ALBANY, NY (Erie News Now)--HUNDREDS OF ADVOCATES GATHERED IN THE NEW YORK STATE CAPITOL CALLING FOR CLIMATE JUSTICE.  

THEY ADVOCATed FOR A variety OF BILLS TO PASS INCLUDING THE NEW YORK HEAT ACT- A BILL INTENDING TO CAP UTILITY BILLS AND AT THE SAME TIME MOVE THE STATE TOWARDS RENEWABLE HEAT ENERGY. 

SOME ADVOCATES SAid IT COULD SAVE SOME NEW YORKERS UP TO $136 A MONTH ON AVERAGE ON UTILITY COSTS.

“The gas utilities continue to build more and more infrastructure and deliver more and more gas to homes that’s burned in buildings which is the largest source of greenhouse gases in the state and then charging us unaffordable rates for this,” said Jessica Azulay, executive director at the Alliance for a Green Economy.

THE NEW YORK HEAT ACT WOULD END WHAT IS CALLED THE 100 FOOT RULE, WHICH RELIEVES NEW RESIDENTIAL GAS RATE PAYERS FROM THE COST OF A NEW GAS LINE IF THEY LIVE WITHIN 100 FEET OF AN EXISTING LINE BUT CONSEQUENTLY THIS INCREASES BILLS FOR ALL THE OTHER RATE PAYERS.  

IT WOULD ALSO REQUIRE THE PUBLIC SERVICE COMMISSION TO DEVELOP A TRANSITION PLAN FOR THE STATE TO MOVE AWAY FROM GAS HEATING.  

SOME DEMOCRATS ARE PUSHING FOR THIS BILL TO BE INCLUDED IN THE FINAL STATE budget AS IT APPROACHES ITS DEADLINE.  

“In our view it is a budget item and what we’re trying to do is stop perpetuating our fossil fuel problems by stopping the automatic gas hookups,” said Assembly Member Patricia Fahy (D-Assembly District 109).

AT THE SAME TIME-- REPUBLICANS CONTINUE TO PUSH AGAINST THE BILL WORRYING ABOUT THE IMPACT ON WORKERS IN THE GAS UTILITY SYSTEM.  

“One of the areas that still provides good paying jobs in the state of New York, but these jobs will be gone,” said Senate Minority Leader Rob Ortt (R-62nd Senate District).

ASSEMBLY MEMBER FAHY, A SPONSOR OF THE BILL IN THE ASSEMBLY,  ARGUED THIS LEGISLATION COULD BOOST THE WORKFORCE BY CREATING MORE JOBs-- WHILE AT THE SAME TIME GIVING THE EMPIRE STATE A BOOST IN FEDERAL SUPPORT FOR A CLEAN ENERGY TRANSITION.  

THE BUDGET’S ORIGINAL DEADLINE WAS APRIL 1– BUT EArly Thursday LAWMAKERS PASSED AN EXTENDER SENT TO THEM BY THE GOVERNOR.

THE NEW DEADLINE IS APRIL 4.