Today, Assembly Minority Leader Ed Ra (R-Franklin Square) announced the appointment of Assemblyman Scott Gray (R-Watertown) as the ranking Minority member and Assemblyman Paul Bologna (R,C-Clarence) as a new member of the Committee on Energy. In the midst of an energy reliability and affordability crisis, members of the Energy Committee will play critical roles in assessing the state’s current energy agenda and reinforce Minority lawmakers call for responsible oversight.

“Energy costs and reliability are on the mind of every New Yorker, and among the most pressing issues facing Albany this year,” Ra said. “The Assembly Energy Committee will be essential to identifying solutions for the problems at hand. I’m proud to appoint Scott Gray as the ranking Minority member and happy to name Paul Bologna to this important committee. Their expertise and dedication will strengthen our Conference’s efforts to deliver cost-effective energy initiatives that put consumers first.

“It is a tremendous opportunity to lead our Conference’s energy policy agenda as the new ranking Minority member of the Committee on Energy,” said Gray. “We are at a crossroads in this state; policies in Albany continue to strain the capabilities of our energy grid while pushing energy costs higher, forcing consumers to choose between buying groceries or heating their homes. I look forward to working with my colleagues to implement an energy strategy that prioritizes ratepayers, affordability, reliability and sustainability over political posturing.” 

Assemblyman Gray was first elected to represent the 116th Assembly District in 2022. He also serves as the ranking Minority member of the Committee on Tourism, Parks, Arts and Sports Development.

“From housing costs, running a business, to transporting goods, affordability in New York begins and ends with energy policy. Full stop,” said Bologna. “I’m grateful to Leader Ed Ra for appointing me to the Assembly Energy Committee, and I want to recognize former Minority Ranker Phil Palmesano for his immense knowledge and leadership, as well as our new Minority Ranker, Scott Gray, who I look forward to working with. Frankly, New Yorkers aren’t confused, they’re angry.We are opening our energy bills and seeing the consequences of a grid under strain. This stems from policies that ignore physics, ignore capacity, ignore reality and we are the ones left picking up the tab.I’m here to fight for accountability and common sense, because pretending this isn’t a crisis is no longer an option.”

Assemblyman Bologna was first elected to represent the 144th Assembly District in 2024. He currently serves as the ranking minority member of the Committee on Banks.

Assemblyman Gray serves as a member on the Alcoholism and Drug Abuse, Health and Higher Education committees, and has served on the Aging Committee. As a former small business owner, he recognizes the financial challenges facing residents and businesses in his community and supports policies promoting job creation and growth. He recognizes the importance of the growing energy demands of the modern economy and has been a leading advocate for the expansion of the state’s nuclear energy infrastructure.

Assemblyman Bologna serves as a member on the Children and Families, Cities, Consumer Affairs and Protection and Economic Development, Job Creation, Commerce and Industry committees. He has a lengthy background in state and local governance and understands the importance of crafting policies to make living in Western New York more affordable for families. As a strong supporter of keeping local control part of the decision-making process for large energy projects, he is committed to a more practical, community-driven energy policy approach.