Energy Policy and Poverty in New York
New York’s political landscape is imposing burdens on its most vulnerable citizens. In 2014, the Cuomo administration, swayed by anti-fracking activists, prohibited shale fracking. Governor Hochul has stood by this ban, leaving many residents struggling with energy expenses.
Currently, 26% of children in New York City live in poverty, totaling about 2.7 million affected residents statewide. While politicians often react by increasing taxes and pointing fingers at the Federal government, the solution is closer to home. With trillions of cubic feet of untapped natural gas available, New York continues to foster an unfavorable environment with misguided policies funded by taxpayer dollars.
Statistics reveal a significant wealth gap stemming from the fracking ban. A study conducted by the Heritage Foundation in 2025 indicated that residents of New York are missing out on $11,000 per person and $27,000 per household compared to those in Pennsylvania, where fracking is permitted. Before the ban, these areas experienced similar economic conditions. Pennsylvania landowners have profited substantially from lease agreements, while New Yorkers have seen no benefits. This situation amounts to state-endorsed poverty.
Impact of Artificial Intelligence on Energy Sources
If hydraulic fracturing were allowed, New York could gain billions in royalty payments, bolstering tax revenue from better-paying jobs and well-funded drilling companies. Access to abundant natural gas could uplift the entire state economically.
As someone working in the well fracturing sector in New York, I can attest to the effectiveness and safety of this practice. My company, possibly one of the last of its kind in the state, has been successfully fracturing wells for over two decades without negative environmental impacts. This is supported by data, though skeptics remain unconvinced, especially those hardest hit by these policies.
The Limitations of Green Energy Alternatives
Switching to renewable energy isn’t without its downsides. The implementation of green energy solutions often involves extensive land use, toxic battery production, and waste management concerns. Additionally, when conditions aren’t favorable for solar or wind energy production, reliance on natural gas or coal remains necessary. Albany is aware of this reality but chooses to push ahead, resulting in New Yorkers facing electricity bills that are 40% higher, and natural gas prices 23% above the national average. The state imports nearly 80% of its energy, much of it sourced from neighboring Pennsylvania—a troubling trade-off.
Governor Cuomo and Governor Hochul have excelled at importing energy while sacrificing local opportunities. Yielding to a limiting ideology has left many of their lowest-income constituents at a disadvantage. The potential of natural gas lies just within reach.
This predicament is only the tip of the iceberg. As energy becomes a battleground for artificial intelligence data centers, New York’s self-imposed energy shortages will not only affect the impoverished. The future favors those who can afford it. Governor Hochul, the constituents you’ve tried to please aren’t the ones covering their utility costs—your voters are. It’s time to reconsider this approach.
