The War On Gas Stoves is heating up in New York State, with Governor Kathy Hochul lighting the spark to turn her pilot program of banning them a reality in the Empire State.
Hochul did it with little fanfare, proposing a slight but significant change in the current law in her 2025 Executive Budget proposal titled “Affordable Gas Transition Act.”
Right now as the law exists in New York State, utility companies are mandated to provide natural gas service to a home or business that requests it, as long as they are within 100 feet of an existing main. The utility then spreads the cost of the new pipe/natural gas service amongst all of their customers.
For the most part folks don’t notice the additional cost and natural gas use therefore expands to anyone who wants it, so long as they’re 100 feet from a pipe that provides it.
Not anymore if Governor Hochul gets her wish.
As part of her “Affordable Gas Transition Act” the so-called “100-foot rule” would be scrapped and utility companies would no longer be required by law to provide homes and other buildings with natural gas.
Since this proposal was made in the Governor's Executive Budget, all it needs to become law is for the State Senate and Assembly to place it in the final budget and approve it.
In a statement, Hochul defended her decision to stop homes and businesses from using natural gas.
“With bold actions to deploy renewable energy swiftly and transition away from fossil fuels, we are not only charting the course for a cleaner and healthier New York State, but we are making important changes that will reduce costs for our most vulnerable New Yorkers,” said the New York Governor.
Numerous pro-gas groups are fighting fire with fire and filing suit to block Hochul and state lawmakers from banning natural gas usage across the state.
The National Association of Home Builders, Mulhern Gas of Hudson, and the National Propane Gas Association went to federal court and filed suit against New York State to block natural gas ban efforts.
The crux of their lawsuit is that the federal government under the umbrella of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has jurisdiction over the regulation of natural gas usage in New York, not the state.
This lawsuit further argues that any state laws orders banning natural gas are not enforceable since the federal government only has the true power to do so under the Energy Policy and Conservation Act.
The pro-gas group believes banning gas stoves and natural gas will force businesses to downsize or close, layoff workers, increase energy prices, and push the electric grid to a breaking point.
“Hundreds of plumbers on Long Island rely on new construction to feed their families and pay their mortgages. This illegal law has basically ripped the rug out from underneath them. It’s not about ‘what if’ things turn negative. We are already seeing new construction leave Long Island. We are in full support of a green economy, but we should talk about how to transition without ruining lives. Our message to the lawmakers who passed this bill without thinking of our 600 members and their families on Long Island: enough is enough,” said Jimmy Russo, President of the Plumbing Contractors Association of Long Island.