The following statement can be attributed to Regional Plan Association, Natural Resources Defense Council, Urban Green Council, and Association for Energy Affordability.

NEW YORK, NY - Today the New York City Council took a monumental step to address climate change and improve health and quality of life in the city by effectively banning fossil fuels from new buildings. This law sends a clear signal to the marketplace that New York City is turning to clean, renewable electricity to heat our buildings and sets the stage for a just and orderly transition away from gas.

The version of the law adopted today substantially tightens the emissions performance standard for buildings. It ensures new buildings will be all-electric, powered by an increasingly renewable grid, and eliminates renewable natural gas as a compliance strategy for new buildings. While we would have liked to see faster implementation, the law’s phased approach provides a strong but feasible schedule with more than enough time to design all-electric buildings and address any technical challenges.

Our organizations laud this measure and thank Council Members Jim Gennaro and Alicka Ampry-Samuel, Speaker Corey Johnson and Mayor Bill de Blasio for this historic action. New York City is by far the largest municipality to enact a policy of this magnitude, and by doing so has set the bar for all cities and states that are serious about climate pollution from buildings.

We look forward to working with both the city and the state to continue advancing that transition. A summary of the law can be found in this fact sheet from Urban Green Council.