As Governor Hochul’s extreme environmental policies gain momentum, they are wreaking more havoc on the lives of New Yorkers than ever before. Now they’re after your refrigerator.
The Department of Environmental Protection wants to phase out hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs) in refrigerators and air conditioners, a mandate that would force companies to pass on significant upgrade costs to consumers.
Grocery stores will naturally take a hit, so expect food prices to continue to rise on top of the already record inflation.
Hochul seems to have learned nothing from last year’s backlash against the gas stove war.
As part of New York State’s efforts to significantly reduce its carbon footprint, DEC’s proposal goes far beyond the current federal requirement to reduce HFC use by 85% by 2036. New York state’s rule would kick in sooner and require some new companies to install HFCs. It will offer free refrigerators as early as next year, while ordering expensive retrofits by 2029 and replacements for businesses with large appliances by 2035.
As Democratic Rep. Bill Conrad has pointed out, this cost could weaken grocery stores in already underserved areas and create food deserts.
Housing costs will also increase. New refrigeration air conditioners and heat pumps must be HFC-free in homes by 2028.
So businesses (which Hochul says he wants to keep in New York) and low-income consumers will be the most affected by this plan.
All of this falls under New York’s “act now, think later” green agenda.
The state is strongly promoting the use of electric vehicles for New Yorkers, and has banned the sale of non-electric vehicles by 2035. Ban gas stoves and heating in new (and eventually old) buildings.
Meanwhile, we are also cutting back on electricity from carbon-based fuels, even though power plans from alternative energy sources such as offshore wind and solar cannot meet any of our current electricity needs, let alone increasing the amount needed for things like electric heating. Even more so.
Alternative fuels are still more expensive than natural gas, so New Yorkers who already pay above the national average for electricity will have to pay more for electricity, even at the risk of power outages (to cover utility bills, or state subsidies for things like wind power). You’ll end up paying even more (through taxes). And power outages are rapidly increasing.
Ever wonder why the Empire State continues to bleed into its population?
Every time a hochul succumbs to environmental extremists, whether it’s to virtually ensure higher food prices or to block access to reliable fossil fuel energy, ordinary New Yorkers lose their quality of life (and their wallets). suffered a blow.
