Senator Patrick M. Gallivan, (R-C, Elma) says New York’s decision to delay a statewide mandate requiring new buildings to be all-electric starting January 1, 2026, is good news for consumers, and provides an opportunity to re-think the state’s long-term energy plan. 

The state agreed to suspend implementation of the All-Electric Building Act pending the outcome of a lawsuit filed in U.S. District Court by several trade groups and labor unions. The regulation would have prohibited natural gas, propane, and other fossil fuel-burning equipment in newly constructed buildings of seven stories or less.

"While consumers and businesses can breathe a sigh of relief, for now, a temporary delay is not enough,” Senator Gallivan said. “As I have argued all along, the state's one-size-fits-all energy mandate is unreliable, unachievable, and unaffordable. The requirements will limit consumer choice, drive up construction costs, and further strain the state's electric grid. This delay provides an opportunity for the state to re-think its energy policies and develop a plan that is more realistic and affordable."   

The lawsuit contends the state law is pre-empted by the federal regulations and therefore unenforceable and that the nation’s energy policy cannot be dictated by state and local governments.

Senator Gallivan voted against the all-electric building legislation, and the wider-reaching Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act passed in 2019 aimed at reducing greenhouse gas emissions through various regulations and mandates.

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