NY Governor: No More Natural Gas in New Buildings

New York Gov. Kathy Hochul (D) called for an end to the use of natural gas in new buildings in a policy blueprint released ahead of her State of the State address.

The Hill reports that in the blueprint, Hochul’s office outlined a plan to require zero on-site greenhouse gas emissions from new construction by 2027. The plan would also require energy benchmarking, or analyzing whether buildings are using more or less energy than those of similar sizes and occupancy levels, for large buildings.

"To make real progress on climate change, it's time to tackle major sources of pollution head-on, ensure greener housing is available to all New Yorkers, and pave the way toward a more sustainable future," Hochul said in a statement. "This transformative investment in green infrastructure will cement New York's status at the forefront of climate action and ensure equity in our transition to a cleaner, greener state."

Although New York City implemented a similar citywide requirement for new buildings in December, Hochul’s plan would mark the first statewide requirement if implemented. Such a plan would have to pass the state Assembly, The Hill says.

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Source: The Hill