Republican gubernatorial candidate Bruce Blakeman has sharply criticized New York's ban on natural gas in new construction, labeling it a "green energy scam" that is damaging the state's economic development and exacerbating the housing shortage.
Blakeman voiced his opposition at a press conference held at a stalled construction site in Brooklyn, asserting that the environmental law is making it nearly impossible to build new homes in New York. He claimed the policy is costing residents billions of dollars and driving the state to the bottom in real estate development.
"We are ruining our economic development in this state," Blakeman stated. "We are creating the housing shortage under the lack of leadership of Kathy Hochul, with the acquiescence of [Mayor] Zohran Mamdani."
The law, officially known as the All Electric Buildings Act, bans the installation of natural gas and other fossil fuels for heating and cooking in new buildings. It applies to buildings up to seven stories tall starting in 2024 and will extend to taller buildings by 2029. The ban was enacted in May 2023 but has faced legal challenges and delays.
A federal appeals court upheld the legislation on June 30, two weeks prior to Blakeman's press conference. The ban has been criticized by developers who argue it significantly increases construction costs and timelines.
Humberto Lopes, a developer whose planned housing project in Carroll Gardens was allegedly stalled by the law, spoke at the event. He stated that the requirement to switch to all-electric systems forces projects back to the drawing board and could lead to substantially higher utility bills for tenants, with monthly electric bills potentially reaching $500.
Blakeman argued that the state has abundant natural gas reserves that are not being utilized. "We have the gas... We are sitting on one of the largest natural gas reserves in the world here in New York. And we're not extracting it," he said.
Supporters of the All Electric Buildings Act contend that banning natural gas hookups will reduce greenhouse gas emissions and improve indoor air quality. Blakeman, however, described the law as a "national embarrassment" and a "pipe dream," arguing that the state lacks sufficient energy infrastructure to support a fully electric transition and that consumers may not desire all-electric homes or vehicles.