New York State is on track to become the first state in the U.S. to ban natural gas stoves, as part of a budget deal requiring all new buildings under seven stories tall to be fully electric by 2026. Despite this groundbreaking legislation, many residents have expressed concerns about the availability and reliability of electricity within the grid.
According to a poll conducted by Siena College back in February, only 39% of registered voters supported banning all new fossil fuel equipment for new homes by 2025 and all construction projects by 2029. Democratic Governor Kathy Hochul has defended the ban, stating that it addresses climate change-related issues such as storms, hurricanes hitting New York, and record snowfall amounts.
Business groups have been skeptical about this initiative due to worries over costs and increased demands on the electrical grid. The recently passed $229 billion budget will prohibit natural gas and fossil fuels usage in new buildings across New York State.
The law mandates electric heating and cooking systems for newly constructed buildings shorter than seven stories starting from 2026 while introducing electric-only requirements for other properties beginning in 2025. Existing structures will remain exempt from these regulations; therefore, homeowners with current gas appliances won't need replacements.
This move aligns with President Joe Biden's broader goal of reducing greenhouse gas emissions nationally between 50-52% before reaching the year 2030. However, it should be noted that President Biden does not explicitly support a nationwide ban on gas stoves at present.
While environmental groups praise this measure as progress against climate change battles, they argue that its implementation isn't soon enough. In April last year (year), Berkeley's attempt at banning natural-gas connections was struck down by The U.S Court Of Appeals For The Ninth Circuit located in California.
In summary: As part of their efforts towards greener living and combating climate change, New York State has passed a budget that will ban natural gas stoves and other fossil fuel-based equipment in new buildings under seven stories by 2026. This legislation has garnered mixed reactions from residents, businesses, and environmental groups due to concerns about grid reliability, costs, and overall effectiveness.