Take some time at the dinner table this holiday season to inform everyone about what is happening in NYS regarding the use of natural gas.

In May of this year, New York State passed a law banning the use of natural gas in new construction starting in 2026. The law bans natural gas hookups in new buildings shorter than seven stories by 2026, and in 2029 for taller buildings. And although it allows exemptions for manufacturing facilities, restaurants, hospitals and even carwashes, the measure does not give cities and counties license to override the ban. This was one part of the Climate Act and Draft Scoping Plan which also included but was not passed yet- No new gas service to existing buildings by 2024; No new natural gas appliances for home heating, cooking, water heating, clothes drying by 2030; and No gasoline-automobile sales by 2035. For more info, the link for the Scoping Plan is https://climate.ny.gov/resources/scoping-plan/

The New York State Senate has passed the HEAT Act and it is now in the Assembly. This bill ends the ‘100 foot rule’ which would make the cost of any new service line installation to be borne directly by the customer greatly increasing costs. The bill also caps energy bills at 6% of income for low- and middle-income families with the cost being borne by New York residents. Finally, the bill allows the Public Service Commission, an appointed body, not elected, to force gas utility companies to curtail or even discontinue the use of gas distribution systems as they see fit. For more info just google NY HEAT ACT.

Now You Know and hopefully more people will know.