The fight for a livable planet and the fight for a livable New York are one and the same. Kathy Hochul’s decision to approve the NESE fracked gas pipeline was a moral failure. So was her decision to allow cryptominers to keep operating on the shores of Lake Seneca. New York has one of the strongest climate laws in the country, but a law is only as strong as the governor responsible for enforcing it – and Kathy Hochul is proving she’s not up to the task. 

As governor, Antonio will:

• Finalize cap-and-invest rules. Right now, the CLCPA’s most powerful tool to cut emissions is gathering dust. Under the law’s cap-and-invest system, major emitters are charged for the pollution they produce, and the revenue is used to fund projects that improve energy efficiency, strengthen climate defenses, protect public health, and reduce energy costs. A rule to implement cap-and-invest was due on January 1, 2024, but there’s still no draft published. Right now, climate justice groups are suing the state just to get Kathy Hochul to follow the law she’s sworn to uphold.
• Invest in renewables. The New York Power Authority is tasked with building new, publicly-owned renewable energy capacity. After public pressure in 2025, NYPA increased its strategic plan target from 3GW to 7GW of renewable output. Now Kathy Hochul lowered targets to just 5.4GW. To meet New York’s legally mandated climate goals, we need at least 15GW of public renewables by 2030 – almost triple the current commitment. 
• Expand public utilities and crack down on price gouging. Investor-owned utilities reap enormous profits while families face skyrocketing bills. Antonio will expand public ownership of our electric grid, transforming utilities from profit-driven monopolies into public services accountable to ratepayers. He’ll reform the Public Service Commission to put communities first, subject rate hikes to real scrutiny, and impose serious consequences on utilities that exploit customers or sabotage New York’s climate laws. Public power means lower costs, democratic control, and a grid built to serve people and the planet – not shareholders.
• Support the NY HEAT Act. This bill would cap utility costs at 6 percent of household income, increase energy efficiency, and support efforts to reign in utility monopolies that are jacking up costs without oversight.
• Support the Livable New York Act. This bill would fund 100,000 units of deeply affordable housing while creating tens of thousands of good jobs. The legislation invests in energy efficiency retrofits and new construction that reduces utility costs for families, improves housing quality, and strengthens code enforcement.