North Tonawanda, N.Y. (WBEN) - The Western New York Republican delegation in the New York State Legislature is lining up in staunch opposition to the proposal being put forth by Governor Kathy Hochul that would phase out the use of natural gas energy beginning as soon as 2025.
There are more questions than answers about the proposal that, so far, has only been detailed by Hochul in her State of the State address.
In her address, Hochul urged lawmakers to phase out the sale of natural gas and fossil fuel heating equipment in existing residential buildings beginning in 2030 and in 2035 in commercial ones. The governor also proposed requiring new residential and commercial buildings to be all-electric by 2025 and 2030, respectively.
“We are taking these steps now because climate change remains the greatest threat to our planet, and to our children and grandchildren,” said Hochul in her speech earlier this month.
Senate Minority Leader Robert Ortt Friday said, "This is not going to make people's energy and utility bills go down." Ortt referenced a state government estimate that $270 billion needs to be invested over 30 years to implement the changes. "There needs to be investment into the grid," Ortt said. "The grid today can't handle the increased electric load ... that comes from National Grid, the people who run it."
Hochul's proposal stems from recommendations from the Climate Action Council, however, Ortt and others opposed to the phase-out point to the 'green' aspect of natural gas energy. "Natural gas is one of the cleanest forms of energy. Period. There's no debate about that science"
Ortt was joined by Republican Senator George Borrello and Assemblyman Mike Norris in voicing opposition to the proposal and all pointed to the recent blizzard in Buffalo when natural gas was the dominant source of energy residents and commercial property owners relied on for heat and survival.
The natural gas phase out has many property owners fearing their natural gas appliances would be rendered useless or removed from their properties as the rollout of the guidelines unfolds. "There is no proposal that we're aware of that anyone's going to come and take your stove or your appliance," Ortt stated. "That's not happening." But after those dates, he adds, when those appliances fail, "You will not be able to replace that, there will not be any parts for it, there will be no service for it."
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Senator Borrello believes the cost estimates of the phase out and conversion to all-electric are conservative. "There are 6 million homes in New York State that will need to be converted from natural gas to electricity," he said. "The average cost, at a minimum, is going to be $40 thousand."
The natural gas phase-out has not yet hit the floor of either house in the NYS Legislature and there is no bill to date. Ortt believes the proposals will be part of Hochul's overall budget to be presented and then reviewed by the Legislature.
Senator Borrello, for his part, says he and his colleagues are ready. "We have to push back. We have to put some common sense into this equation."
"It still has to be voted on," emphasized Ortt. "She can't do it by herself."