Key Points:
The New York City Council on Wednesday voted to pass legislation banning the use of natural gas in most new buildings.
Under the law, construction projects submitted for approval after 2027 must use sources like electricity for stoves, space heaters and water boilers instead of gas or oil.
The bill would cut about 2.1 million tons of carbon emissions by 2040, equivalent to the annual emissions of 450,000 cars, according to a study by the think tank RMI.
The bill now goes to Mayor Bill de Blasio’s desk for signature. Once signed, the measure will go into effect at the end of 2023 for some buildings under seven stories, and in 2027 for taller buildings. Hospitals, commercial kitchens and laundromats are exempt from the ban.
Under the law, construction projects submitted for approval after 2027 must use sources like electricity for stoves, space heaters and water boilers instead of gas or oil. Residents who currently have gas stoves and heaters in their homes will not be impacted unless they relocate to a new building.
New York state was the sixth largest natural gas consumer in the country in 2019. While the state’s electricity today comes primarily from natural gas, which generates carbon dioxide emissions when burned, nuclear power and hydroelectricity are also significant sources, supplying 29% and 11% of generation in 2020, respectively — and neither of those power sources generate carbon dioxide emissions. Moreover, the state’s grid will continue to become cleaner during the transition to renewable energy sources.
Buildings in New York City account for about 70% of its greenhouse gases. Today’s ban will likely push forward a New York state requirement to obtain 70% of its electricity from renewable sources like solar, wind and water power by 2030 and achieve a net-zero emissions electric sector by 2040.
Real estate groups, the oil and gas sector and the National Grid — the utility that provides the city with natural gas — have strongly opposed the bill, arguing that it will cause a spike in demand for electricity that could prompt winter blackouts. Opponents also argue that the legislation will prompt higher costs for buildings that use electricity for heat compared to those that use natural gas.
“The real estate industry is committed to working with policymakers to develop proven policies that meaningfully reduce carbon emissions from the built environment,” said James Whelan, president of the Real Estate Board of New York, a trade association for the city’s real estate sector. You can read the entire article here.
We will keep you informed on all things New York City. We hope you have a happy and HEALTHY holiday season.
Warm regards,
Stacey Froelich
Stacey Froelich
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