FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
October 13, 2023
Contact: Chris Dobens, chris@weact.org, 718-679-8542
NEW YORK – In response to the report of a lawsuit attempting to block the New York State All-Electric Buildings Act, Sonal Jessel, MPH, Director of Policy at WE ACT for Environmental Justice, released the following statement:
“New York State Governor Kathy Hochul’s All-Electric Buildings Act, which proceeded New York City’s Local Law 154 of 2021, will save New Yorkers money, create green jobs, and reduce the greenhouse gas pollution that contributed to the horrendous flooding we recently experienced as well as the record-setting extreme heat we suffered through this summer. This is fundamentally a bill that will protect public health and safety for generations.
“Studies have found that air pollution from buildings burning fossil fuels leads to nearly 2,000 premature deaths each year across New York State. Other studies have found that children living in a home with a gas stove are up to 42 percent more likely to develop asthma. Our own Out of Gas, In with Justice pilot study found that transitioning from a gas stove to an electric induction stove in affordable housing resulted in significant reductions in indoor air pollution, including nitrogen dioxide and carbon monoxide – two pollutants that have adverse health impacts.
“New Yorkers living in environmental justice communities – primarily communities of color and low-income – are already exposed to disproportionate levels of outdoor air pollution. Reducing the pollution in their homes – given that we all spend around 90 percent of our time indoors – would provide a significant benefit to their health. The All-Electric Buildings Act will reduce air pollution both inside and outside newly built homes, which is something all New Yorkers deserve.”
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WE ACT for Environmental Justice is a Northern Manhattan membership-based organization whose mission is to build healthy communities by ensuring that people of color and/or low-income residents participate meaningfully in the creation of sound and fair environmental health and protection policies and practices. WE ACT has offices in New York and Washington, D.C. Visit us at weact.org and follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.