New York becomes first state in US to ban natural gas in most new builds

KARAH RUCKER: NEW YORK HAS BECOME THE FIRST STATE IN THE U.S. TO PASS A LAW BANNING NATURAL GAS IN MOST NEW BUILDS.

IT’S A MOVE TO PHASE OUT FOSSIL FUELS IN ORDER TO LOWER EMISSIONS IN THE STATE. THE STATE LAW BANS GAS-POWERED STOVES, FURNACES AND PROPANE HEATING IN MOST NEW RESIDENTIAL BUILDINGS ACROSS NEW YORK. IT REQUIRES ELECTRIC HEATING AND COOKING IN NEW BUILDINGS SHORTER THAN 7 STORIES BY 2026. AND ALL NEW BUILDINGS BY 2029.

LARGE, COMMERCIAL BUILDINGS LIKE STORES, HOSPITALS, RESTAURANTS —

THEY’RE NOT SUBJECT TO THE NEW LAW.

ACCORDING TO A “DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL CONSERVATION” REPORT LAST YEAR – NEARLY ONE-THIRD OF NEW YORK’S EMISSIONS COME FROM BUILDINGS.

THE NEW LAW LOOKS TO REDUCE THAT.

CRITICS SAY WHILE THE STATE LAW MAY BE GOOD IN THEORY – PUSHING A BAN ON NATURAL GAS IS NOT FEASIBLE – SAYING IT COULD RAISE COSTS TO CONSUMERS AND RESTRICTS THE FREE MARKET.

WHILE NEW YORK IS THE FIRST STATE TO PASS A BAN ON GAS STOVES IN NEW BUILDS — THERE’S BEEN SEVERAL CITIES THAT ALREADY HAVE SIMILAR LAWS — INCLUDING SAN FRANCISCO AND NEW YORK CITY.