Blakeman slams NY's pending ban on gas appliances in new homes

ALBANY — Republican Bruce Blakeman, who has been running his campaign for governor on various energy cost issues, is now "sounding the alarm" on New York’s ban of natural gas heat and appliances in most new buildings.

"This is a green energy scam," Blakeman, the Nassau County executive said Wednesday at a news conference in Brooklyn. "The fact of the matter is, we do not have enough energy to support going all-electric. People don’t want all-electric homes. They don’t want all-electric cars. ... It can always be an option. But you shouldn’t make people have to do something that they don’t want."

The law, known as the "All Electric Buildings Act" starting in 2026 would have prohibited the use of fossil fuels in the construction of new buildings seven stories or lower, and apply to all buildings in 2029.

But Blakeman’s opponent, Democratic incumbent Gov. Kathy Hochul, paused the law’s implementation last fall as a lawsuit continues to make its way through the federal court system.

"Gov. Hochul is fighting every single day to lower New Yorkers’ costs, cut their energy bills, and stand up to utility companies on behalf of New York families — Bruce Blakeman agrees with Trump on everything, even as he tries to kill critical energy projects to make power reliable and affordable for New York families," Hochul campaign spokesperson Ryan Radulovacki told Newsday in an emailed statement.

Blakeman on Wednesday also took issue with a New York City law that phases out the use of fossil fuels in new buildings for heating, hot water and appliances like stoves and clothes dryers.

Political experts say the latest campaign issue is in line with Republicans’ messaging around affordability and rising energy costs, which they’ve attributed to action taken by Democrats to address climate change.

What’s in the law?

Hochul and state lawmakers in 2023 approved the All Electric Buildings Act in an effort to combat climate change and reduce fossil fuel emissions.

There are around six million buildings statewide that are responsible for about one-third of greenhouse gas emissions in the state — making buildings the top source of emissions in New York, according to the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority.

Environmental groups nationwide applauded the law’s passage saying it would not only reduce pollution but also protect public health.

"The law is hugely important," said Alex Beauchamp, northern region director at Food & Water Watch, a national environmental advocate. "Buildings are the single biggest source of emissions in the city and state. ... A very simple first step is, we should stop making the problem worse by ending fossil fuel use in newly constructed buildings."

The law was set to take effect in January. 

 Where it stands

Soon after passage a group of businesses and unions, including the Plumbing Contractors Association of Long Island, filed a lawsuit against the state arguing that the law conflicts with federal law, which they said overrules the state measure. The lawsuit claims the law would increase costs for businesses, raise energy prices, discourage building and increase the burden on the state’s electric power grid.

The case has been making its way through the court system.

Hochul in a November 2025 legal filing indicated the administration won’t implement the mandate until a midlevel federal court ruled on the lawsuits.

"The governor remains committed to the all-electric-buildings law and believes this action will help the state defend it, as well as reduce regulatory uncertainty for developers during this period of litigation," Hochul spokesman Ken Lovett said at the time.

On June 30 a federal appeals court upheld the state law. The court also upheld a similar law in the City. The decision, however, could be appealed.

Why is it a campaign issue?

Republicans are likely trying to find their own way of pushing forward with what has become known as "affordability issues," said Grant Reeher, a political science professor at Syracuse University’s Maxwell School of Citizenship. "It also taps into the more general theme of New York is overregulated, regulations hurt business development and that makes things more expensive for everyone, so it fits."

Lack of popularity for the proposal going after gas appliances — particularly gas stoves — could be part of the motivation, Reeher said. He questioned whether this issue alone would sway a large number of voters. "It could be part of an arsenal of things," he said.

Environmental sustainability polls very high and voters have supported most "green" initiatives," said Larry Levy, executive dean of the National Center for Suburban Studies at Hofstra University. 

But it is "a good issue with the base, which has been parroting Trump on the ‘green energy scam,’ and Blakeman is still trying to solidify MAGA support," Levy told Newsday, adding that it could be a gambit to win moderate swing voters he would need to win.

What could Blakeman do?

If Blakeman wins election in November, there’s not much that he could do as governor to change the law without legislative support, political experts said.

 "The only thing that can be done with legislation that’s been passed is repeal it," Reeher said.

Blakeman, when asked what he could do if elected, said: "I will use my power as governor to make sure that we get extraction of natural gas in New York State. Create prosperity, create jobs."

He added, "I will cut the energy costs in half by increasing supply."

Blakeman could try to slow down implementation through executive orders, Levy said. "He could have an impact on how quickly things are carried out, but no, the law would remain the law."