Do you agree with New York’s new statewide ban on natural gas-powered appliances in most new buildings?

👍 Yes (27%) – "It comes down two underlying questions: How important is the issue of the changing environment because of global warming? Assuming that people recognize the magnitude of the issue from question one, what are we willing to sacrifice to combat the changes that are occurring? (Also, valuable to note: intelligent and strategic sacrifice is always necessary when we decide to solve problems.)"

• "Both sides of the argument make sense, it's saving money vs. saving the planet. I think that money is meaningless if we don't have a healthy society we can spend it in."

👎 No (55%) – "While I agree that the studies show gas stoves are harmful to our health, so are hundreds of other things that are not banned: cigarettes, alcohol, paint fumes, aerosols. A warning on the appliances and tax breaks or other incentives for non-gas appliances would be a better alternative."

• "While I understand the need to reduce greenhouse effects, NY clearly isn’t ready to depend on just electricity, much like CA, and needs to first develop ways to create more efficient and cheaper electricity. Our country’s electrical grid is already stressed, and this will further compound the issue. Nevermind that NY is once again making it more expensive to live in their state."
• "Protecting the environment is definitely crucial. However, once again, this is a policy which ends up hurting the most vulnerable. If the alternative appliances are expensive then how is a low income family to afford it? Along with the policy, provisions for tax curbing for alternative appliances should be made, or any other incentives that’ll make environmentally favorable appliances more accessible to those earning at or below the poverty line."

🤷 Unsure/other (18%) – "I support the reduction in fossil fuel use, but would prefer a market approach of surcharges/taxes so that individuals would still have a choice to use gas if they are willing to pay to help offset its negative impacts."

• "While transitioning off of dangerous fossil fuels will be essential to help decarbonizing energy production, natural gas is relatively clean burning and far better than coal and oil. Still natural gas is not renewable nor a sustainable energy production method. I'm just unsure that banning it is a necessary or proper step to promote decarbonization."