Senator Lea Webb, District 52 and Matt Dennis, Home Energy Performance Contractor at HALCO
Apr 25, 202
NEW YORK — One of us spends our days crawling through attics, sealing ducts, and upgrading ancient wiring. The other spends time in budget hearings and government committee rooms, fighting to make sure our most vulnerable communities aren’t left behind in the clean energy transition. From two different experiences, we’ve come to the same conclusion: too many families in our state are living in unsafe, unhealthy homes. The good news is that we have the tools to fix it.
The Green Affordable Pre-Electrification, or GAP, Fund, is a $200 Million fund that we are calling for in this year’s state budget. In homes across our state — especially in low-income neighborhoods — we see the same problems again and again: old gas furnaces and stoves that degrade indoor air quality, empty gaps in insulation leading to a home that can’t hold in heat, moldy walls from years of roof leaks or wet basements, and outdated electrical panels and knob and tube wiring that can’t support clean, electric appliances.
All of these health hazards, structural barriers, and energy efficiency problems are barriers to electrification; heat pumps, induction stoves, rooftop solar are all essential parts of our transition to a cleaner, safer future. But most households are unable to afford all of these upfront repair and remediation costs out of pocket – and that locks people out of the energy upgrades that our buildings desperately need.
The Green Affordable Pre-Electrification Fund, sponsored by Senator Kristen Gonzalez and Assemblymember Anna Kelles, is our chance to change that. It would provide direct support to low- and moderate-income households to fix the barriers that prevent electrification — things like old wiring, unsafe insulation, broken heating systems, or lead and asbestos hazards. It would make homes safer, healthier, and more energy efficient—before we ask people to install electric heat pumps or induction stoves.
This is about more than climate. It’s about justice, health, and opportunity. Gas stoves and furnaces pollute indoor air and contribute to asthma and other respiratory problems, especially in children. Mold and dampness are associated with everything from allergies to more serious infections. Lead causes long-term developmental harm. These hazards don’t show up on utility bills, but they show up in hospital visits and missed school days.
What we have right now is a patchwork of programs – households find some rebates here, a discount there—but it’s not enough. It’s inconsistent, hard to navigate, and leaves behind the people who need it most. We need a coordinated, statewide approach that helps prepare homes for electrification while improving health, safety, and energy efficiency.
The Green Affordable Pre-Electrification Fund would do just that. It would provide grants and no-cost upgrades for low- and moderate-income households to fix the problems that prevent them from electrifying—problems like drafty windows and doors, uninsulated attics, leaky roofs, and broken gas furnaces. It would also help remove toxic hazards like lead paint and asbestos-contaminated insulation. And it would upgrade electrical panels and wiring so homes can safely handle clean electric appliances.
We cannot leave these families behind as we move toward a zero-emissions future. If we truly want an equitable energy transition, we have to start by making homes safe, efficient, and ready. That means investing in the kinds of basic repairs and upgrades that will unlock everything else. We can reduce energy bills, improve indoor air quality, create good local jobs, and lay the groundwork for clean, electric upgrades. Investing in pre-electrification improvements creates good local jobs, lowers energy bills, and clears the path for a truly equitable clean energy transition.
The Green Affordable Pre-Electrification Fund is not a luxury—it’s a necessity. Let’s get it in the state budget and start building a future where every home is safe, healthy, and ready for the energy transition.
Full Story HERE