Polling released yesterday by New Yorkers for Affordable Energy, a front group for the oil and gas industry, found that a majority of New Yorkers, 57%, support ending fossil fuels in new construction. The polling also found that a majority of New Yorkers (64%) agree that electrifying buildings will create good jobs.

The All-Electric Building Act would require all electric construction statewide. Governor Hochul has included a statewide ban on fossil fuels in new construction in her budget proposal; New York City already has a similar law on the books. The politically popular move will also save New Yorkers money — analyses have found that building all-electric would lead to hundreds of dollars in energy cost savings for consumers. As the prices of gas and fuel oil have continued to rise, New Yorkers across the state, regardless of climate zone, would save more with an all-electric home.

The #GasFreeNY coalition, which includes AIA New York, Earthjustice, Food & Water Watch, New York Communities for Change, NYPIRG, Rewiring America and WE ACT for Environmental Justice, issued the following statement:

“Even gas industry-funded polling shows New Yorkers support legislation to end fossil fuels in new buildings. Like previous polls, this polling finds New Yorkers agree that it’s time to end gas in new construction to save New Yorkers money, tackle the climate crisis, create jobs and prevent childhood asthma. The All-Electric Building Act will save New Yorkers’ from skyrocketing gas bills in new buildings. Each year, about 40,000 new homes are built across New York. Each new building hooked to gas locks more families into overpaying to heat their homes, while padding the fossil fuel industry’s profit, torching our state, and endangering children from asthma. 

“The fossil fuel industry will continue their signature fear mongering and deception to delay the green energy transition – but their own polling shows New Yorkers aren’t buying it. Governor Hochul supports including an end to fossil fuels in new construction in her proposed budget, and the State Senate has also supported this vital action. The Assembly should follow suit by including the All Electric Building Act in their one-house budget.”

Contact: Phoebe Galt, [email protected]

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