Chair, Energy Committee
Room 713, Legislative Office Building
Albany, New York 12248
For Immediate Release:
August 1, 2008
Assembly To Address New York's Expected
Winter Home Heating Crisis
The Assembly Committee on Energy will hold a series of statewide news conferences focused on addressing the expected home heating crisis New Yorkers will face this winter.
Energy Committee Chair Kevin Cahill will outline a proposal by the Assembly Majority which will effectively and meaningfully help New Yorkers combat the rising costs of home heating through enhancements of the Home Energy Assistance Program (HEAP) and energy conservation measures.
In anticipation of a crisis, the Assembly developed and approved a comprehensive plan (A.11590) in June to include:
- $550 million to enhance the Home Energy Assistance Program (HEAP), by increasing the size of the regular HEAP grant and expanding the program by raising the income eligibility level to 80 percent of median family income from the current 60 percent. For example, under this proposal, a family of four would be eligible for HEAP assistance if household income was up to $55,500, instead of the current $41,600.
- $250 million for energy conservation measures, including weatherization and home energy efficient programs.
- A two percent gross receipts tax on large oil companies, which are currently experiencing a huge growth in revenues.
- A retroactive measure to recapture windfall profits from when the sales tax on gasoline was capped at two dollars in 2005.
- Prohibiting oil companies from passing along the additional costs to consumers through increases in prices.