New York State Senator Tom O ’ Mara ( R , C-Big Flats ), who has offered fullthroated support for propane and other industries targeted by the state ’ s Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act , spoke at the Spring Conference of the New York Propane Gas Association at Desmond Crowne Plaza in Albany . O ’ Mara and other speakers , including Michelle Bimson Maggi , an AmeriGas executive and the chair of the National Propane Gas Association , said the CLCPA poses an existential threat to the industry .

Maggi ’ s presentation included a message from Steve Kaminski , chief executive officer of the National Propane Gas Association :

“ My commitment to this industry stems from a place of urgency ,” Kaminski said . “ Make no mistake , we are under attack . As many of America ’ s policy-maker , misdirected yet heavily funded non-profits , political pundits , and social media influencers declare electricity to be the world ’ s environmental savior , propane is overlooked at best and intentionally sidelined at worse . The world has yet to fully acknowledge conventional propane ’ s environmental attributes , or its ability to forge forward whether it be alone , in combination with renewable fuels and other energy sources .”

O ’ Mara ’ s comments at the Association ’ s Spring Conference echoed those in a statement posted April 5 on the senator ’ s official website :

“ Senate and Assembly Republicans have been saying all along that this plan has never been accompanied by the proper cost-benefit analysis , that we ’ re moving too fast to implement the CLCPA and it won ’ t be feasible , affordable , or reliable ,” said O ’ Mara .

O ’ Mara welcomed new proposals from Governor Kathy Hochul and leading legislative Democrats to revise a key provision of the CLCPA , impacting the program ’ s cost and timeline for implementation .

“ Since the day the CLCPA was enacted four years ago , many of us have warned that Albany Democrats are pushing ahead with a radical plan that ignores the cost to all New Yorkers and to the state and local economies ,” O ’ Mara said in the statement . “ It has never been accompanied by an honest and straightforward cost-benefit analysis of its affordability , reliability , and sustainability ,” said O ’ Mara , Ranking Member on the Senate Finance Committee .

Governor Hochul and some legislative Democrats “ have admitted to seeing the light ,” O ’ Mara said . “ They are finally looking to pump the brakes on what is currently an out-of-control timeline to implement far-reaching energy mandates that New Yorkers don ’ t want , can ’ t afford , and , most importantly , know won ’ t make a difference for the climate in this state , this nation , or anywhere around the world .”

Here is more from O ’ Mara ’ s statement ( edited for clarity and space ):

News reports , including an op-ed from the Hochul administration ’ s top energy and environment officials , have focused on the fact that New York is currently one of only two jurisdictions worldwide utilizing an irrational and unfeasible accounting metric as the basis for examining the effect of carbon emissions and determining the timeline for actions to address it . Maryland is the only other state to have enacted a climate law using this metric . All other states , as well as virtually all other nations and countries that have enacted climate strategies , base their actions on a standard , internationally accepted , science-based accounting metric .

O ’ Mara said , “ The CLCPA ’ s accounting metric makes New York State an outlier around the world . It will have massive consequences , on so many levels , for our consumers , ratepayers , and local economies . Senate and Assembly Republicans have been saying all along that this plan has never been accompanied by the proper cost-benefit analysis , that we ’ re moving too fast to implement the CLCPA and it won ’ t be feasible , affordable , or reliable . It appears that Governor Hochul and some Albany Democrats finally agree , however the pushback is already underway and so let ’ s hope it ’ s not too late for common sense to regain a foothold in this government .”

Earlier this year , the state ’ s Climate Action Council ( CAC ) voted to approve its final draft plan to implement the nation ’ s most aggressive set of short- and long-term renewable energy mandates . The council was created under the CLCPA , enacted in 2019 by then-Governor Andrew Cuomo and the Legislature ’ s Democrat majorities . After Cuomo resigned and Hochul became governor , she continued remaking energy policy , O ’ Mara said .

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