Supporters of a bill to ban fossil fuel use in new buildings in New York are pushing to get the legislation passed before the State Legislature adjourns its session on Thursday.
“Beneficial building electrification is at the heart of New York’s climate plans and the only way we will meet our climate goals,” said Raya Salter, executive director of the Energy Justice Law and Policy Center and New York Climate Action Council (CAC) member. “The All-Electric Buildings Act represents the kind of step forward we must take to turn the corner on combustion in buildings.”
Salter joined other supporters for a press conference Friday to urge passage of the bill (S6843), which has received support in the Senate but stalled in the Assembly, according to Anne Rabe, environmental policy director at the New York Public Interest Research Group (NYPIRG).
“We have 50 co-sponsors, and we’re getting more every day,” Rabe said. “We are going to pass this bill into law this session.”
In December, the CAC identified a need to reduce buildings emissions in its state draft scoping plan to meet the targets of the Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act (CLCPA).
“One key component of our plan was a call to prohibit gas and other fossil fuels in new construction of single-family homes and low-income residential buildings by 2024,” said Robert Howarth, professor of ecology and environmental biology at Cornell University and CAC member.
The bill would require the state Fire Prevention and Building Code Council to prohibit systems that use fossil fuels in newly constructed buildings under six stories by the end of next year and by July 1, 2027, for all other buildings. Certain systems, such as emergency backup for hospitals and commercial food establishments, would be exempt.
To ensure affordable implementation of the law, state agencies would report to the governor and legislature on necessary changes related to rate design and policy in February 2023.
The legislation is similar to a New York City statute banning fossil fuel combustion technologies in new construction that former Mayor Bill de Blasio signed in December.
An Assembly joint committee hearing on all-electric buildings, held May 12, drew comments from opponents of the policy, including natural gas service providers in the state and workers’ unions.
Speaking on behalf of the New York State Association of Electrical Workers, attorney and former Assemblymember Addie Jenne said a pathway to electrifying the state already exists in the CLCPA, and additional policies that circumvent that plan could be detrimental.
Randy Rucinski, deputy general counsel and chief regulatory counsel for National Fuel, concurred with Jenne’s comments. Passing an all-electric buildings law would shortcut the “careful evaluation of complexities related to the energy transition” and could have “serious repercussions” on reliability, resilience and affordability, he said.
“No single form of energy will be sufficient to achieve the goals of the climate act in a safe and responsible way,” he said.
On May 25, 110 local elected officials in New York sent a letter to Gov. Kathy Hochul, Senate Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins and Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie asking for their support in passing the bill.