Fact Check Follow-up: Rochester left out of Climate Action Council public hearings

ROCHESTER, N.Y. (WHEC) — Earlier this year, News10NBC did a story about a claim that New York State is considering a law that would ban heating your home with firewood. Turns out that’s not true.

However, the state is working to cut greenhouse gas emissions by 85% by the year 2050. Back in January, we reported the New York State Climate Action Council (CAC) would hold public hearings across the state on how to do that. Well, the Rochester region was left out. We’re not on the list.

Assemblyman Josh Jensen (R, 134) and his regional Republican colleagues are calling on the CAC to change that and hold an in-person meeting here in Rochester.

Let’s go more in-depth on the CAC’s Draft Scoping Plan and how it could impact you and your family.

Right now, the plan would mandate 100% electricity in new homes and buildings by 2024.

Jensen said potential costs to fully electrify a home could reach $35,800 for each residence.

The plan also includes no new natural gas appliances for home heating, cooking, water heating or clothes drying beginning in 2030 and no gasoline automobile sales by 2035.

"A proposal that could change the nature of daily life for 20 million people needs to be discussed in person, and we deserve the same opportunity as the people of Buffalo and Syracuse to do so openly," Jensen said.

Here’s a list of the meetings being held across the state:

• April 5, 4 p.m. Bronx Community College, Bronx
• April 6, 4 p.m. Brookhaven Town Hall, Brookhaven
• April 12, 4 p.m. Binghamton University, Binghamton
• April 14, 4 p.m. Empire State Plaza, Albany
• April 26, 4 p.m. SUNY-ESF, Syracuse
• April 27, 3:30 p.m. Buffalo & Erie County Public Library, Buffalo
• May 3, 4 p.m. NYC City College of Technology, Brooklyn
• May 7, 10 a.m. Virtual
• May 10, 4 p.m. The Wild Center, Tupper Lake
• May 11, 4 p.m. Virtual

You can see there are two virtual meetings coming up this month.

The deadline to register for the May 7 virtual hearing is 10 a.m. on Friday, May 6. The call-in number is 1-415-655-0003, the event number is 25599 706 6384 and the event password is climate.

Click here to register.

It will be professionally recorded, and transcribed as part of the official record and posted on the Climate Act website.

Even if an in-person meeting isn’t held here in Rochester, you can still weigh in on the plan by email or sending a letter to the state.

To make your voice heard, New Yorkers can visit climate.ny.gov, email scopingplan@nyserda.ny.gov, or send a letter to NYSERDA, Attn: Draft Scoping Plan Comments, 17 Columbia Circle, Albany, NY 12203.