The NYS legislative session ends on June 2nd. That means we need all of your support to build the pressure needed to pass the three crucial building electrification bills in the Renewable Heat Now legislative package! We urge you to take action today, tomorrow, and throughout the holiday weekend.

We have two simple yet impactful ways for you to take action. Please encourage others to take these actions too!

1. Amplify the messages from our statewide “Electrify! Day of Action” that took place on May 19 in seven cities – Rochester, Tarrytown, New York City, Syracuse, Ithaca, Mineola, and Binghamton. State and local elected officials and community members called on the New York State legislature and Governor Hochul to enact legislation to electrify new buildings, reduce fossil fuel use, and support energy affordability. We have a social media toolkit with sample tweets and posts for you to use and share.

2. Send an email to your legislators and Governor Hochul asking them to support the Renewable Heat Now package of bills during this year's legislative session. We are still several thousand emails short of our 5,000 email goal. Please also share the quick and easy email tool with your networks! Buildings are the largest source of greenhouse gas emissions in New York State, so decarbonizing buildings ASAP is critical to meet New York’s legally mandated greenhouse gas emissions reduction requirements.

We also have some exciting events coming up!

Community Geothermal Heat Pump Systems Webinar
Tonight! Thursday, May 26 at 7pm
RSVP for the Zoom link here | Facebook Event

Renewable Heat Now and HeatSmart Tompkins will host a webinar on Community Geothermal Heat Pump Systems (aka “thermal energy networks” or “Geogrids”) featuring a presentation by Zeyneb Magavi and Audrey Schulman from HEET. Because too few households are able to invest in individual geothermal heating systems, we are VERY excited about the potential for these community loops, which could provide entire neighborhoods with heating, air conditioning, and hot water via a water pipe and a heat pump instead of a gas pipe and a furnace or boiler.

Rally for the Build Public Renewables Act!
Tuesday, May 31 at 10am
Bottom steps of the Million Dollar Staircase, New York State Capitol, Albany, NY 12224
RSVP for the rally here
Join us and the rest of the Public Power NY coalition for a rally and press conference to urge Albany to pass the Build Public Renewables Act! Right now, New York is stuck at only 5% wind and solar. To meet our mandate of 70% renewable energy by 2030 on time and in the most just and affordable way possible, we need to build public renewables! This bill would enable the New York Power Authority to ramp up renewables with good union jobs, sell low-cost energy directly to New Yorkers, and build an energy system that puts people over profits. If you can’t make it in person, we encourage you to call or email your reps using this email tool urging them to pass the bill this year!