S2411

The New York State Senate passed S2411, an amendment to the Environmental Conservation Law, on a 61-22 roll call vote following a procedural dispute over a proposed amendment. Sen. Ashby attempted to offer an amendment challenging the Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act, arguing the nearly seven-year-old law has failed to deliver results and has instead driven up utility bills by 54 percent while decommissioning 2,000 net megawatts of reliable power. Ashby warned that full implementation could increase upstate energy bills by an additional $340 monthly and contended the law's solar and wind mandates are impractical for New York's climate. Acting President Cooney ruled the amendment nongermane and out of order under Senate Rule 6, Section 4B. When Sen. Lanza appealed the ruling, a show of hands vote of 22 ayes failed to overturn the chair's decision. The bill was then restored to the noncontroversial calendar and passed on a voice vote of 61-22.