Hochul walking climate tightrope straight into 2026

Gov. Kathy Hochul has found herself walking a fine line when it comes to the state’s climate issues, and that isn’t likely to change as her reelection bid begins in earnest this fall.

Hochul on Wednesday announced the next steps of the $1 billion Sustainable Future Program, which aims to advance clean energy, cut emissions, and expand green infrastructure.

The latest part of the program is made up of:

• $50 million that will be allocated to the EmPower+ program to provide low — and moderate-income residents with no-cost home energy assessments and energy efficiency upgrades
• $50 million that will be used to help under-resourced public schools across the state decarbonize their building portfolios and improve indoor air quality for students and staff and reduce the schools’ carbon footprint
• $200 million that will expand thermal energy networks, which use a system of pipes to share heating and cooling resources among multiple buildings
• $150 million that will support the launch of a new Green Small Buildings Program, administered by New York State Homes and Community Renewal (HCR) to assist eligible homes with making energy-efficient upgrades, including heat pumps
• $200 million that will be provided to the state Power Authority (NYPA) to finance multiple renewable energy generation projects

“That’s what we do with a billion dollars in New York,” Hochul said while announcing the allocations at the U.S Climate Alliance’s roundtable. “We’re putting that money to work in every aspect of peoples lives.”

The announcement comes amid a turbulent year in which Hochul has been caught between climate activists and progressives on the left, and those focused on the affordability of the state’s intense climate emissions reduction goals. Hochul has given nods to both sides. The New York State Energy Research and Development Agency has indicated that the state won’t reach those benchmarks and will need to continue relying on natural gas in the short term while cultivating an ‘all of the above’ approach to energy. Hochul has embraced this strategy and a venture into nuclear power to muted applause from some moderates and even conservatives, while also expressing a desire to continue chipping away at emissions.

Experts say that tug and pull isn’t going anywhere as the Governor stares down a tough election year in which pocketbook issues are sure to be front and center.

Grant Reeher, senior research associate in the Campbell Public Affairs Institute and a professor of political science at Syracuse University, told Spectrum News 1 the reality is concerns about the state’s climate goals in terms of energy affordability and reliability resonate among many voters, as well as business leaders and manufacturers who say the cost of doing business in New York is simply too high.

But Hochul also will have to contend with her left flank and that nudging from climate activists as she faces a primary challenge in Lieutenant Governor Antonio Delgado. Delgado has worked to stake out territory with the progressive wing of the party.

“One of their biggest concerns, if not their biggest concern, is the cost of energy,” he said of the state’s manufacturing industry. “But then you have on top of that pushing from the environmental groups and concerns about the environment.”

He said Hochul has been squeezed even tighter when it comes to the Northeast Supply Pipeline, which recently got support from the Public Service Commission after three rejections by the state Department of Environmental Conservation.

The White House insists Hochul indicated support for the project earlier this year in exchange for President Donald Trump agreeing to lift a stop work order on a New York wind project. In response, Hochul reiterated the need for an ‘all of the above’ approach to energy and has said the DEC will approve projects that are within the scope of the law, but has never confirmed a deal.

On that, Reeher thinks aside from the most passionate activists on the left, even blue voters probably won’t knock her in concept for trying to work with Trump in the state’s best interest.

“I think the ability to negotiate with this administration is not something that’s going to be held against her,” he said, adding that Trump’s New York roots and Hochul’s lack of Presidential ambitions and moderate stature are probably behind the relatively workable relationship the pair share.

That doesn’t mean the pipeline is without political risks. Reeher pointed out Hochul may want to be cautious in embracing anything that has clean water risks, because if those concerns grow they are likely to extend beyond just environmental groups.

“If the pipeline somehow has a problem or is construed in someway as being a threat to clean water, that could be something that would cut across party lines,” he said.

But Hochul has shown that she is worried about trouble on the left. In addition to the challenge from Delgado, the governor’s endorsement of New York City’s Democratic Mayoral frontrunner Zohran Mamdani has been widely seen as an acknowledgment that she has work to do with the party’s most progressive voters. It is those voters who will be angry with her for any appearance of deal making with Trump, and especially when it comes to something which could be seen as a step backward on environmental policy.

“If she can do something on the environmental sphere to balance the pipeline or at least say she’s done something, I think it could help,” he said.

While highlighting funding as part of Wednesday’s announcement may be part of that strategy, Reeher said signaling approval for one of the environmental bills either passed by or currently navigating through the state legislature could help negate that effect.

While the only significant bill to come out of the 2025 legislative session was a gutted version of the controversial New York Heat Act, the Packaging Reduction and Recycling Infrastructure Act nearly passed but didn’t make it to the assembly floor at the last minute as session was coming to a close. Reeher said Hochul could be wise to get behind the bill if it ultimately passes next session because the legislation’s scope is relatively specific though potentially far-reaching: reduce single use plastic production and phase out certain chemicals used in production, and its provisions are rolled out over a number of years making it easier to side-step economic concerns raised by the business community with voters.

“I think the combination of that might make that one easier in terms of the costs that are associated with it, especially if you can project those costs across the out years,” he said.

Reeher added that Hochul, traditionally viewed as a moderate, could find herself in even more trouble with the left if her likely challenger, Rep. Elise Stefanik ultimately avoids a primary challenge and is able to focus on general election messaging right off the bat, rather than getting caught in a contentious primary over conservative issues in blue New York.