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

May 04, 2023

Karah Rucker Reporter/Producer

By Karah Rucker (Reporter/Producer), Stacey Chamberlain (Editor/Digital Producer)

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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 seven stories by 2026 and all new buildings by 2029.

Large, commercial buildings like stores, hospitals and restaurants are not subject to the new law.

According to the Department of Environmental Conservation report in 2022, nearly one-third of New York‘s emissions come from buildings. The new law looks to reduce that.

Critics argue while the state law may be good in theory, pushing a ban on natural gas is not feasible. They say it could raise costs to consumers and restrict the free market.

While New York is the first state to pass a ban on gas stoves in new buildings, there has been several cities that already have similar laws, including San Francisco and New York City.

Tags: Fossil Fuels, Natural gas, New York

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.