Hudson Valley City Bans Fossil Fuels in New Construction

Beacon will require all-electric appliances in new buildings starting next year.

1 minute read

March 23, 2023, 5:00 AM PDT

By Diana Ionescu @aworkoffiction


Aerial view of small town of Beacon, New York in the Hudson Valley

CE Photography / Beacon, New York

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.

Tuesday, March 21, 2023 in Food & Water Watch

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