Assemblywoman Marjorie Byrnes Challenging Hochul’s NYS Electrification Mandate

As part of her state budget proposal, New York State Governor Kathy Hochul has proposed a ban on new installations of propane or oil in homes by 2025, and by 2030 mandating even existing homes to make the switchover to total electric.

Local New York State Assemblywoman Marjorie Byrnes is challenging that mandate, saying New York State residents should have a choice.  Although not against a conversion to electric, she is against the aggressiveness and speed with which the governor will force it on New York State residents who, in the near future, would be prohibited from using oil or gas to heat homes or for appliances. Byrnes posted an online petition at Change.org and in a few days, had over a 1100 signatures on it. The petition can be accessed by going to Change.org and searching “Electrification” or by going directly to this link: https://www.change.org/p/stop-the-mandatory-electrification-of-new-york-state?source_location=search.

According to Byrnes, who represents Livingston County, the amount of electricity needed in a relatively short amount of time is “literally going to overwhelm the grid, and is not sustainable…. My hope is the governor realizes that 60 percent of our homes in this area, which are older homes, are heated with natural gas,” said Byrnes, “Many of us are trying to do our part, but it can’t be done overnight by shifting everything to electric. It just won’t work.” Hochul’s plan is to prohibit gas and oil furnaces from being installed in new homes by 2025, but all homes, no matter how old or having existing oil or gas or how old the furnace is, would have to switch over within the next 7 years and be all electric.

Byrnes is also concerned about the financial burden on homeowners and the state if they offer potential incentives. “In order to be able to achieve the goals the governor wants, it’s going to cost on average $60,000 to $70,000 per home, and even after any potential incentives are given to homeowners, it’s expected a minimum of $20,000 out of pocket for every homeowner in order to comply with this mandate and electrify,” said Byrnes.

Byrnes did not say how long the petition would be available on Change.org for people to sign if they opposed Hochul’s all-electrification proposal and wanted it reversed, but the state budget is due by April 1, and if the proposal is passed, these changes would not take effect until 2025.