GOP Candidate Blakeman Calls for Tapping NY Natural Gas Amid Soaring Energy Prices

Republican gubernatorial candidate Bruce Blakeman, alongside former New York Gov. George Pataki, criticized Gov. Kathy Hochul's green energy policies on Tuesday, arguing they are "bankrupting" New Yorkers and proposed tapping the state's natural gas reserves to reduce soaring energy bills. The press conference was held in Washington Heights.

"We're not going to be able to supply our energy from this day going 100% with wind turbines and solar farms," Blakeman told reporters. "It will actually bankrupt New Yorkers if we allow it to continue over the next four years. It’s got to be a balanced approach to energy. We’re sitting on one of the largest natural gas reserves in the world. Yet Kathy Hochul won't let us extract that natural gas."

Pataki, who served as governor from 1995 to 2006, echoed Blakeman's concerns, stating that energy costs have risen significantly since he left office. "We're all for renewable energy, but it has got to be part of a package that doesn’t drive up costs through the roof," Pataki said. "It can’t be something that is based on ideology as opposed to the practicality of what the people need."

Blakeman has made energy costs a central theme of his campaign, vowing to cut utility bills. Since Hochul took office in 2021, New Yorkers have experienced increasing energy costs. Con Edison bills in New York City rose 27% between 2021 and 2025, with the average monthly bill increasing from $160 to $218. In upstate New York, NYSEG customers saw a 46% increase in their bills during the same period, from approximately $80 to $147 per month.

These increases have contributed to New York having the third-highest energy bills in the nation, behind Hawaii and California. Blakeman advocates for utilizing hydraulic fracturing, or "fracking" to access New York's natural gas resources. Fracking was banned statewide in 2014 and codified in 2021, presenting a significant legislative hurdle should Blakeman win the election.

Blakeman's campaign pointed to a report by the Empire Center for Public Policy, which suggests that natural gas could lower winter heating costs to an estimated $131 per month, compared to approximately $550 per month for electric heating, which a majority of the state relies on.

"We should have an ‘All of the above’ attitude for energy. People are really suffering," Blakeman stated. "People are telling me wherever I go how expensive their utility bills are. We’ve got to get back to common sense and having an energy policy that works for the people."

The candidates' remarks come weeks before the midterm elections, with recent polls indicating a close race between Hochul and Blakeman. Hochul, in response to rising energy costs, has highlighted $1 billion in rebate checks distributed to New Yorkers this year. She also attributed high utility bills to national factors, including "the war with Iran."