The 2024 election has underscored a critical lesson for Democrats: ignoring the cost of living is a perilous mistake. This has significant implications for climate policy, as issues like climate change are often framed by Republicans as costly burdens on ordinary Americans.
The Inflation Reduction Act, despite its clean-energy goals, failed to fully address the everyday financial challenges many face. However, New York has an opportunity to chart a different course with the Build Public Renewables Act BPRA, which mandates the state to invest in renewable energy, particularly when private efforts fall short.
Since BPRA’s passage, New Yorkers have rallied around a public hearing to demand more ambitious action from the New York Power Authority (NYPA), which has outlined a plan for 3.5 gigawatts of renewable energy—far below the 15 gigawatts called for by activists.
The push for a larger renewable energy build is particularly urgent in light of recent climate events like droughts, wildfires, and flooding that have affected working-class communities. There’s also a strong demand for good union jobs tied to these projects, with groups like the AFL-CIO and the Building Trades Council joining the call for a more ambitious energy plan.
NYPA’s failure to meet the demands of the BPRA would be a missed opportunity not only for climate action but also for addressing economic insecurity. Unions are particularly invested in ensuring that the renewable energy jobs created through these projects are high-quality, unionized positions.
There’s growing pressure on NYPA to revise its plan, with indications that the agency is already looking for additional projects to include.
This situation harkens back to the legacy of Franklin D. Roosevelt, who founded NYPA during the Great Depression, a time when economic insecurity fueled the rise of fascism. FDR’s response was to use government action to improve people’s lives—an approach that also underpinned the expansion of New York’s subway system.
Today, New York has a chance to build on that tradition with both its climate and transit policies, such as the recently revived congestion pricing plan. This toll on motorists entering Manhattan has been heavily criticized but could be leveraged to fund improvements like free buses, disability access in stations, and expanded public transit in underserved neighborhoods.
If managed correctly, it could be a policy that benefits New Yorkers while helping to reduce car dependency and stress.
Ultimately, the challenge for New York’s policymakers is to create climate policies and urban initiatives that not only tackle the climate crisis but also make a tangible difference in the daily lives of working-class residents.
By drawing on the New Deal tradition of using government to address pressing economic issues, New York could set a powerful example for the nation, demonstrating that climate policy can be a tool for improving the lives of ordinary people.