New York's Battle Over Gas vs. Electric Buildings
New York state lawmakers are set to pass the nation's first legislative ban on gas and fossil fuel appliances in most new buildings, including single-family homes, as part of the state budget due on March 31. The proposed ban includes fossil fuel furnaces, water heaters, clothes dryers, and gas stoves in most new construction. The move is seen as a national model that could spur similar action by other states and the federal government to limit fossil fuel use in buildings, which are a major source of greenhouse gas emissions contributing to climate change.