Hudson Valley City Bans Fossil Fuels in New Construction

The city of Beacon, New York became the third in the state to ban fossil fuels in new buildings with a unanimous City Council vote this week. “The law requires all-electric construction for all new buildings and major renovations starting in 2024, and mirrors language in the statewide All-Electric New Building Act proposed with 85 co-sponsors in Albany.”

According to a press release from Food & Water Watch, “Buildings are New York’s largest polluters, producing 32% of the state’s climate-heating greenhouse gas emissions — all-electric construction would slash climate warming emissions.”

As the press release explains, “Ending fossil fuel use in new construction would prevent air pollution equivalent to keeping 870,000 gas-powered cars off the road every year, and save families in new homes statewide an average of over $900 a year on energy bills.” In addition to limiting greenhouse gas emissions, swapping out gas ranges for electric stoves improves indoor air quality and public health. 

Berkeley, California instituted a similar policy in 2019.