Again and again, we hear the tired, alarmist opinions of people like Upstate United’s Justin Wilcox. Frankly, we can’t afford not to follow the Climate Action Council’s most ambitious plan, which is the enforcement roadmap.
Inaction has a huge price. Climate action will net New York $80 billion, add hundreds of billions to the economy, and save thousands of lives. 100,000 net jobs will be created by a clean energy economy.
State and federal funding covers the cost. It’s not divided and billed to New Yorkers. We are paying, however, for soaring oil and gas prices, high health care costs from climate pollution, higher insurance rates and the cost of repairing property damage caused by floods and massive storms. Global crop losses due to drought and floods are driving up food prices.
This idea of a bill for households equipped with EVs and electric heating is absurd. No one is forcing people to give up gasoline immediately, however advantageous that may be. You can delay buying the economy heat pump until the furnace or boiler breaks down beyond repair. The transition to electric vehicles is expected to take place over the next 15 years, and $66,000 for an electric vehicle? Please. The base price of a Chevy Bolt is around $26,700.
There is no downside to the gas transition. We can expect lower costs and a healthier state.
