Buffalo, N.Y. (WBEN) - As New York State continues to shift it's energy policy toward all-electric, one State Assemblyman says he is still waiting for answers about how the plan will impact Western New York.
Bill Conrad, a Democrat representing the State's 140th Assembly District,
tells WBEN he thinks a lot of the state's goals are great, but just not feasible right now.
"With regard to the January deadline with all electric buildings, right now we're not 100% sure what the state regulations on building codes are going to be. When we pushed that law through the budget, we put amendments in
there to carve out Western New York," said Conrad on Tuesday. "Right now we're waiting for the PSC (State Public Service Commission) to make a determination on whether the all electric building code should be applicable to Western New York."
Conrad added that he is still hopeful that when the PSC issues its regulations on all-electric buildings for Western New York, that they take into consideration an amendment allowing the ability to have a backup generator in your home which could be from natural gas or a fossil fuel.
It's unclear when these regulations are coming.
Conrad says he is not alone on the issue, as a State Democratic lawmaker.
"There are quite a few of us in the majority taking a stand. There are colleagues from New York City to Central New York and Long Island who have said let's take a look at this and decide if this is the best policy going forward.
And do it under a lens of affordability and feasibility," he said.
The state's All-Electric Building Act, phasing out fossil fuel systems in most new buildings under seven stories, is targeted to begin Jan. 1, 2026.