NYC pushes green policies to the max.

New York City’s Bold Green Experimentation‍ Sparks ‍Controversy

New ‍York‌ City ⁤has ‌embraced​ a set‍ of ⁤controversial​ policies that push the limits ⁤of ⁢green ⁤experimentation in⁤ seeking ⁣to ‍reduce emissions from⁢ buildings, ​kitchen appliances, ​and cars. Critics argue the​ new policies are ​likely‌ to be costly⁣ and burdensome for‌ the city’s millions of residents.

Tyranny of the​ Majority, or ​the ⁣Minority of​ One

Last month, the ​city ‌gained⁣ federal approval for a​ congestion ⁤pricing​ plan, clearing the‍ way‌ for the ​contentious effort to take‍ effect as ​early as April ​2024, despite⁣ sharp ⁤opposition from Garden State neighbors.‍ The plan would‍ approve ​a⁤ tax ​on vehicles entering ⁤the central⁤ business district ⁣in Manhattan.

And‍ the ⁢New York City⁤ Department of Environmental Protection even finalized a ⁢draft rule in June‍ that ⁢seeks ‌to crack down on​ coal-fired‌ or wood-fired pizza⁢ ovens in the city, ​which could ⁤affect​ dozens of restaurants⁤ as⁢ well ‍as a⁣ beloved style of⁢ pizza-making⁢ in‌ the Big Apple.

These⁣ new programs have helped put New York City‌ at the forefront ‌of U.S. climate change-fighting​ efforts. But ‍critics ‌argue these⁢ new⁢ programs saddle⁢ residents with⁢ higher costs, noting that ⁤they‌ could force residents⁣ to make costly new upgrades if gas-powered appliances in⁢ their ‍buildings‍ are down or need⁢ repair, while ⁤some‍ workers who commute‍ into Manhattan ​from neighboring ‌New Jersey will be saddled with​ sky-high ⁣toll fees without‌ the same environmental ​benefits. And others ⁣fear ⁣changes to the⁢ city’s restaurant scene.

The ⁢decisions have placed ‌New York City ‌front​ and center in ⁣the country’s broader culture wars ⁤over how to curb emissions,‍ and have‌ pitted environmentalists against​ fossil fuel⁤ advocates and others who say ⁣making the switch⁢ to renewables or all-electric appliances too ​quickly could come at‍ the cost ⁣of ‍reliability, or‌ at a pace that consumers​ simply cannot‌ afford.

Here’s​ a ⁣breakdown⁢ of‌ what ⁣the city⁢ has done so ⁤far.

Congestion Pricing

Last⁤ month,​ the⁤ Federal⁣ Highway ‍Administration granted ⁢New York ‌City its final​ approval for⁣ its⁣ congestion pricing plan, clearing the way for the city’s Metropolitan Transit⁣ Agency to impose new ⁣toll ⁢rates⁢ for drivers, ‍years​ after⁣ the concept was first introduced in ⁢2007 by then-New York ⁣City Mayor ‌Michael Bloomberg.

Though‍ the city has​ yet to‌ finalize‌ a​ price, one⁤ proposal under ​consideration⁣ would impose costs‌ of ⁤up to $23 ⁤for⁣ drivers entering⁢ midtown during​ rush hour ⁣and ‌up to ⁤$17 during‌ off-peak ‌hours.

The plan has ⁢been hailed as a victory by New Yorkers, including ‍Gov. Kathy Hochul ‌(D-NY), ‍who said it will reduce congestion for⁣ Manhattan drivers‌ and​ improve the‍ city’s⁢ air ⁢quality.

The⁤ plan ⁤will also help upgrade the city’s metro system, ‌delivering⁣ the “modern, reliable, accessible ‍subway” that New​ Yorkers, commuters, and‍ visitors‍ to the city​ “need⁤ and deserve,” Danny ​Pearlstein, a spokesman for the New York-based Riders​ Alliance,⁤ told‌ the Washington Examiner in an interview.

But it has generated sharp opposition ​from‍ neighbors in New Jersey,⁢ including Gov.⁤ Phil Murphy (D-NJ),‍ a ⁢staunch ‍critic‌ of the plan who has⁤ argued ⁢it was passed ‌without proper⁤ environmental approval ⁣(the signoff was ⁣given on a nearly 1,000-page environmental assessment that ​included a finding of no significant‍ impact).

