Current:Home > MyThe largest city in the U.S. bans natural gas in new buildings-DB Wealth Institute B2 Expert Reviews
The largest city in the U.S. bans natural gas in new buildings
View Date:2024-12-23 23:22:54
In a vote Wednesday, New York's city council approved a ban on natural gas in newly constructed buildings, joining cities like San Jose and San Francisco that have made similar commitments to reduce emissions.
Moving away from natural gas means that stoves and heat pumps will be powered by electricity instead, cutting down on carbon emissions. Nearly 40% of carbon emissions in the country — and more than half of New York City's emissions — come from buildings.
The new ban, with 40 votes in the affirmative and seven votes against the measure, applies to buildings that are seven stories or shorter by the end of 2023; buildings that are taller have an additional four years to comply. There are some exceptions in the bill, including hospitals, laundromats and crematoriums.
"This bill was about prioritizing people over profits and properties," Council member Alicka Ampry-Samuel, who led the effort to pass the bill, said at a rally outside city hall Wednesday afternoon. "We are at a point in our lifetimes that we need to act. We need to make sure we are protecting and saving our environment."
The legislation also sets up two studies that the Mayor's Office of Long-Term Planning and Sustainability will conduct. The first will examine the use of heat pump technology, and the second is a study on the impact of the new bill on the city's electrical grid.
Massive pushback from the gas industry against natural gas bans hasn't stopped cities around the country from taking on the effort. At least 42 cities in California have acted to limit gas in new buildings, and Salt Lake City and Denver have also made plans to move toward electrification.
In Ithaca, New York, the city even committed to ending the use of natural gas in all buildings — not just new ones.
But passing the ban in New York city, the largest city in the country, marks a significant benchmark for other cities trying to cut down carbon emissions in the fight against climate change.
The efforts to ban natural gas in new buildings in New York City may have also jumpstarted legislation to expand the ban to the entire state.
Legislation from state lawmakers Sen. Brian Kavanagh and Assemblymember Emily Gallagher, who are both Democrats, would require any buildings constructed in the state after 2023 to be entirely electric. If it passes, New York would become the first state to ban natural gas in new buildings at a state-wide level.
veryGood! (62254)
Related
- Gerry Faust, the former head football coach at Notre Dame, has died at 89
- Friends Creators Address Matthew Perry's Absence Ahead of Show's 30th Anniversary
- Kristen Bell Reveals Husband Dax Shephard's Reaction to Seeing This Celebrity On her Teen Bedroom Wall
- North Carolina’s governor vetoes private school vouchers and immigration enforcement orders
- Can I take on 2 separate jobs in the same company? Ask HR
- '21st night of September' memes are back: What it means and why you'll see it
- Is Isaac Wilson related to Zach Wilson? Utah true freshman QB starts vs Oklahoma State
- Golden Bachelorette Contestant Gil Ramirez Faced Restraining Order Just Days Before Filming
- Judith Jamison, acclaimed Alvin Ailey American dancer and director, dead at 81
- Biden opens busy foreign policy stretch as anxious allies shift gaze to Trump, Harris
Ranking
- Jelly Roll goes to jail (for the best reason) ahead of Indianapolis concert
- Election 2024 Latest: Trump and Harris campaign for undecided voters with just 6 weeks left
- Civil War Museum in Texas closing its doors in October; antique shop to sell artifacts
- Google begins its defense in antitrust case alleging monopoly over advertising technology
- Burt Bacharach, composer of classic songs, will have papers donated to Library of Congress
- NFL analyst Cris Collinsworth to sign contract extension with NBC Sports, per report
- Georgia State Election Board approves rule requiring hand count of ballots
- Miley Cyrus Makes Rare Public Appearance During Outing With Boyfriend Maxx Morando
Recommendation
-
Why Cynthia Erivo Needed Prosthetic Ears for Wicked
-
New York magazine says its star political reporter is on leave after a relationship was disclosed
-
Secret Service’s next challenge: Keeping scores of world leaders safe at the UN General Assembly
-
Google begins its defense in antitrust case alleging monopoly over advertising technology
-
How Kim Kardashian Navigates “Uncomfortable” Situations With Her 4 Kids
-
NFL bold predictions: Who will turn heads in Week 3?
-
Lizzo Unveils Before-and-After Look at Weight Loss Transformation
-
Nikki Glaser Trolls Aaron Rodgers Over Family Feud and More at New York Jets Game