How the New York state budget might address decarbonization in buildings

Buildings are the number one emitters of carbon in New York state. Those emissions come from the burning of fossil fuels like oil and gas for heating and cooling.

Convincing New Yorkers to support a ban on natural gas connections to newly constructed homes and buildings was going to be a heavy lift even before Russia invaded Ukraine. With the subsequent increase in gas prices and utility costs on the rise, it may seem even more daunting. 

But Lisa Dix, the New York director of the Building Decarbonization Coalition, said the state needs to act now.

“We can’t afford not to act,” Dix told Capital Tonight. “We need to act now to make our energy bills more affordable over time.”