Friday, January 29, 2021

NYC Mayor to Ban Gas Hookups in New Buildings by 2030


New York City will Officially Ban Fossil Fuel Connections in New Construction by 2030, a Major Step toward Phasing-Out a Reliance on Gas and Oil that other Liberal Cities have pursued across the Nation.

Term-Limited Mayor Bill de Blasio (D) will announce the New Policy during his State of the City Addressy.

The City will first establish Intermediate Goals for the Policy in the Short Term and work to ensure the Ban doesn’t Negatively Impact Renters and Low-Income Homeowners.

De Blasio, last year pledged to Ban Natural Gas and other Fossil Fuels in Large Building Systems by 2040 and to Block any New Fossil Infrastructure, like Pipelines, in the City. But it was Unclear at the time how he would Achieve those Lofty Goals as Cities are mostly beholden to the State or Federal Government when it comes to New Energy Infrastructure, from siting New Power Plants to Building Offshore Wind Farms.

But Banning Gas Hookups in New or Renovated Buildings is one of the few ways Cities can exert Local Authority to cut Greenhouse Gas Emissions, and New York will now pursue the Measure.

The Ban is among a List of Policy Items that Environmental Advocates are pushing Democratic Mayoral Candidates to Commit to before the June Primary. Some of those Groups are likely to Push the City for a Ban ahead of 2030.

"It’s a very positive development," said Pete Sikora of New York Communities for Change, one of the Groups behind the Candidate Pledge. "We want to see a deal between the mayor and the Council as soon as possible to pass this law and for it to go into effect just about immediately. It’s a climate emergency and there's no time to waste."

In California, Cities are allowed to propose Ordinances that exceed Energy Efficiency Standards set by the State, which must then be Approved by the California Energy Commission.

Berkeley was the First City to use that Authority to propose a Ban on Natural Gas Pipes in Newly Constructed Buildings. Since then, California has allowed at least Nine Cities to move forward with Limits on Natural Gas, including Menlo Park and San Jose.

Other Cities in Massachusetts, like Newton, have also pursued similar Policies. But Economic and Legal Challenges have proved a Sticking Point as some Cities have sought to Implement the Measure.










NYC Wins When Everyone Can Vote! Michael H. Drucker


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