A handshake agreement between New York Governor Kathy Hochul and lawmakers in Albany is on the cusp of banning natural gas in most new buildings statewide as part of a $229 billion budget deal that looks to broadly reduce the use of fossil fuels in the building sector.
The proposed ban covers appliances in most new construction and would take effect by late 2026 for smaller buildings under seven stories. The move puts New York in league with Washington state as the first two to legally bind builders to the use of either all-electric heating or kitchen appliances, which pave the way for an influx of new technologies such as heat pumps and induction stoves.
Cities like Boston, Los Angeles, Seattle, San Jose, and Berkeley, California have joined twenty-one others, including New York City, whose own 2021 ban provided a model for the state’s new law, which was opposed by Republicans who are bolstered by legal challenges in the U.S. Court of Appeals’ 9th Circuit.
Climate advocate Alex Beauchamp told the Washington Post the ban was a “huge deal” and a “testament to the lasting power of the state’s grassroots environmental movement.” The law would not require any upgrades or other changes to existing natural gas-reliant buildings in the state.
The state’s AIA chapter also commended the measure recently. Bans will not affect large buildings until the year 2029. Supporters expect the legislature to approve the budget deal as soon as this week.
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