Advocates Respond to Industry Lawsuit Against All-Electric Building Act

ALBANY, NY (10/12/2023) (readMedia)-- Earlier today, a group of businesses, trade associations, and other gas and propane industry stakeholders filed a lawsuit against New York's All-Electric Building Act. The Gas Free NY coalition, including Food & Water Watch, Earthjustice, New York Communities for Change, and NYPIRG, issued the following statement in response:

"It hasn't even been two weeks since fossil fueled flooding completely shut New York City down, marking the end of a summer defined by extreme heat and toxic orange skies. The All-Electric Building Act is critical to tackling these dangerous and often fatal events, on top of creating well-paying jobs and saving hardworking New York families nearly $1,000/year in home heating costs. Don't believe the wealthy fossil fuel industry's lies – lives, livelihoods, and wallets are already hugely impacted by climate change, and the All-Electric Buildings Act is critical to protecting all of these for New Yorkers."

After inclusion in Governor Hochul's 2023 Executive Budget, the All-Electric Building Act passed in May 2023 as part of New York State's Final Budget. It requires a shift to all-electric new construction statewide beginning in 2026, and is crucial for cutting greenhouse gas emissions in New York and meeting the emissions reductions mandates of New York's Climate Law.