BUFFALO, N.Y. (WBEN) As Albany lawmakers are finalizing a plan to phase out natural gas, Donna DeCarolis, President of National Fuel Gas Distribution, is urging leaders to move toward a hybrid heating solution.
DeCarolis is a member of the Climate Action Council that approved the blueprint to phase-out fossil fuels. She, however, voted against it. And she points to reliability issues and regional differences, as a reason not to rush forward on electrification.
"We're advocating to keep all options on the table for consumers. The state is required to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 85% by 2050. That's a long time down the road. We have time to get there," she said on WBEN Friday.
National Fuel conducted its own study of how to achieve that goal. "We think we can do that with a combination of energy efficiency and hybrid heating," she said.
Hybrid heating would allow consumers to use existing gas furnaces in combination with an air source heat pump to significantly reduce emissions and usage.
"You would have an air source heat pump for warmer days, such as over 30 degrees and in the summer for cooling. In the winter, when it's really cold, you would be able to use the high efficiency furnace, and avoid the costly build-out of the grid," added DeCarolis. "We think consumers should have options versus mandates. We don't have to electrify everything. It has to be reliable and it has to be affordable at the end of the day."
National Grid, which provides electric service to Western New York, analyzed the region for National Fuel and determined it would take nearly a quadrupling of the grid to be able to electrify heat in this region. Other parts of the state don't need that much of a build-out, because it's so much colder here, noted DeCarolis.
The cost impact of a conversion remains unknown. The New York Independent System Operator, which manages the grid in New York State, has said that meeting the ambitious target will require a three-time build out of the statewide grid. That impact alone, is undetermined.
"It's all well intentioned," said DeCarolis. "We all want a cleaner environment. Depending on who you speak to, it's either the most ambitious or aggressive climate act in the United States. But when we have aspirational goals we need to also be sure that we're considering the consumer.
National Fuel is enlisting customers to contact Governor Kathy Hochul and representatives in the State Assembly and State Senate to express their concerns about the plan.
Governor Hochul has proposed a ban on gas hookups in new construction, beginning in 2025. A ban on replacing fossil fuel heating equipment, such as boilers and hot water heaters, in existing buildings, would start in 2030.
The legislation is being hammered out in the new state budget, which is due April 1.