Building Emissions

Earlier this year, New York‍ became the first state in the ​country to ban ‌natural‍ gas stoves and furnaces in‌ most new⁤ buildings. By the year 2026, ⁤the ⁣law requires ​all new ‍buildings ⁤under ⁤seven stories to have all fully electric appliances, while taller ‍buildings will ⁤have until⁢ 2029 to make the ​change.

New ‌York City, for ‍its‌ part, ⁤has even‌ stricter standards: Local Law ⁢97, ⁤passed in 2018,⁢ requires most ⁢new buildings under seven⁤ stories ⁤to⁣ have​ all-electric ‍appliances ⁤beginning ⁤in 2024, with⁣ the requirement extending to most ⁢taller buildings ⁣beginning in ‍the year 2027.

The‌ city⁤ has estimated that roughly 4,000 buildings ‍could fall short⁤ of the standards under the ​emissions⁣ rule⁤ after ​it takes effect next year.

And some state lawmakers, ‍even Democrats, have taken issue with the timeline, noting their constituents’ ‍concerns over potential⁢ cost increases⁤ and reliability fears.

“I‍ would prefer‍ that we incentivize electric buildings,​ either through tax ⁣credits ‍or other proposals, rather ⁤than ⁢forcing it as an issue because there’s‍ a lot of concern and angst ‌in particular ⁣in western New York,” New​ York Democratic Assemblywoman Monica Wallace⁤ said earlier this year.

“We shouldn’t necessarily​ ban ⁤people from⁣ pursuing​ other ‌options if that’s​ what ‌they want,” she ‍added.

So far, ‍bans on gas⁣ stoves⁣ and‌ gas⁣ furnaces have been passed⁢ largely at the state ‌and ⁢local level,⁤ especially after ​a⁢ federal regulator ignited ⁤controversy ​earlier⁣ this year⁢ when he suggested ⁤in an interview that gas stoves ‌would be⁢ banned at the federal ⁣level ⁤on safety grounds.

In response, lawmakers introduced the⁢ Save ‍Our Gas Stoves Act, a ‍bill seeking to prohibit​ the Department ⁤of Energy ‌from implementing ‌any⁢ gas⁣ stove ⁢ban or restriction‌ at ‍the federal level.

Pizza‍ Ovens

Other changes could ‍affect ‍New York‍ City’s world-famous pizza⁣ scene.

New rules drafted⁢ by the New York City Department ⁣of ‍Environmental ‌Protection would require ⁤restaurants that ​use⁤ coal-fired or wood-fired ovens to slash ‍their‍ carbon emissions ⁣by ​up to 75% —​ forcing many restaurant ‍owners ‌to make pricey new renovations to ⁣their ‌kitchens.

According‍ to⁤ the​ text of the⁤ draft⁢ rule,⁣ any ​restaurants in the city using coal-fired‍ or wood-fired ‌ovens installed before 2016 ‍would be⁢ required‍ to ‍install ⁣a ​special filter ⁣to⁢ slash the oven’s emissions⁤ by 75% and hire ‌an​ engineer⁤ or architect⁢ to ⁢attest that such a⁣ filter indeed ⁢achieves the reduction of carbon emissions⁢ and particulate ‌matter.

While it’s‍ unclear⁢ just how‍ pricey ⁢the updates would be,‍ one Brooklyn restaurant owner ⁢told‌ the New York Post in June that he‌ had already spent ⁤$20,000 on ⁣the​ filter in ​anticipation of ⁣the city’s rule.

As many as 100 restaurants in the city could​ be⁤ affected. ​Earlier ⁤this month, one conservative‌ activist and artist protested the rule by throwing‍ multiple pizzas​ at ​New York City Hall, chanting, “Give us ⁢pizza or give us death!”

Others in⁣ the city have praised the regulation.

“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,” DEP⁤ spokesman⁤ Ted Timbers said ‌in a statement last month. “This common-sense rule, ⁤developed with restaurant ​and environmental justice groups, ‌requires ​a professional review⁤ of ‌whether installing emission controls is ​feasible.”

Broader⁣ Climate ‌Efforts

New York City⁢ also became the​ first ⁤major U.S. city to ⁤divest ‍its major pensions from fossil fuels ⁣as part of‌ its goal ⁢of ⁢reaching net-zero emissions across ⁤its‍ entire ​portfolio by ⁤2040. City officials have said it plans to divest ⁢roughly $4​ billion worth⁣ of fossil fuel ​investments by that date.

In May, ‍three major ⁢firms​ announced a lawsuit against the ​city’s decision, which also seeks to ⁢double their ⁢investments​ in⁣ renewable energy and ‍energy efficiency, according to city officials.