LANCASTER, N.Y. — As a New York state deadline looms to prohibit natural gas from new building and home construction over a staggered period of time, Republican U.S. Rep. Nick Langworthy is calling on Gov. Kathy Hochul to reverse course.

Langworthy says he plans to push forward federal legislation that will override the ban, the first phase of which is set to take effect Jan. 1 and be phased in through 2028. The move has drawn additional criticism from the New York State Builders Association as well.

What You Need To Know

The ban on natural gas systems in new construction phases in Jan. 1

Rep. Nick Langworthy is calling on the state to stop the ban from taking effect

The New York State Builders Association also opposes the ban

Phil Nanula, president of Essex Homes, is on the front lines of the housing market and is building new homes in an Erie County neighborhood.

Those homes, for now, include a natural gas hookup.

“We do not believe that gas should be eliminated,” said Nanula.

The new state law will ban the installation of natural gas systems in new building and home construction over a period of three years.

The state Legislature passed it in last year’s budget to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. The governor and other environmental groups say it aligns with her clean energy goals and accounts for a significant portion of the state’s emissions.

“All electric new construction is going to save people money. They’re cheaper to build in, they’re cheaper to live in, and they’re safer for the people who live there. This is ultimately the way of the future,” said Liz Moran, New York policy advocate at Earthjustice.

“There is not a choice for the customer. There’s no exception. Because the issues that are wrong are not within our control. They need to be fixed with the energy providers and they need to be fixed with policy. And we can’t enact that,” said Nanula.

That is why Nanula is joining Langworthy and others to demand Hochul stop the state’s ban against natural gas from taking effect.

To help do that, Langworthy is touting his Energy Choice Act to block states or local governments from banning specific energy sources that he says are safe and legal, like natural gas or propane, in new construction.

“Ban the bans and protect New Yorkers’ rights to affordable energy for their homes. Because the American people should decide what kind of energy they want to use in their home, not a government bureaucrat,” said Langworthy.

Including Nanula, other builders say the mandate will drive up the costs of new homes and limit his ability to develop a more affordable product.

“Every step we take, we take many steps backwards when these things are put in place,” said Nanula.

“Rather than grandstanding and fearmongering, the congressman’s time would be better spent trying to reverse the massive federal cuts he enthusiastically helped push through that will devastate the communities he swore to represent here in New York. Unlike the congressman, who has backed policies like tariffs that are driving up costs for New Yorkers, the governor has made affordability a real priority by passing a state budget that promises to put up to $5,000 back in New Yorkers pockets,” said Ken Lovett, Hochul’s energy and environment communications advisor.

Langworthy says he will continue to push his bill forward in committee when he and the others return to Washington next month.