New York State is delaying implementation of its gas appliance phaseout scheduled to start on January 1, 2026.
Per a November 12th federal court filing, the New York All-Electric Buildings Act of 2023 will be delayed pending an appeals court ruling on a lawsuit challenging the climate law. In July 2025, the Northern District of New York upheld the legislation.
Despite this development, Governor Kathy remains committed to defending the bill she signed into law in 2023. It bans new gas and fossil fuel hookups in new residential construction and some commercial projects.
“The Governor remains committed to the all-electric-buildings law and believes this action will help the State defend it, as well as reduce regulatory uncertainty for developers during this period of litigation,” Hochul spokesman Ken Lovett told E&E News.
In 2023, New York became the first U.S. state to ban conventional gas-powered appliances, including stoves. An accompanying website says the all-electric mandate is justified in order to fight climate change.
Climate change has an impact on us all, from rising sea levels to an increase in the severity and frequency of extreme weather events to the exacerbated air pollution. Some of New York’s largest industries, including agriculture, commercial shipping, forestry, tourism and fishing are already being detrimentally affected. Climate change also strains the physical infrastructure that delivers critical services to the citizens of New York, including the state’s energy, transportation, stormwater and wastewater infrastructure.
Unsurprisingly, the 2023 law granted exemptions to restaurants and hospitals. If this delay is upheld, it’s due to Governor Hochul warming up to new natural gas infrastructure projects like the proposed Williams-Northeast Supply Enhancement (NESE) underwater gas pipeline. This project, if approved, will deliver gas from Pennsylvania to New York City.
Full-electric appliances aren’t as cheap and environmentally friendly as advertised. As our Center for Energy and Conservation has reported, climate-friendly appliances often mislead about their perceived environmental benefits because more water and electricity is typically consumed compared to conventional appliances.
NYS’s Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act (CLCPA) mandates 70% of electricity generated in the state be derived from renewable sources by 2030 under its Clean Energy Standard (CES), formerly the renewable portfolio standard (RPS). States with RPS report having retail energy prices that are 11% more expensive compared to non-RPS states.
Despite this, natural gas produces the majority of electricity in the Empire State, supplying the majority (46%) of its net-electricity generation. Nuclear provides 22% of electricity generation, as does hydropower. Renewables, outside of hydropower, haven’t been widely adopted onto the grid.
Natural gas is clean, abundant, and reliable—even in states like New York. Let’s hope Governor Hochul and the state legislature revisit existing climate legislation to better align it with energy abundance.