Environmental advocates undertook a Halloween-themed push Wednesday to allocate more money for a program that helps low- and moderate-income New Yorkers upgrade their homes. The EmPower+ program seeks to provide free, no-cost energy efficiency upgrades to income-eligible households.
Showing up in costume to New York State Energy Research and Development Authority headquarters in Albany alongside environmental advocates intending to ‘haunt’ the ongoing board meetings held there and in New York City Wednesday, Assemblymember Dana Levenberg dressed as a heat pump turned into a unicorn — a nod to the idea that heat pumps could become out of reach and unaffordable if the program doesn’t function as intended.
“We know that utility costs are going up and up and up, and this is a way to keep homes affordable to live in,” she said. “We want to maintain the program at what it was at so it can continue to put money back in people’s pockets to make it more affordable to live in your home.”
Over the summer, a presentation given by NYSERDA to contractors showing a forecasted drop in total funding in the out years and modifications in eligibility for moderate-income households spooked advocates who want to see money from other state funding sources added to the $50 million allocated as part of the state budget.
“These programs literally help people get out of energy debt and stay out of energy debt,” said Lisa Marshall of New Yorkers for Clean Power.
The program’s funding streams are complicated, and there is other money that goes into the program on top of what is included in the annual state spending plan, with NYSERDA adding it to the pot as the funds become available.
That includes more than $445 million ordered by the Public Service Commission in May outside of the state budget, on top of a one-time infusion of $200 million as part of the 2024 state budget intended to provide a kickstart for the program.
Neither NYSERDA nor Gov. Kathy Hochul’s office indicated if more money is coming, but NYSERDA characterized reports that the program is being cut as an inaccurate depiction of how the program is being run.
“Claims that EmPower+ funding has been cut are simply not true. The program continues to expand and remains a central piece of Governor Hochul’s affordability agenda, continuing to deliver results for tens of thousands of low- and moderate-income households across the state,” a spokesperson said.
While Ken Lovett, senior communications advisor on energy and environment for Gov. Hochul, said the future of the program is on the governor’s mind as next year’s state budget process draws near.
“Governor Hochul is laser-focused on keeping energy affordable for New Yorkers. At a time when clean energy investments are under attack by Republicans in Washington, the Governor has committed tens of millions of dollars to key programs like EmPower+ to help families that need it most–and is determined to continue these programs into the future,” he said.