New York plans to compel major oil companies to invest in green initiatives by purchasing their emissions.

In her State of the State address on Tuesday, New York Democratic Gov. Kathy Hochul is predicted to reveal her "Cap & Invest" anti-pollution plan, which opponents caution will lead to an increase in gasoline and utility expenses in the already environmentally conscious state.

The plan aims to decrease emissions by imposing a fee on companies based on their greenhouse gas emissions and using the revenue to fund projects such as retrofitting buildings to use clean energy.

The limit on greenhouse gas emissions imposed by a state is commonly referred to as a "cap." This "cap" is typically projected to decrease annually in order to achieve climate change prevention objectives.

The government can establish an auction for energy companies to bid on pollution-based "allowances," with the proceeds being used to fund green initiatives, as reported by New York Focus.

Critics, including the nonpartisan group Upstate United, argue that New York drivers may experience more pain at the pump if the proposal is implemented, as it aims to boost upstate New York's economy.

In New York, the average gas price is $3.14/gallon, similar to most surrounding states except Pennsylvania, which consistently has a higher gas tax.

The governor's spokesman stated to the New York Post that the governor is concentrating on reducing the cost of living by returning money to New Yorkers through refunds and tax credits.

The Empire State has progressively restricted energy exploration since Democrats took the executive reins from term-limited GOP Gov. George Pataki in 2007.

Gov. David Paterson's 2010 "timeout" on hydraulic fracturing for natural gas has persisted until the present day.

The "Marcellus Shale" range, named after a town in New York, has seen all fracking activity on the Pennsylvania side of the deposits.

Sen. Tom O’Mara, R-Elmira, represents a district that is part of the Marcellus oil shale formation, which remains untapped under state policy.

In Pennsylvania's Bradford and Tioga counties, natural gas wells are scattered throughout the countryside. However, when traveling on NY-17 through New York's Southern Tier, there are no signs of exploration visible.

On Monday, O'Mara criticized the latest "radical climate mandate" that was issued.

Gov. Hochul and the Albany Democrats will continue to discuss addressing New York's affordability crisis, but their actions, such as Cap and Invest, or 'Cap and Tax,' will only worsen the state's economic situation.

In 2014, O'Mara criticized New York's initial ban on fracking in his area, stating that it "destroys the aspirations of numerous Southern Tier farmers, landowners, businesses, and prospective employment opportunities in the natural gas sector."

According to Hochul, his cap-and-tax plan will increase the cost of doing business in New York, leading to the departure of more families and employers, and worsening the affordability crisis.

Assembly Minority Leader William Barclay stated on Planet Chronicle Digital that the plan reveals the governor is disconnected from New Yorkers.

"We don't need more unworkable environmental policies from Albany that increase costs and drive residents away. Democrats keep pushing for Cap and Invest and other misguided energy policies, but when people are struggling to pay for gas and heat, who benefits?" said Barclay, R-Oneida.

"We must ensure that New Yorkers have access to dependable and affordable energy sources, not require consumers to fund the environmental agenda of the liberal lobby."

In 2021, the Indian Point nuclear power generation plant on the Hudson River opposite Haverstraw was shut down by then-New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo.

Cuomo raised safety concerns and argued that the power plant should not be near the most densely populated area in the country, New York City. Critics countered that the city heavily relied on the power generated and complained about higher utility bills.

According to The New York Times, a 2019 law obligates New York to achieve net-zero emissions by 2050.

During the 2008 presidential campaign, "Cap & Trade" was first introduced to the American lexicon by then-Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill., as a way to appeal to environmentalists by proposing a tax on entities that emit greenhouse gases and impact the atmosphere.