The Brian Lehrer Show Gov. Hochul's Climate Law Rollback
May 12, 2026
Jon Campbell, Albany reporter for WNYC and Gothamist who covers state government and policy. He explains Gov. Hochul's push to relax New York's 2019 climate law. He outlines removing the 2030 mandate in favor of a later target and changing methane accounting. He describes political pressure from budget negotiations and who is lining up for and against the changes.
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Hochul Replaces 2030 Mandate With 2040 Target
- Governor Hochul seeks to remove the 2030 40% emissions mandate and replace it with a 2040 60% target.
- Jon Campbell explains the administration delayed regulations, was sued, and now favors a later, softer deadline tied into the budget.
Cost Fears Stem From A Limitless Cap And Invest Model
- The cost debate centers on a proposed Cap and Invest program that would make polluters buy allowances and fund green projects.
- The NYSERDA memo modeled a limitless cap scenario, which Jon Campbell says exaggerated household and gasoline cost projections politicians cite.
Budget Changes Could Moot The Lawsuit
- If the budget rewrites the regulatory timeline and options, it would likely moot the ongoing lawsuit forcing faster implementation.
- Campbell notes the lawsuit is on appeal but the budget changing deadlines and allowing multiple program choices would undercut its main claim.