On December 19, 2025, New York’s energy transition is colliding with a familiar reality: household bills. In the Finger Lakes, Ithaca officials are weighing how to protect residents from proposed utility rate increases while also keeping local climate policies on track. In the Hudson Valley, NYSEG is pointing to newly completed grid upgrades as proof that infrastructure spending is essential. And statewide, Governor Kathy Hochul’s decision to pause implementation of New York’s all-electric new-building requirements—pending court action—has forced cities, builders, and regulators into a holding pattern. Together, the developments reveal the pressure points of New York’s climate and affordability agenda: