Heating your home should not cost you the earth. Literally.
Most New Yorkers heat their homes with oil or gas. It has always been the easiest option. Landlords installed it. Utility companies made it cheap to connect. But things are changing fast. Energy bills are climbing. Fossil fuel infrastructure is aging. And every community in this state is already feeling the climate cost. The good news is that clean home heating alternatives are here. They work. And they are getting more affordable every year.
That is what the Renewable Heat Now campaign is about.
What We Are Fighting For
AGREE helped launch Renewable Heat Now in 2017. We joined dozens of organizations across New York State who all reached the same conclusion. We cannot wait for building decarbonization to happen on its own. The market will not move fast enough. Utilities have little reason to change course. As a result, low and middle income families are the ones left holding the bill.
Because of this, the campaign brings together community groups, environmental organizations, legal advocates, and clean energy supporters. Our shared goal is simple. We want clean, efficient heating and cooling to be accessible and affordable for every New Yorker.
To get there, we are pushing for real policy change. Specifically, we want heat pump rebates and incentives for households and businesses. We also want building codes that stop locking new construction into fossil fuel heating systems. In addition, we are calling for an end to policies that force ratepayers to fund unnecessary gas line extensions. Finally, we want a cap on energy bills so no family has to choose between staying warm and staying afloat.
How Heat Pumps Work
Heat pumps are not a new idea. In fact, they heat and cool millions of homes and buildings around the world. What is new is how well cold climate heat pumps now perform in places like New York. Cold climate air source heat pumps can run efficiently even in temperatures well below freezing. That matters a great deal in upstate New York winters.
Geothermal heat pumps go even further. They draw stable heat from the ground and work in virtually any climate, any season. As a result, they are one of the most reliable clean heating options available today.
What Are Thermal Energy Networks?
Thermal energy networks connect whole neighborhoods to shared geothermal heating and cooling infrastructure. This means individual homes and apartment buildings can access the efficiency and cost savings of large scale systems. For many households, this is the most practical path to clean heat.
Altogether, these renewable heating technologies lower energy bills over time. They also reduce dependence on imported fossil fuels, create local green jobs, and cut the carbon emissions driving climate change in New York. They are not experimental. They are available right now.
Why This Matters for New York
New York has one of the most ambitious climate laws in the country. However, meeting New York State climate goals means dramatically cutting greenhouse gas emissions from buildings. Heating our homes and workplaces accounts for a large share of the state’s total carbon footprint. Therefore, we need to convert hundreds of thousands of buildings away from fossil fuel heating over the next decade.
That kind of change does not happen on its own. New Yorkers need clear information about home electrification options. Landlords and building owners need a real reason to make the switch. Moreover, the state needs to invest in making affordable clean energy accessible to families who cannot cover the upfront cost alone.
Renewable Heat Now exists to make all of that happen faster.
Wins So Far
The campaign has already delivered real results. In late 2025, Governor Hochul signed the repeal of the 100-foot rule. This ended a policy that forced ratepayers to fund new gas line extensions. It was a direct result of years of pressure from this coalition. Furthermore, New York committed $200 million to thermal energy network projects. That investment came after sustained advocacy that Renewable Heat Now was central to.
There is still more work ahead. Even so, the campaign has shown what is possible when communities organize around a clear and urgent goal.
AGREE’s Role in the Campaign
As one of the founding organizations of Renewable Heat Now, AGREE brings grassroots energy organizing and clean energy policy advocacy to the campaign every day. We show up in Albany. We work with partners across the state. Most importantly, we connect community level work to the decisions being made at the state level.
There is a place for you in this campaign. For instance, if you are a homeowner curious about heat pump installation in New York, we can help. If you are a renter frustrated by high energy bills, we want to hear from you. And if you want to push for better state energy policy, we have a team ready to welcome you.
Sign up for updates, join a regional advocacy team, or come to a monthly power hour. Together, we are building clean heat one neighborhood, one policy, and one home at a time.