In her recent State of the State speech, New York governor Kathy Hochul urged the state legislature to pass the country’s most aggressive greenhouse gas and emissions reduction strategy.
Governor Hochul proposed that natural gas heating be banned in all new commercial buildings beginning in 2035, according to Energy Wire. She also proposed that commercial buildings should be all-electric by 2030.
While a debate in Congress rages about an industry group suggestion that gas stoves may be banned for safety reasons, Governor Hochul’s proposal is more focused on climate-related goals for her state. Her proposal would contribute to New York State’s goal of reducing emissions from 1990s levels by 85 percent by 2050, she said in her speech.
Governor Hochul also proposed a cap-and-trade system, or “cap-and-invest,” as she termed it, for the state that would incentivize the state’s biggest greenhouse gas emitters to reduce emissions.
Greg Zimmerman is senior contributing editor for FacilitiesNet.com and Building Operating Management magazine.
