Senate Republicans are calling on Governor Kathy Hochul to let counties opt out of a statewide mandate requiring all new buildings to go fully electric starting next year.
The group, led by Senator Tom O’Mara, says the upcoming mandate will raise housing costs, overload the power grid, and strip away consumer choice—without any clear plan or analysis to back it up.
In a letter sent to the governor this week, O’Mara joined Senators Mario Mattera and Mark Walczyk in urging Hochul to direct the State Fire Prevention and Building Code Council to adopt an emergency rule. That rule would allow counties to opt out of what’s known as the “All-Electric Building Act.”
Signed into law in 2023, the measure bans new residential and commercial buildings from using natural gas, propane, or oil systems. It’s set to take effect in 2026.
O’Mara, who represents the Southern Tier and Finger Lakes regions, said the law pushes “far-reaching renewable energy goals” that aren’t feasible or affordable—especially in rural areas.
“We’re moving too far, too fast, with no plan or cost-benefit analysis on this transition,” O’Mara said. “Our local decision makers should be allowed to opt out.”
Senator Mattera called the mandate “a disaster waiting to happen,” especially for families already struggling with New York’s high cost of living. He said the state needs to listen to concerns from energy experts and everyday New Yorkers alike.
Walczyk echoed those concerns, warning that the electric grid is unprepared for the added strain and that removing energy choice is “a dangerous gamble.”
The lawmakers also pointed to grid reliability warnings from the New York Independent System Operator (NYISO) and referenced past weather disasters like the 2022 Buffalo blizzard to highlight the risks of power dependence.
In their letter, the senators wrote, “New Yorkers deserve… to know that they will have access to affordable and reliable energy to heat their homes, power their businesses, and live their lives.”
They’re asking the governor to act swiftly, arguing that uncertainty and rushed timelines are “unacceptable and unfair.”
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