The Yates County Legislature has passed a resolution of opposition to New York Governor Kathy Hochul’s proposal to remove fossil fuel use in buildings as part of the state’s effort to combat climate change.
The all-electric building legislation aligns with the state Climate Action Council’s plan to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 40% by 2030 and 85% by 2050.
However, the Legislature claims the cost of converting a house to all-electric will range from $20,000 to $50,000 per household and will not include any backup system in case of power outages.
Legislators expressed concerns that this proposal would punish people who cannot afford to retrofit their homes and would be an unreasonable expectation of people who use available cost-effective and functional fuels.
The Yates County Legislature’s opposition to Hochul’s proposal comes as New York joins other states in transitioning to clean energy sources to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and combat climate change.
FingerLakes1.com is the region’s leading all-digital news publication. The company was founded in 1998 and has been keeping residents informed for more than two decades. Have a lead? Send it to [email protected]