New York is going electric. In a major move toward cutting fossil fuels, New York is now the first state to require newly constructed buildings to be made fully electric after the State Fire Prevention and Building Code Council’s meeting last Friday. Starting in 2026, new buildings that are seven stories or less, whether residential or commercial, must be built with all electric rather than fossil fuel equipment to curb New York’s top source of carbon emissions — buildings. By 2029, all newly constructed buildings — besides stated exceptions such as hospitals or restaurants — in New York will be mandated to use electric heat and appliances in a challenge against federal rollbacks on climate action programs.
The state law behind the all-electric building code, known as the All Electric Buildings Act, was actually passed two years ago after organizing by climate advocates, who found themselves up against the combined forces of fossil fuel companies, gas utilities and real estate. “A real battle to get passed,” said assemblymember Emily Gallagher, who was the bill’s main sponsor, at a virtual press conference last Friday, it was only just implemented into New York’s building code after repeated issues of the all-electric provision not being included in preliminary drafts of the 2025 code despite it being legally required. But the state’s move towards electricity was further bolstered by a legal victory back in March, in which a district court judge dismissed a challenge to a similar electrification law in New York City brought upon by plumbing and building trade groups.
Alongside Gallagher, other policymakers, climate activists and local contractors in support of the act came together to speak at a virtual press conference immediately following the Council meeting on Friday. One of the featured speakers of the press conference, Michael Hernandez, has been active in the nationwide fight for electrification as New York Policy Director for the nonprofit Rewiring America. In an interview with Radio Catskill, Hernandez said that electric appliances, which are characterized by their energy efficiency, lack of emissions and ability to be powered by renewable energy sources, are key in a state where buildings currently comprise 33% of statewide greenhouse gas emissions and around 70% of just New York City’s.“ When you’re using fossil fuels to cook or heat your home, you’re looking at technology that was developed like a hundred years ago,” he said. “The induction stoves, the heat pumps — these are state-of-the-art technologies that literally move heat in the air from outside to inside or from the ground to inside and do so in a very efficient way.”…