New York leads the charge. First to announce transition of all future building construction into electric models.

In a significant move towards combating climate change, New York has become the first state in the nation to prohibit gas and other fossil fuels in most new buildings, as mandated under the 2023 All-Electric Buildings Act. On July 25, the State Fire Prevention and Building Code Council approved an all-electric building standard in New York.

The new regulations, which will apply to new structures up to seven stories tall and, for commercial and industrial buildings, up to 100,000 square feet beginning Dec. 31, 2025, are expected to spur installations of heat pumps and heat-pump water heaters. These ultra-efficient electric appliances are good for the planet and typically, pocketbooks.

The move has not been without opposition. Opponents of the standard, including the New York State Builders Association, National Association of Home Builders, National Propane Gas Association, and local union chapters for plumbers and electricians, brought a lawsuit challenging the law, citing that it's preempted by the federal Energy Policy and Conservation Act. However, on July 23, a federal district court in New York upheld the state's ability to implement the All-Electric Buildings Act.

The judge in the case was unconvinced by the argument that the Berkeley decision relied on "deficient interpretations" of terms like "energy use." Similarly, Michael Hernandez, a policy director at electrification advocacy nonprofit Rewiring America, expressed relief with the rules being finalized but doesn't think the exemptions will eat away at the code's efficacy. Gallagher, a representative, also expressed relief with the rules being finalized.

The utility front group, New Yorkers for Affordable Energy, is among the fossil-fuel interests that worked to stop the All-Electric Buildings Act. The status of the request for the Department of Justice to block the code from taking effect is unclear. Interestingly, the search results do not contain information about organizations that sent a letter to US Attorney General Pam Bondi in June 2022 to hinder the introduction of an electric building standard regulation in New York.

It's worth noting that buildings account for 31% of the Empire State's planet-warming pollution. The new regulations, therefore, mark a significant step towards reducing greenhouse gas emissions and mitigating climate change.

Despite the federal government's recent actions, such as providing the fossil-fuel industry with new subsidies and yanking support for renewable power and home energy efficiency, New York's commitment to a cleaner, greener future remains unwavering. The All-Electric Buildings Act is a testament to that commitment and a beacon of hope for a more sustainable future.