(The Center Square) – New Yorkers overwhelmingly oppose climate change and clean energy policies that would drive up the state’s already high energy costs, according to a new poll.
The Empire Center for Public Policy’s report, released Wednesday, found that only 24% of respondents prioritize reducing greenhouse gas emissions over lower energy prices, while a combined majority of 66% either want lower prices outright or support emissions reductions only if they don’t lead to spikes in energy prices.
“New Yorkers don’t want climate policies that drive up energy prices,” said Zilvinas Silenas, president of the Empire Center. “Yet since the 2019 Climate Act, Albany has let a small minority set energy policy while ignoring the majority who simply want affordable energy.”
At least 63% of respondents said they oppose home-heating electrification, compared with 30% who support it. Opposition exceeds support across most demographic groups, according to the poll.
New York is also among a small handful of states, including California and Washington, seeking to restrict new natural gas hookups and pipelines as part of climate change policies. That move has drawn a lawsuit from construction and trade groups who claim it conflicts with federal regulations and will drive up costs for businesses and energy consumers.
Meanwhile, more than 60% of those surveyed said they oppose allowing individuals to sue oil companies for their contribution to climate change, while only 21% support such lawsuits.
Tom Stebbins, executive director of the Lawsuit Reform Alliance of New York, said the poll’s findings show that New Yorkers “recognize that lawsuits aren’t the way to tackle high energy costs or climate change.”
“Climate lawsuits are a PR stunt for headline-hunting politicians and a profiteering scheme for their billboard lawyer allies. That’s it,” Stebbins said. “The people know better – they want real solutions, not endless litigation.”
The poll also gauged public opinion about Gov. Kathy Hochul’s push to ban data centers that power artificial intelligence platforms. While New Yorkers are concerned about data centers’ impact on energy prices, only one-third support a blanket ban. A majority said data centers should build new power sources to prevent higher costs for New Yorkers, pollsters found.
To be sure, the poll of 600 likely voters was conducted from July 6-8, about two weeks before Hochul announced her ‘first-in-the-nation’ temporary ban on data centers in response to energy costs and the impact on the regional electric grid. Lawmakers have also approved legislation setting a temporary ban.
“New Yorkers suggested a better policy solution – let data centers build their own power sources – than the temporary ban that came out of Albany,” said Silenas. “Rather than banning data centers, Albany needs to remove restrictions on building more power plants. Data centers or no data centers, producing cheap power is the way to lower energy prices.”