At a recent Chenango County Board meeting, board officials review the Energy Choice Act resolution. With the impending 2026 ban on natural gas and other fossil fuel hookups, board members sent a resolution to the New York Legislature, urging Congress to pass the Energy Choice Act. (Photo by Kelli Miller)

NORWICH – With the impending New York State 2026 ban on natural gas and other fossil fuel hookups, the Chenango County board passed a resolution urging the New York legislature to allow local governments to opt out of state's mandated 'Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act.'

Though local leader say it will only hurt the communities.

The board also passed a resolution in support of the federal Energy Choice Act which would also adopt a federal legal exception to the NY State bill and allow local residents and organizations to continue installing gas stoves and and heating systems and other items.

The board said they are defending consumer's freedom of choice and wish to protect affordable energy and accessibility to natural gas.

In 2023, Governor Kathy Hochul and the New York State legislature enacted provisions in the state budget banning natural gas and other fossil fuel hookups in most new residential and commercial buildings.

The provisions are to take effect in 2026 for smaller buildings, and 2029 for larger buildings, thereby eliminating consumer choice and limiting access to affordable energy.

“We believe natural gas is part of the clean energy solution and also realize the electric grid can’t handle as much as it can with as fast as they’re moving on this provision,” said Chenango County Board Chair Jeffrey Blanchard.

Blanchard said with electric buses and housing being added to the grid, it will only add grid issues that the system is already facing.

“We need to build the infrastructure first to support the move toward all electric,” he said. “It only makes common sense to have the ability to take care of the energy needs, which at this time, we do not have.”

He noted a large housing project in New York was recently put on hold, construction stopped because they didn’t have the infrastructure in place.

If natural gas is banned, Blanchard said he hopes they extend the imposed deadlines.

“I can’t believe they won’t extend those deadlines, they just have to,” he added, “It will be devastating if they don’t.”

Smyrna Supervisor Michael Khoury said affordable and reliable energy is essential to the health and well being of New York families, business, and communities.

He noted natural gas is one of the most dependable, cost effective and clean-burning energies. He added, that with the concerns over energy costs and rising strain on the power grid, restricting “energy diversity will undermine affordability, stripping away freedom of choice for consumers.”

Copies of the board resolution were sent to Congressman Nick Langworthy, Senator Jim Justice, the New York Congressional delegation, Senators Chuck Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand, Governor Kathy Hochul, and leadership of the New York State legislature.

According to the board, Congressman Nick Langworthy of New York and Senator Jim Justice of West Virginia are setting strides to protect choices of natural gas and other energy sources for all households, small businesses, hospitals, farmers, and manufacturers.

The officials introduced the Energy Choice Act (H.R. 3699, S. 1945) that ensures state and local governments cannot restrict consumer energy choices for New Yorkers and all Americans.

Congressman Langworthy and Senator Justice want to preserve all energy strategy to strengthen reliability and affordability while safeguarding against harmful government overreach.

In 2019, New York State Officials enacted the Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act (CLCPA), which mandates aggressive emissions reductions and serves as the foundation for sweeping energy restrictions, including efforts to phase out natural gas.