NY came back the first US state to ban the use of fossil fuels, such as gason most new buildings from 2026, a win for the environment.
This is a great triumph for environmental activists in this majority democratic state not without challengesyes, before opposition from the powerful fossil fuel industry and Republicansreluctant to accept the reality of climate change.
“Changing the way we generate and use energy to reduce our dependence on fossil fuels will contribute ensure a healthier environment for ourselves and our children“said the president of the State Congress, Carl Heastie after the approval of the law.
According to the new law, which it will enter into force in 2026 for new buildings of less than 7 stories and in 2029 for those taller.gas that 3 out of 5 homes currently use for heating and cooking will be replaced by electricity from renewable energy.
Hospitals, essential infrastructure and restaurants will be left out of these measureswhich is expected to spread across the country, a claim that has intensified since the beginning of the year.
The new law does not affect existing buildings. But over time, it could undermine the dominance of gas in the state, where 3 out of 5 homes rely on this polluting fossil fuel for heating. Only one in seven homes is heated by electricity, according to the Department of Energy. The new law will not affect buildings that have already been constructed.
The ban also affects diesel and propane heatersfuel is widely used in particular in the rural areas of the state.
Lost criticism argue that the law limits consumer choice and will increase bills, since electricity is more expensive than gas. According to the Department of Energy, 52% of New York households use natural gas for apartment heating and cooking.
The United States is the largest producer of natural gas in the world. and the Russian invasion of Ukraine, in 2022 it became the main exporter of LNG (liquefied natural gas).
The new state budget of 229,000 million dollars, which was approved by the parliament on Tuesday night, envisages the creation of a Climate Action Fund to help the state in the energy transition towards cleaner and more sustainable sources – solar, wind and hydro – to meet the goals its to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 85% by 2050.
