Hillsborough Sun

Manchester is not prepared to follow San Jose, California, and New York City in prohibiting natural gas from being installed in new buildings.

Lauren Smith, Manchester Mayor Joyce Craig’s chief of staff, said although energy sources are being discussed, such a decision has not been reached and is not even in the discussion stage.

“At this time the city is not looking at banning the use of natural gas,” Smith told Hillsborough Sun. “However, we are continuing to invest in clean energy practices, and will soon announce the completion of a solar array on top of our former landfill, which will be the largest municipal array in the state.”

NYC Gazette recently reported that new buildings in New York City will no longer be allowed to use natural gas following a New York City Council vote Dec. 16.

Smaller cities in the United States have tried similar measures in the past, but New York City is the largest and first major city to institute such a policy. The goal is to shift to cleaner sources of energy. This will force new buildings to rely on electricity for heat and cooking.

“The bill to ban the use of gas in new buildings will [help] us to transition to a greener future and ][reach] carbon neutrality by the year 2050,” said City Council Speaker Corey Johnson, as reported by Reuters. “We are in a climate crisis and must take all necessary steps to fight climate change and protect our city.”

The vote and new regulation, however, will have no effect on already-existing buildings. New buildings below seven stories have until 2023 to comply, while taller buildings have until 2027.

San Jose, with 1 million residents, was the largest city to enact similar policies until New York City made this official. New York has an estimated 8.8 million residents, while Manchester has a population of around 115,600.

Consolidated Edison, which supplies power and gas in New York City, praised the move. 

The utility said, “The establishment of a clear-cut path toward electrification of most new buildings is a sensible and necessary step on the path to carbon neutrality by 2050,” Reuters reported. “Reducing New York’s reliance on natural gas will gradually increase demand for electricity, but our electric grid is more robust than it’s ever been, and we will be ready for a renewable-powered future.” 

These types of policies have been popular on the West Coast as temperate weather lends itself to less natural gas usage. New York City will be a truer test for colder climates. 

Opponents of this policy have cited concerns over price increases, impediments of new development, and increased strain on the grid. Real estate developers in the state said that the act would “substantially increase utility bills for New Yorkers” while doing little to curb emissions.

Ben Furnas, the city’s sustainability chief, views the situation through the lens of being a trendsetter.

“We’re really setting the pace here, saying that if it can be done in New York City, it can really be done anywhere," Furnas said. "We’re big, we’re dense, we’re complicated, we have all four seasons. We’re putting a marker down, saying the next generation of buildings is going to be electric. We want to be a model for the world.” 

In a statement to E&E News, Real Estate Board of New York President James Whelan said, “While we appreciate that the efficient electrification of buildings is an important component of realizing these goals, these policies must be implemented in a way that ensure that New Yorkers have reliable, affordable, carbon-free electricity to heat, cool and power their homes and businesses.” 

Manchester's Smith said although options are under consideration, a ban on natural gas in new buildings is not on the table in New Hampshire's biggest city. 

“While we’re always looking to invest in green practices and clean energy, mandating the elimination of natural gas is not part of the discussion at this time,” she said.

Craig, a Manchester native, served on the school board and as an alderman before being elected mayor in 2017. In November she was re-elected to her third term.

Craig is the city’s 48th mayor and the first woman to lead the city. She is a Democrat but the municipal elections are nonpartisan.