New York City to Stop New Buildings from Using Natural Gas
New York is poised to bar most new buildings from using natural gas within a few years, after lawmakers voted to make the United States' most populous city a showcase for a climate-change fighting policy that has been both embraced and blocked elsewhere. If Democratic Mayor Bill de Blasio signs the measure, as expected, most construction projects submitted for approval after 2027 would have to use something other than gas or oil - such as electricity - for heating, hot water and cooking. Some smaller buildings would have to comply as early as 2024. Hospitals, commercial kitchens and some other facilities would be exempt. Supporters say it's a substantial and necessary move to combat global warming. Heating, cooling and powering buildings accounts for nearly 70% of the city's emissions of carbon dioxide and other heat-trapping gases. New buildings' stoves and furnaces would use electricity generated partly from burning natural gas and other fossil fuels, but backers say the change still would keep millions of tons of carbon dioxide out of the atmosphere over time. They argue it would boost momentum ahead of a statewide requirement to use 70% renewable energy by 2030, up from about 30% now. The measure faces an ongoing court challenge from a restaurant association, but San Francisco, Seattle and a few dozen other U.S. cities – mainly in California - have followed suit. It's too early to gauge the impact, said Amy Rider of the Building Decarbonization Coalition, which advocates for such laws. The town of Brookline, Massachusetts, has passed one twice. It was retooled and reapproved this summer after the state attorney general blocked the first version, saying it intruded on state authority. The AG hasn't taken action against the new effort to date.
Tags : INTERNATIONAL New York Natural Gas Mayor Bill de Blasio Amy Rider Building Decarbonization Coalition