Langworthy’s bill would strip states and local communities of the power to set cleaner building standards.
Key Takeaways
Gas stoves pose health and climate risks: They release nitrogen dioxide, benzene, and methane linked to asthma, cancer, and global warming.
New York’s All-Electric Buildings Act takes effect in 2026: Most new homes will be built with electric heating and cooking. Existing gas stoves are unaffected.
Governor Hochul’s position: “We have a moral responsibility to transition to clean, renewable energy…” She has reassured residents: “Nobody’s touching your gas stoves.”
Rep. Nicholas Langworthy’s response: The longtime defender of fossil fuels representing NY-23 called the policy an “extremist crusade against natural gas.”
The Energy Choice Act: Langworthy introduced legislation that would block states and local governments from setting their own clean-energy building standards.
New York’s Transition to Clean Energy
In 2023, New York State enacted the All-Electric Buildings Act, which requires most new buildings to use electric heating and cooking starting in 2026. The law represents a shift away from fossil fuels like oil and gas toward cleaner, renewable energy.
Throughout most of our history, energy has advanced alongside technology and public demand. Early Americans used wood for heating and cooking until coal became the primary fuel during the industrial era. In the 20th century, oil and natural gas were used in homes and factories because they were cleaner and more convenient.
Today, the shift toward electricity, especially when combined with renewable sources like wind and solar, follows the same pattern. It’s a move to healthier, safer, and ultimately more efficient energy sources for families and communities.
Langworthy’s “Energy Choice Act” Takes Away Choice
Rep. Nicholas Langworthy represents New York’s 23rd Congressional District. He is a former chair of the New York Republican Committee and supports the oil and gas industry, including activity in New York’s Southern Tier.
Unsurprisingly, Langworthy is one of the harshest critics of the new law. He calls it part of Governor Kathy Hochul’s “extremist crusade against natural gas.” He contends that the law is bad policy and an attack on families.
His attacks are part of the Republican strategy for next year’s gubernatorial race, where Rep. Elise Stefanik (R-NY4) is expected to run as the Republican candidate.
To obstruct New York’s All-Electric Buildings Act, Langworthy introduced the Energy Choice Act (H.R. 3699) in the House of Representatives. The legislation seeks to stop states and cities from banning fossil fuel hookups in new buildings. He describes it as a way to protect affordability and reliability, stating: “I am proud to lead the fight to ‘ban the bans’ and defend New Yorkers’ right to affordable, reliable energy.”
Langworthy’s Senate sponsor for his Energy Choice Act is West Virginia Senator Jim Justice. He is a multimillionaire coal operator whose mines have injury rates 31% higher than average. Justice owes hundreds of thousands of dollars in unpaid fines. NPR characterized Jim Justice as the nation’s “top mine-safety delinquent.”
By preventing states and local governments from making energy decisions, Langworthy’s bill limits community choice. States that want to protect residents from the risks of natural gas and propane won’t be able to do so if Langworthy’s bill passes.
Langworthy repeats the gas industry’s talking points. He claims that natural gas and propane are clean and safe. The data tells a different story.
Natural Gas and Propane Aren’t Clean
- Both are produced through drilling, fracking, and refining.
- Burning natural gas and propane releases carbon dioxide, which contributes to global warming.
- Gas stoves emit enough nitrogen dioxide and benzene to exceed air quality standards.
- Gas is “less dirty” than coal, but it isn’t “clean.”
Natural Gas and Propane Aren’t Healthy
- A 2024 Stanford University study found that gas stoves contribute to nearly 200,000 cases of childhood asthma.
- Another Stanford study discovered that gas stoves emit the toxic chemical benzene at levels similar to secondhand cigarette smoke.
- Gas appliances leak methane, even when they are turned off, producing pollution comparable to that of hundreds of thousands of cars.
The Great Smog of London
History shows the dangers of relying on fossil fuels. In December 1952, a mix of coal smoke, cold weather, and still air settled over London. For five days, a thick, yellow-black fog covered the city. Visibility dropped so much that buses stopped running. Ambulances couldn’t get through. Sporting events and even funerals were canceled. People used lanterns just to cross the streets.
Hospitals quickly became filled with people struggling to breathe. Doctors saw increases in bronchitis, pneumonia, and heart failure. By the time the smog cleared, 4,000 people were dead. In the following weeks, an additional 8,000 died from respiratory and cardiovascular diseases. More than 100,000 people got sick.
The disaster shocked Britain and the world. Parliament responded with the Clean Air Act of 1956, which limited coal burning and required a switch to cleaner fuels.
The 1983 Buffalo Propane Explosion
Western New Yorkers have their own reminder of the dangers of fossil fuels. In December 1983, firefighters responded to a warehouse fire on North Division Street, unaware that an illegally stored 500-gallon propane tank was inside.
As they fought the flames, the tank exploded. The blast hurled a fire truck thirty-five feet, shattered windows blocks away, and wrecked part of the neighborhood. Seven people died, including five firefighters. Dozens were hurt. This remains the deadliest day in Buffalo Fire Department history.
Propane accidents remain a concern. According to the National Fire Protection Association, from 2017 to 2021, approximately 11,000 propane-related fires occurred each year in the U.S., causing deaths and over 1,100 burns.
Hochul’s Advocacy for Clean Energy
Governor Hochul has defended the All-Electric Buildings Act as both moral and practical. Speaking in Buffalo in December 2024, she said:
“We have a moral responsibility to do everything we can to transition to clean, renewable energy. We are not walking back from our aspirations and our goals, but I have to do it in a way that makes sense.”
And to reassure residents, she added:
“Everybody who has a gas stove, enjoy it. Keep your gas stove—nobody’s touching your gas stoves!”
Gas stoves remain legal in New York State under the “All-Electric Buildings Act”. The law does not affect existing homes. New Yorkers can still use, repair, or purchase gas stoves and furnaces. There are also many exemptions and carve-outs that permit gas in new construction even after the law takes effect.
From Energy to Electioneering
Langworthy’s “Energy Choice Act” isn’t actually about choice. It’s about protecting the fossil fuel industry at the expense of Western New Yorkers’ health and safety. It’s also about providing Republicans with a campaign slogan for next year’s governor’s race.
Selected References
- Stanford University. (2024). Research linking gas stoves to childhood asthma.
- Stanford Earth. (2022). Methane leakage from household stoves.
- Lebensohn, J. et al. (2023). Benzene emissions from gas stoves compared to secondhand smoke.
- Bell, M.L., & Davis, D.L. (2001). London’s Great Smog and its health impacts. Environmental Health Perspectives.
- Buffalo News archives. (1983). Propane explosion coverage.
- NPR & ProPublica. (2020). Investigations into Jim Justice’s unpaid mine safety debts.
- Hochul quotes: WGRZ (Dec. 2024); CBS News (2023).
