New York’s All-Electric Buildings Act —it goes into effect December 31.

Reprinted from a Facebook post by Mark Walczyk.

This state law was snuck into the State budget revenue bill (S4009-C/A3009-C) in 2023 and mandates most new construction be all-electric, prohibiting the installation of fossil-fuels like natural gas, propane, and heating oil equipment and systems. Specifically, the law bans the installation of new equipment and systems that burn fossil fuels including furnaces, boilers, water heaters, stoves, clothes dryers, etc.

In 2023 Democrats controlled both the Senate and Assembly. Governor Hochul negotiated this mandate into the budget and signed it into law. You’re hearing about it again right now because there was a delayed enactment. For building permits to get exemptions approved, projects must “substantially complete building permit application” and be submitted before the effective deadlines. So if you’re building a home now, you’re under the gun.

They’ll tell you “it’s just some buildings” and “this won’t affect housing prices.” Those statements are a half-truth and a lie. On January 1, 2026 the ban will apply to new buildings that are seven stories or less, including new single-family homes (so pretty much everything built in the Senate District I represent). Then, on December 31, 2028, the law extends the ban to all new buildings in NY, regardless of size. Estimates on increased cost for new construction range from $10,000 – $50,000 per home. And the reality is, builders are holding off on building at all because: 1. People don’t want this, 2. Additional cost puts them out of market, 3. Many areas don’t have enough power in the grid to support them.

They’re doing all of this while their energy plan has actually resulted in less electricity being produced in our state and bills are skyrocketing. Turns out the promise of all those solar panels and wind turbines fell short (to the surprise of nobody). Despite my urging, Governor Hochul refuses to change course even though she says we need to build more housing and that housing is unaffordable. Well yeah, Governor, why do you suppose that is?

And just in case you are already connected to the necessary fuel to heat your home and read this thinking “at least I’m good” …you are for now …but not for long. This year, they passed part of the “NY HEAT Act” (sick ironic naming) which makes it cost-prohibitive for people in existing homes to connect to natural gas lines, even if the gas runs down their street. The other part of that bill – which didn’t pass this year but was included in the Senate Democrat’s one-house budget resolution – would force the NY Public Service Commission (PSC) to develop a plan for an “orderly, affordable, and equitable right-sizing of the utility gas system.” Their plan is to shut your gas off too.

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Mark Walczyk. is an American politician and United States Army Reserve officer serving as a member of the New York State Senate for the 49th district since 2023. A Republican, he won the seat in 2022 after serving two terms in the New York State Assembly.