By Jen Metzger, Ulster County Executive
Backtracking on New York’s Climate Act will harm, not help, energy affordability. The high cost of our fossil fuel dependence couldn’t be clearer. The U.S. war in Iran has caused oil and gas prices to skyrocket, hurting our residents at the pump, and hurting our farmers who must pay much more for fuel and inputs.
Because of the downstate region’s over-dependence on fossil fuels for electricity generation (over 93%, according to the New York Independent System Operator’s 2025 Power Trends report), electricity supply prices remain stubbornly high.
The U.S. has one of the most oil-intensive economies in the world. This comes at a cost, and the war further exacerbates the cost to consumers. If this war is prolonged, the impacts will reverberate throughout the economy, increasing prices of food and other goods and services and potentially inducing a global recession.
Shifting to an energy-efficient, clean energy economy is not just a climate solution. It is also an energy independence and energy affordability solution. Investments in energy efficiency in buildings and homes reduce emissions and permanently reduce energy costs. Renewable energy resources remain the lowest-cost energy sources, are locally sourced, and do not suffer the extreme price volatility of oil and gas. The solar array on Ulster County’s capped landfill produces, on average, two million kilowatt-hours a year and nets the county about $175,000 annually — a big savings to our taxpayers.
Ulster County’s investments to electrify the public transit system are also paying taxpayer dividends. Our electric buses are less costly to operate and maintain than the old diesel buses. Last year, our five electric buses saved us over $85,000 in fuel and maintenance costs. At today’s price of $5 per gallon for diesel, taxpayers are seeing even greater savings. More importantly, public transit itself is both a climate and affordability solution, providing a low-cost and low-emissions way for residents to get to work, school, and the grocery store. In recognition of these broad benefits, Ulster County has provided free fares since 2022.
At last week’s NYS Association of Counties Legislative Conference, where I chair the Standing Committee on Climate, Energy, and Environment, the state’s 62 counties unanimously passed resolutions calling for increased state support for residential energy efficiency programs and transportation electrification, among other measures. Local governments, responsible for delivering services to the vast majority of the state’s residents, understand the affordability benefits of climate investment.
When I served in the state Senate during the first Trump administration, we passed the nation-leading 2019 Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act in full recognition that states had to lead at a time when the federal government was taking us backwards. The same is true today. As County Executive, I urge state leaders not to abandon New York’s climate leadership. It would be irresponsible to ignore the costs of delaying action.
Jen Metzger is Ulster County Executive and Chair of the New York State Association of Counties’ Standing Committee on Climate Action, Energy & Environment.
The Freeman welcomes guest opinion columns for this space from public officials and public interest groups about a single news topic. Submissions should be emailed to letters@freemanonline.com and should be between 550 and 750 words. The Freeman reserves the right to reject submissions.