New green rule aims to reduce emissions from NYC pizza ovens.

The New York City Department of Environmental Protection Aims to Reduce Carbon Emissions from Restaurants

The New York City Department of Environmental Protection is taking steps to address carbon emissions from restaurants with brick and wood-fired ovens. According to reports, a new rule is being drafted that would require these restaurants, which had their ovens installed before 2016, to reduce their carbon emissions by up to 75%.

Assessing Emission Control Devices

The proposed rule would require affected restaurants to assess the feasibility of installing an emission control device to achieve the 75% reduction in emissions. If installing such a device is not practical or not possible, the restaurants would need to reduce emissions by at least 25% or provide a valid explanation for why emission controls cannot be installed.

Impacted Restaurants and Collaborative Efforts

It is estimated that fewer than 100 restaurants in New York City would be affected by this proposed rule. The rule specifically targets restaurants that had brick or wood-fired ovens installed before 2016, as a previous law already regulated emissions for newly installed ovens. An advisory board, consisting of restaurants with these types of ovens, collaborated to propose new rules for those not covered by the previous law.

Promoting Healthy Air Quality

The Department of Environmental Protection emphasizes the importance of clean air for all New Yorkers. Spokesperson Ted Timbers stated, “All New Yorkers deserve to breathe healthy air, and wood- and coal-fired stoves are among the largest contributors of harmful pollutants in neighborhoods with poor air quality.” The proposed rule aims to address this issue by requiring a professional review of the feasibility of installing emission controls.

Click here to read more from the Washington Examiner.

Delays and Public Input

The proposed rules were initially planned to be implemented in 2020 but were delayed due to the coronavirus pandemic. Currently, the rules are in the public comment period and have not been enacted. The Department of Environmental Protection is actively seeking input from the public before finalizing the regulations.

Building on Progress

New York City has made significant strides in improving air quality over the years, thanks to efforts to reduce emissions from both local and regional sources. The proposed rule represents an expansion of stricter emission standards, further contributing to the city’s commitment to cleaner air.

The New York Post was the first to report on this story.