A Hudson Valley city is a beacon of hope for those looking to electrify buildings across the state.
Beacon became the third municipality in New York to pass electrification legislation, the Times Union reported. The legislation bans the use of natural gas in new buildings and properties undergoing major renovations, taking effect at the start of next year.
The legislation passed unanimously five months after it was introduced. Projects approved by the end of June, however, will be exempt from the law.
There are a lot of carve outs for those looking to keep the gas pumping through their projects. Manufactured homes, manufacturing facilities, commercial food establishments, laboratories, laundromats and medical facilities are among the many exceptions to the law. Building permit rejectees can also appeal to the zoning board about why electrification for their project is unfeasible.
Beacon follows in the footsteps of New York City and Ithaca. The Big Apple is requiring newly built homes to go electric, while the home of Cornell is planning to use private investments to electrify all of its buildings.
There’s a push at the state level to electrify new buildings. Advocates have been advocating for the electrification of all new buildings beginning as early as 2024. That bill is in the Senate Energy and Telecommunications Committee.
Another bill would repeal the “100-foot rule” that allows utility companies to subsidize new gas hookups for residents within 100 feet of a gas line.
The oil and gas industries stand in opposition, wary of the reliability and cost of renewable energy.
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Buildings are the biggest greenhouse gas emitters in the state, accounting for a third of emissions in New York. A state goal is to have a zero-emissions electric grid by 2040.
Three years ago, the state approved a plan to reduce New York’s greenhouse gas emissions 40 percent by 2030 and 85 percent by 2050 when comparing levels to 1990.
— Holden Walter-Warner