Mixed-use buildings under construction on 9th Avenue in Hell’s Kitchen, New York City on Jan. 14, 2025. Deb Cohn-Orbach / UCG / Universal Images Group via Getty Images Why you can trust us Founded in 2005 as an Ohio-based environmental newspaper, EcoWatch is a digital platform dedicated to publishing quality, science-based content on environmental issues, causes, and solutions. In New York City, a ban on natural gas in new buildings has been upheld in federal court, the first case to go against a previous, similar ban in Berkeley, California that was struck down in court. New York City first adopted a phaseout of fossil fuels in new buildings in 2021, while the state of New York became the first U.S. state to ban natural gas in some new buildings in 2023. The city legislation sets an emissions target, where combustion in a building cannot emit more than 25 kilograms or more of carbon dioxide per million British thermal units of energy, rather than outright banning natural gas installations in new buildings. By comparison, the law that was struck down in Berkeley specifically banned gas piping in new construction, a law that was struck down in 2023 . That decision was again upheld in early 2024, Grist reported. “It’s a clear win in that regard, because the 9th Circuit decision has had a really chilling effect on local governments,” Amy Turner, director of the Cities Climate Law Initiative at Columbia University’s Sabin Center for Climate Change Law, told Mother Jones . “Now there’s something else to point to, and a good reason for hope for local governments that may have back-burnered their building electrification plans to bring those to the forefront again.” The New York City ban was challenged by industry groups and unions, who argued that the city’s law […]