New York State is slashing funding for EmPower+, a program designed to help low- and moderate-income households make critical energy upgrades. Funding will plummet from $220 million in 2025 to just $80 million by 2027, a cut of more than 60%. For families already struggling with rising energy bills, this is more than a budget adjustment—it’s another example of poor policy creating long-term consequences, with Black New Yorkers bearing the brunt.
The Ripple Effect of Indian Point’s Closure
The seeds of today’s energy crisis were planted in 2021, when the Indian Point Nuclear Plant in Westchester was shut down. Indian Point once supplied about a quarter of New York City and the Hudson Valley’s electricity, carbon-free and relatively low-cost. When it closed, the state turned to natural gas plants to fill the gap. That shift made the grid dirtier and more expensive, exposing New Yorkers to volatile gas prices.
Since then, electric bills across the Hudson Valley have skyrocketed, with many households seeing double-digit percentage increases year after year. Families who could least afford it—often Black renters and homeowners in older, less efficient housing—were left with no choice but to absorb the costs.
EmPower+ Cuts: Taking Away Relief
Programs like EmPower+ were meant to ease those burdens. By funding insulation, heat pumps, air sealing, and other upgrades—sometimes up to $24,000 per household—the program gave low- and moderate-income families a way to cut waste and lower monthly bills. Since its 2023 expansion, it has helped more than 68,000 low-income households statewide.
Now, with funding gutted and new requirements forcing moderate-income families to “match” state contributions, thousands who need the help most will be shut out. Worse, the state is halting new contractor enrollments and leaving a backlog of 1,600 pending projects in limbo.
Why Black Communities Are Hit Hardest
For Black New Yorkers, this is more than just a policy shift—it’s a systemic injustice.
- Higher Energy Burden: Black households spend a larger share of income on energy than white households. Rising rates hit harder when every dollar counts.
- Older Housing Stock: In places like Mount Vernon, Yonkers, and Poughkeepsie, many Black families live in drafty, outdated homes that need upgrades the most.
- Wealth Gap: Without savings to cover upfront costs, Black households are effectively locked out when state programs disappear or demand matching funds.
- Health Consequences: Poor efficiency means greater exposure to extreme heat, cold, and mold—worsening asthma and respiratory issues already prevalent in Black communities.
A Pattern of Poor Policy
The closure of Indian Point raised costs. The EmPower+ cuts remove relief. Together, these are not isolated incidents—they’re part of a pattern of poor policy decisions that punish working families while undermining New York’s own climate and equity goals.
For Black New Yorkers, the combination of higher bills, fewer support programs, and shrinking economic opportunity in the “green jobs” sector adds up to a crisis. Contractors—many of them small, minority-owned businesses—are already warning of layoffs and closures as projects dry up.
If New York is serious about climate justice and racial equity, it cannot continue down this path. Lawmakers and advocates are demanding at least $400 million in restored funding to keep EmPower+ alive, while also pushing for long-term solutions that don’t simply swap one failed policy for another.
Because until the state learns from its mistakes, Black families will continue to pay the highest price for Albany’s poor planning.
