Saratoga Standard

Assemblyman Matt Simpson (R,C-Lake George) joined fellow Minority lawmakers on Wednesday to address rural equity in a state increasingly focused on urban areas. The proposals include the establishment of the “Rural Mobile Communications Fund” to enhance cellular service in low-coverage areas (A.8134), the creation of the “Rural Equity Assistance Program” to foster community growth and development (A.8136), improved support for first responders in rural regions (A.9353), and the enactment of the “Rural Energy Freedom Act” (A.9743), which exempts wood burning for heating buildings and cooking from restrictions under the New York State Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act.

“There is not a week that goes by when I don’t have constituents reaching out to my office about the rising costs of living in this state. The most frustrating of them are the costs to heat or cool their home,” said Simpson.

“Everyone I speak with feels we should work to become better stewards of our environment, but unfortunately, it seems residents throughout rural parts of New York state are the ones unfairly burdened by the policies being enacted to do so. From EV bus mandates that our schools can’t meet to the call for predatory solar projects that get special siting treatment in the Adirondack Park, our residents feel the brunt of unintended consequences from Albany’s green mandates. Banning wood-burning heat sources upstate is another mandate that can be dismissed as laughable, but until its protection is guaranteed, our residents will always be vulnerable to an Albany politician snuffing out their wood-fired stove. For this reason, I am happy to co-sponsor legislation with Assemblyman Smullen that protects burning wood for home heating under state law,” Simpson concluded.