FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
ALBANY, N.Y. — New Yorkers across political, geographic, age, and income groups oppose energy and climate policies that raise energy prices or force changes on homeowners, according to new Empire Center analysis of statewide polling data.
The findings show that New Yorkers’ top priority is affordable energy. Just 24 percent of respondents prioritize reducing greenhouse gas emissions over lower energy prices, while a combined majority of 66 percent either prioritize lower prices outright or support emissions reductions only if they do not lead to increases in energy prices.
The opposition is especially clear on home-heating electrification. Statewide, 63 percent of respondents oppose home-heating electrification, compared with 30 percent who support it. Opposition exceeds support across most demographic groups.
Similarly, 60 percent oppose allowing individuals to sue oil companies for their contribution to climate change, while only 21 percent support such lawsuits.
“New Yorkers don’t want climate policies that drive up energy prices,” said Zilvinas Silenas, president of the Empire Center. “Yet since the 2019 Climate Act, Albany has let a small minority set energy policy while ignoring the majority who simply want affordable energy.”
The results reinforce the Empire Center’s 2025 finding that New Yorkers have little appetite for climate policies that increase energy prices.
While New Yorkers share concerns about data centers’ impact on energy prices, only one-third support a blanket ban. The majority of respondents suggest data centers should build new power sources or make investments to prevent higher costs for households and other businesses.
“New Yorkers suggested a better policy solution—let data centers build their own power sources—than the temporary ban that came out of Albany,” said Silenas. “Rather than banning data centers, Albany needs to remove restrictions on building more power plants. Data centers or no data centers, producing cheap power is the way to lower energy prices.”
Data Source: Survey of Likely 2026 General Election Voters, July 6–8, 2026. Sample size 600, with margin of error ±4.00%, completed by Cygnal on behalf of the Empire Center for Public Policy.
About the Empire Center for Public Policy
The Empire Center is an independent, non-partisan, non-profit think tank located in Albany, New York. Our mission is to make New York a better place to live and work by promoting public policy reforms grounded in free-market principles, personal responsibility, and the ideals of effective and accountable government.
About Cygnal
Cygnal is an award‑winning public opinion and predictive analytics firm. The firm delivered a 95 percent accuracy rating in the 2024 election cycle and has conducted more than 4,800 polls over 3,100 campaigns in all 50 states and more than 20 countries, helping governors, Members of Congress, state leaders, corporations, and trade associations turn voter data into decisions
Media contact:
Zilvinas Silenas
Empire Center for Public Policy
518.434.3100
[email protected]
