Upstate United Speaks Out Against All-Electric Building Act

May 13th, 2022

Yesterday, members of the New York State Assembly held a hearing regarding the All-Electric Building Act. If you’re not familiar with this proposal, here’s a description of the measure via the New York State Senate website:

Enacts the “all-electric building act”; provides that the state energy conservation construction code shall prohibit infrastructure, building systems, or equipment used for the combustion of fossil fuels in new construction statewide no later than December 31, 2023 if the building is less than seven stories and July 1, 2027 if the building is seven stories or more.

You read the right: another costly mandate may be coming to a residential or commercial building project in the very near future. Upstate United submitted written testimony to members of the Assembly which we invite you to read.

You can also learn more about this draft legislation by watching the full All-Electric Building Act hearing below. What’s most shocking about yesterday’s hearing is that members of the state’s Climate Action Council – the group that’s been tasked with making recommendations as to how New York can meet its climate goals – weren’t able to give clear answers about the cost impacts of the state’s climate plan. Many of the hearing speakers also admitted that there are major concerns about the condition of New York’s electric grid.

We strongly believe that before any decisions on this and other energy proposals are made, millions of consumers deserve clear answers about energy affordability and reliability.