Democratic New York Gov. Kathy Hochul released her fiscal year 2025 budget which included provisions to further curb the state’s reliance on natural gas as part of her administration’s climate agenda.
The governor’s proposed budget would include provisions taken directly from the NY HEAT Act, also known as the Affordable Gas Transition Act, which “supports responsible, equitable, and effective gas system transition planning,” according to her office. [emphasis, links added]
While Hochul’s office said the proposal wouldn’t force any resident to transition away from gas, the bill would empower state regulators to indirectly push such a transition.
“The Affordable Gas Transition Act would not force any existing customers to get rid of their gas service,” a spokesperson for Hochul told Fox News Digital. “Governor Hochul continues to prioritize the health and safety of New Yorkers by reducing harmful emissions and ensuring all New Yorkers have continued access to affordable and reliable utility service.”
But, if passed by the state’s legislature, Hochul’s budget would require utilities to provide incentives encouraging customers to adopt green alternatives, pushing them to discontinue existing gas service.
In addition, the budget would eliminate New York’s so-called “100-foot” rule, which mandates that utility providers install a gas hookup for any customer whose home is located within 100 feet of an existing pipeline.
The law has been the subject of intense criticism from environmentalists who argue it encourages new customers to rely on gas service rather than electricity.
“We applaud the Governor’s inclusion of this necessary policy, which will give the Public Service Commission the authority and direction to align gas utility regulations and system planning with the Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act,” Earthjustice, a left-wing climate advocacy organization, said in a statement.
“Importantly, it will eliminate the unjust 100-foot rule, which forces everyday New Yorkers to pay for the expansion of the gas system to the tune of more than $200 million every year. It also removes a mandate to provide fossil fuel to residential customers,” the group added. “This language, which obligated utilities to serve gas to residential customers, blocked the state’s transition to healthy, inexpensive heating and cooling.”
Hochul’s proposal is the governor’s latest salvo in her fight to reduce the state’s overall carbon footprint, and greenhouse emissions generated from the building and residential sector in particular.
Last year, she reached an agreement with the state legislature to finalize a budget mandating that all new construction of smaller buildings [have] zero emissions by December 2025 and all new construction of other buildings [have] zero emissions three years later.
The law, which effectively initiates a ban on gas hookups in new construction, is the first statewide law of its kind.
Hochul has also expanded the New York Power Authority’s control over renewable energy development and fossil fuel power shutdowns.
However, her actions have faced criticism from state Republicans, power providers, and labor unions who say the state isn’t ready for such a rapid transition to green energy.
Both the New York Power Authority and New York Independent System Operator warned Hochul’s plans could be detrimental to the state’s electric grid, while unions warned there isn’t a large enough green energy supply in the state yet.
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Between Hochul along with the environmentalists and the insane judgement against Trump at $300+M they are trying to empty out the state of humans. Wonder if that’s their goal.
Time to turn off he power to her home and City Hall and she can use Candles for light this Dumb Cluck all mouth and no mind
Before the legalization of marijuana, illegal indoor grow operations avoided detection by
by-passing hydro meters. Theft.
The increase in shop lifting today is evidence of society’s moral decay. Herd everyone into dependence on electricity, crank up the price and see what happens.
We can look to history to see what happens. During the US Great Depression, people would connect a house that had power cut off to above the meter of a neighboring house. They removed the connection during the day when the inspectors would come around. This wasn’t a matter of morality, but desperation.
The Ninth Court of Appeals has declared refusal to connect national gas to new buildings illegal. This impacts the western part of the United States. If the Second Court of Appeals comes out with a similar ruling, or if the Supreme Court upholds the ruling of the Ninth Court, the restrictions to new hook ups in New York will also be illegal.
Given the most liberal circuit court ruled this way I expect other, more intelligent, courts will do so as well. Denver’s mayor said that he is looking at forbidding new homes and building from having gas hookups. I expect this will end up with SCOTUS where it will also be rejected. Same with other such left-wing idiocy like California’s stating no ICE vehicles can be sold and that all garden equipment must be battery powered.