(New York Post) Gov. Hochul wants to start banning gas stoves in new homes by 2025 – but critics say she’s full of hot air.
The pushback is targeting Hochul’s personal use of fossil fuels on gas ranges at the Executive Mansion in Albany and at her private pad in Buffalo.
“The governor’s push to ban gas stoves appears to be as hypocritical as it is ridiculous,” Assembly Minority Leader William Barclay (R-Fulton) fumed.
“One has to wonder how many times she’s fired up her own gas stove since declaring them environmentally unsafe in her State of the State Address,” he added.
In two years, new smaller buildings will no longer be allowed to have gas hook-ups under the proposal unveiled by Hochul earlier this month — with the ban extending to larger buildings under construction by 2028.
Hochul has argued the state must push electrification mandates for new buildings in order to implement plans to reduce the state’s greenhouse gas emissions by 85% compared with 1990 levels as required by a 2019 state law championed by Albany Democrats.
Critics say the gas stoves at the Executive Mansion — and the range documented in Hochul’s social media feeds — belie Hochul’s stated aim to confront climate change.
Upstate Republican Rep. Nick Langworthy said, “Is it any surprise that Queen Kathy cooks on her gas stove when she flies around on private planes? New Yorkers are so sick of phony climate-warrior hypocrites and their ‘rules for thee but not for me.’ Our state is in a crime and economic free fall and she’s waging war on appliances.”
Hochul uses gas ranges at the Executive Mansion as well as her private home.
“Flying in private jets and driving gas-guzzling SUVs are common sights as they fear-monger and frighten our children over climate change,” state Sen. George Borello (R-Jamestown) told The Post.
“If eliminating natural gas appliances and heating isn’t a priority for the political elite then why should it be for middle-class families in New York,” he asked.
Assemblyman Jarett Gandolfo (R-Suffolk) noted how Hochul, the highest paid governor in the country, could accumulate more political capital for her environmental agenda by first going green at her own residences.
“The governor, and anyone else in government support a ban on fossil fuel powered equipment, should lead by example. I’d like to see them remove their gas stoves and heating systems,” the GOP legislator charged.
Hochul’s gas stove is pictured in the background for a 2020 Instagram post.@kathyhochulny/Instagram
