I want to comment on surviving frigid weather while doing my bit for the climate.

I’m using electricity to heat my home instead of burning gas in my basement and kitchen. My heat pump mini splits are keeping my house warm. My induction stove cooks food with precision. My electric heat pump water heater is doing its job. In other words, an all-electric home works just fine – even in frigid temperatures. I get my electricity from solar panels that supply my home, and excess production goes into the grid to supply other uses in the area. The more electricity that we can get from the wind and sun, instead of from power plants that burn fracked gas, the better.

Personal experience is a reason that I support the New York Home Energy Affordable Transition Act, a k a, NY HEAT Act. It will make heating with electricity more available and affordable. The bill would stop the ratepayer subsidies currently allowed for new gas hookups and put the brakes on gas system expansion. It gives incentives for utilities to create innovative energy solutions. It aligns New York’s energy regulations with our Climate Law, which we need in order to reduce greenhouse gas emissions -- the primary cause of global warming and, paradoxically, these weird inroads of polar air.

So I applaud Gov. Hochul for including much of the NY HEAT Act in her budget for the next fiscal year. The Assembly, Senate and Governor need to work out a final version of NY HEAT that will keep all New Yorkers affordably warm.