It's the Brian Larry Show on WNYC. Good morning, everyone. So here's a dilemma for the Democratic

Party. Their affordability agenda is colliding with the party's climate goals, and it's a very

direct conflict right now in New York. Governor Kathy Hokel wants to delay the state's carbon

reduction timetable, saying it will cost New Yorkers too much as it stands. Now, as a reminder,

the current goals are currently the law. A 2019 climate law,

passed by the legislature and signed by then Governor Cuomo, requires the state to cut emissions

40 percent from the baseline by 2030. 40 percent by 2030, that's just a few years from now, obviously, and 85% by 2050, all while

significantly boosting renewable energy. So what's the alternative if Hockel doesn't want to

meet that timetable? What kind of scaled-back climate goals would help New Yorkers afford life how much more. Well,

Hockel hasn't said yet. She hasn't announced her alternative goals, but we'll be

announcing them this week. I think we need a longer runway. A longer runway than to 2030, she's

referring to. And it has to be this week because this is part of the budget for the new fiscal year, which begins in two weeks, April 1st. Obviously, this move has put her at odds with environmentalists and also prominent Democrats who have hailed the landmark climate law. There's the dilemma for the Democratic Party.

Their affordability agenda colliding with the party's climate goals.

So joining us now to break down the latest is John Campbell, Albany Reporter, for WNYC and Gothamist.

Hey, John, welcome back to the show.

Hi, Brian.

Thanks for having me.

Can you first remind us in a little more

detail of New York's 2019 climate law? How big of a deal was it? And for that matter,

how much did then-Lutinent Governor Kathy Hokel supported in the beginning? Well, it was a really

big deal. I mean, it was passed in 2019 by

then governor, Andrew Cuomo, and the Democratic State Legislature. And it set these really

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