Public Policy Update: New York Gas Ban Enforcement.

And So It Begins

Starting in 2026, New York is taking steps to enforce its laws against using fossil fuels for heating in most new buildings. This New York Gas Ban is a big change aimed at cutting down on emissions from buildings and speeding up the move to cleaner energy sources. They’re pushing electricity as the best way to get power. Fossil fuels are basically flammable carbon compounds—or hydrocarbons—that come from natural materials in the Earth’s crust, made from ancient organisms. These include coal, petroleum, natural gas, and refined fuels like kerosene, gasoline, diesel, and propane.

Court Ruling

On June 30, 2026, the Second Circuit Court decided against the National Propane Gas Association’s group in its fight against the New York Gas Ban. The court said that the Energy Policy and Conservation Act (EPCA), which sets national energy efficiency rules for appliances, doesn’t stop states or cities from banning gas appliances. This is different from what the Ninth Circuit had said before on the same thing. We’ll talk more about the Energy Policy and Conservation Act later in the article.

Legal Reasoning

The court explained that EPCA only talks about “energy use” when it comes to the efficiency level that’s set before the appliance gets to people, not how much it’s actually used after it’s sold. They pointed out that EPCA’s main goal is to make sure everyone in the country has the same energy-saving standards, not to make sure you can get any particular appliance. Because of this, the court figured that New York’s local gas bans don’t break any federal laws.

Summary

New York State has put in place a law that stops the installation of fossil fuel equipment, like furnaces, hot water tanks, ranges, dryers, and fireplace inserts, on or after December 31, 2025, for buildings that are seven stories or shorter. A complete ban on these appliances and heating systems starts in 2028. This law is part of the state’s plan to cut down on greenhouse gas emissions and encourage using electricity.

Here’s a bit of history: How did we get here?

This law comes from the Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act, which New York State passed back in July 2019. At that time, it was seen as a big deal because it required the state to cut greenhouse gas emissions by 40% across the board by 2030 and at least 85% by 2050 compared to 1990 levels.

Under this law, the Climate Action Council was set up to come up with ideas on how New York State can reach these goals. The Climate Action Council gave its final plan the thumbs up on December 19, 2022. Now, many of the ideas need to be approved by the State Legislature and different regulatory groups (like the Department of Environmental Conservation and the Public Service Commission).

This ban on putting in fossil fuel-powered equipment is pushing people to switch to electric heating and energy systems, which are thought to be better for the environment than fossil fuels. Builders will have to follow these new rules, which will change how all NEW buildings are designed and powered from now on.

Just so you know, the law doesn’t apply to existing buildings, so homeowners and businesses can keep using their current fossil fuel systems. This new law is a big deal for New York as it works to fight climate change and move towards renewable energy. You can learn more about this at nyelectrificationfacts.org.

Energy Policy and Conservation Act (EPCA)

New York State has put together some solid energy policies to help us get more clean energy, use less energy, and cut down on greenhouse gases. It’s a bit like what the federal government is doing under the Energy Policy and Conservation Act (EPCA), but it also has some special ideas just for New York. The EPCA sets the minimum standards for how energy-efficient things should be, and states have to follow them. New York wants to make these standards even stricter, as long as they don’t get in the way of what the federal government is doing. 

The state uses the EPCA’s guidelines for how good appliances and cars are at using fuel to help achieve its bigger climate goals. The EPCA was created back in 1975 because of the energy crisis in the 1970s, and it was supposed to help us use less energy, make things more energy-efficient, and save some energy for the future.

Key Parts of the EPCA

• Making the Strategic Petroleum Reserve (SPR).
• Setting up energy efficiency rules for appliances and tools.
• Encouraging energy-saving programs at both the federal and state levels.
• Creating fuel economy rules through the Corporate Average Fuel Economy (CAFE) program.

New York State’s Energy Policy

• Let’s move towards cleaner energy sources like solar, wind, and hydro!
• Our goal is to get 70% of our electricity from renewable sources by 2030, and aim for 100% zero-emission electricity by 2040.
• We’re also working to cut greenhouse gas emissions by 85% by 2050, thanks to the Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act (CLCPA).

Here are some of the key programs and initiatives in New York State:

• The NY-Sun program is helping to grow solar installations.
• The Clean Energy Standard (CES) is boosting the amount of renewable energy we produce.
• We’re updating building energy efficiency codes and appliance standards to meet or exceed EPCA requirements.
• We’re also offering incentives for electric vehicle adoption and expanding charging infrastructure.

In summary, New York State’s energy policy builds on the Energy Policy Act of 1970 (EPAct) by setting ambitious goals for renewable energy and emissions reduction. While EPAct provides the federal framework for conservation and efficiency, New York’s policies show a proactive and aggressive approach to leading the way in sustainable energy. However, we believe that consumers should have the freedom to choose the most suitable fuel sources for their homes and businesses. Electricity isn’t a one-size-fits-all solution.

Norco/North Collins Cylinder Gas Co., Inc. neither endorses nor supports the fossil fuel energy policies implemented by New York State in their push towards electrification. When it comes to energy choices, affordability, availability, dependability, flexibility, and sustainability are all crucial factors. What may be effective in New York City might not be suitable for Western New York. Regardless of one’s belief in climate change as the driving force behind these conservation and efficiency measures, propane and natural gas are renewable energy sources that provide consumers with peace of mind and offer a low-carbon footprint. Since 1945, Norco/North Collins Cylinder Gas has supported your propane energy needs, and we will continue to do so, now and in the future. You can rely on us.