor Hochul to sign legislation that would end the estimated six hundred million of dollars that has been added to utility bills by requiring free gas hookups if the new the customer is within 100 feet of an existing gas pipeline. The cost of such hookups, from $2500 to $10000 per building, is presently added to the utilities’ rate base, which means all customers pay for it for decades. The bill is presently on Governor Hochul’s desk and she has a week to decide whether or not to sign it. The media reports that she is pushing for some amendments, such as pushing back the implementation date. At the rally in the War Room, we hear from Betta Broad of New Yorkers for Clean Power, Doctor Sandra Steingraber, and from customers of the various utilities in the state. By Mark Dunlea for the Hudson Mohawk Magazine.