Top oil and gas industry voice predicts major backlash from New York gas stove ban

President of the U.S. Oil and Gas Association Tim Stewart says that he expects lawmakers in New York to get major backlash for the state's recently passed natural gas ban.

"New York has the sixth largest natural gas consumer in 2023 — three out of five households in New York state using natural gas," Stewart said Wednesday on the "Just the News, No Noise" TV show. "And it fuels 46% of the state's electricity generation. To make this move — it can be sort of bold, but it's also considered absolutely foolish."

The New York Legislature has recently approved a budget package that includes a ban on natural gas hookups and fossil fuel use in new homes as the state works to transition toward renewable energy. 

The provision would effectively eliminate the use of common household appliances such as gas stoves in new construction. The ban will take effect in 2026 for buildings under seven stories and in 2029 for those with additional floors, the Washington Post reported. Its implementation will mark the first statewide ban in the nation.

Stewart discussed the wide variety of people affected by these policies before describing the growth of the Hands Off My Stove initiative he has launched to fight for families who want to keep their gas stoves.

"At Hands off my Stove, we've got people all over the country who are coming in. They are helping organize at the local level," he explained. "And we'll be able to push back really hard on those local officials who are making really dumb choices on behalf of their constituents."