A winter storm-driven spike in gas prices is renewing criticism of Gov. Kathy Hochul’s energy strategy and its impact on household utility bills.
Even before Winter Storm Fern brought freezing temperatures across much of the country last week, fracked gas futures surged by 70 percent. Advocates say the jump highlights the risks of tying New York’s energy future to volatile fossil fuels.
Hochul’s “all the above” energy plan includes building new fracked gas power plants, including three gigawatts of capacity in New York City. Critics warn the approach could raise energy bills while increasing pollution, particularly in low-income, Black, and brown communities already burdened by aging gas peaker plants…