(submitted as part of NYSERDA’s Statewide Public Hearings – September 2025)
On behalf of our 480 members across Niagara County and Western New York, the Niagara USA Chamber of Commerce respectfully submits these comments on the Draft New York State Energy Plan.
New York must pursue an all of the above energy approach to safeguard energy reliability and affordability. The draft Plan itself states that New York must deliver “abundant, reliable, resilient, and clean energy through a diverse mix of energy sources and supply infrastructure, while supporting energy efficiency and load flexibility”. That is exactly the balanced approach our members expect. Maintaining diversity and accessibility – including natural gas – is the surest way to keep energy reliable and affordable for businesses and households alike.
We are concerned that eliminating natural gas from New York’s portfolio – the path NY is currently on – would have dangerous consequences. First, it would accelerate rising electricity costs – already a burden being felt in real time by our communities. Second, it would further erode the competitiveness of manufacturing and other energy-intensive industries in upstate New York. As companies relocate to more affordable states, the direct line back to New York’s energy policy uncertainty becomes increasingly clear.
Our communities have already experienced the effects of economic leakage. Over 1,500 individuals lost their jobs due to the closing of the Sumitomo Rubber manufacturing facility. And after 38 years in Niagara Falls, Cascade Inc. is closing its doors, eliminating all 123 positions at the plant. We cannot afford to jeopardize careers and families at risk due to the Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act.
We commend Governor Hochul for recently acknowledging that the components of the CLCPA “may not be doable” in their current form. The Chamber has long warned of the risks of setting goals without feasible pathways to achieve them. It is time for a realistic reassessment that both advances emission reduction and protects affordability and jobs.
We also note that the Plan places significant attention on nuclear power, both the existing fleet and advanced technologies. While the Chamber has not yet taken a formal position on nuclear development, we believe these discussions should remain part of the broader conversation on energy diversity. New York cannot afford to prematurely eliminate viable options that could contribute to reliability, emissions reduction, and economic growth.
The Niagara USA Chamber of Commerce and our members support efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. At the same time, heavy-handed measures that eliminate perhaps the most versatile of all our energy options, natural gas, will continue to raise costs, drive employers away, and put remaining businesses at a disadvantage. We urge state leaders to take a pragmatic approach that balances climate ambition with economic reality, ensuring that energy policy supports growth, competitiveness, and opportunity in Niagara County and across New York.
Respectfully,
Niagara USA Chamber of Commerce