Source: Unsplash/LucaBravo

New York Mayor’s Bold Steps to Get City Off Fossil Fuels

During his State of the City Address, Mayor Bill de Blasio announced new citywide policies that stop the construction of new fossil fuel projects — but will State Governor Cuomo follow his lead?

New York City Fossil Fuel Ban

New Yorkers are celebrating a groundbreaking win in the fight for climate justice this month, as Mayor Bill de Blasio announced New York City’s intention to stop all new fossil fuel projects within and serving the city. This is the largest municipal ban announcement of its kind globally, building on the mounting global movement for a just transition off fossil fuels to a renewable-energy economy that works for all.

divesting its $215.5 billion pension funds from fossil fuels, enacting nation-leading legislation to slash pollution from big buildings, pursuing Exxon and other Big Oil corporations in court for climate costs and damages, expanding investments in wind and solar, and more.
de Blasio’s announcement builds on recent moves by New Yorkers pushing the City to take concrete climate action: divesting its $215.5 billion pension funds from fossil fuels, enacting nation-leading legislation to slash pollution from big buildings, pursuing Exxon and other Big Oil corporations in court for climate costs and damages, expanding investments in wind and solar, and more. Source: Unsplash/JoshuaEarle

Will State Governor Cuomo follow de Blasio’s lead?

During his State of the City Address of 6 February, New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio announced new citywide policies that stop the construction of new fossil fuel projects.

Food & Water Action Northeast Region Director Alex Beauchamp released the following statement:

“Mayor de Blasio took a bold step today towards moving New York City off fossil fuels. We applaud the mayor’s historic, groundbreaking commitment to stopping fossil fuel projects.

“Despite New York’s fracking ban, we still face an onslaught of new proposals for pipelines and power plants that transport and burn fracked gas. With today’s announcement, de Blasio commits to stopping these dangerous projects in their tracks.

“Governor Cuomo should follow Mayor de Blasio’s bold leadership and take immediate action at the state level to stop the maze of fracked gas pipelines, power plants, and other fossil fuel projects proposed and under construction throughout New York.”

Source: Foodandwaterwatch.org

This will be a critical step toward climate action, including ordinances, regulations, building code changes and legislation, to maximise the effectiveness of a ban and to ensure all staff and city agencies use all tools at their disposal.
Mayor de Blasio is set to issue an executive order to implement this ban. This will be a critical step toward climate action, including ordinances, regulations, building code changes and legislation, to maximise the effectiveness of a ban and to ensure all staff and city agencies use all tools at their disposal. Source: WikimediaCommons/GageSkidmore

Resistance to fracked gas projects within and around the NYC continues to grow

Last week’s announcement builds on recent moves by New Yorkers pushing the City to take concrete climate action: divesting its $215.5 billion pension funds from fossil fuels, enacting nation-leading legislation to slash pollution from big buildings, pursuing Exxon and other Big Oil corporations in court for climate costs and damages, expanding investments in wind and solar, and more.

Community resistance to fracked gas projects within and around the City continues to grow, including over 70 elected officials opposing the Williams fracked gas pipeline and tens of thousands of New Yorkers calling on Governor Andrew Cuomo and the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (NYSDEC) to stop Williams and all fracked gas projects.

The Mayor is set to issue an executive order to implement this ban. This will be a critical step toward climate action, including ordinances, regulations, building code changes and legislation, to maximize the effectiveness of a ban and to ensure all staff and city agencies use all tools at their disposal, including how they engage in rate cases and Public Service Commission (PSC) hearings. 

In New York, utilities National Grid and Con-Ed have attempted to hold New Yorkers’ energy needs hostage, especially for small businesses, and Black and brown communities. In the midst of the Trump administration slashing hard-won climate protections, US municipalities have begun to restrict new gas hookups and require electrification of buildings.

Governor Cuomo and the New York Department of Environmental Conservation (NYSDEC) retain overall decision-making on new and existing projects. Now, New Yorkers are escalating the demand for Cuomo to stop the Williams fracked gas pipeline once and for all, and build on this announcement by declaring a ban on new fossil fuel projects across the state. 

For more on the fight to Stop Williams, explore this media pack, and please consider signing the petition at the bottom of this article and join in stopping the Williams Pipeline and National Grid’s other fracked gas proposals for good.

Source: 350.org

NYC Fossil Fuel Ban: This is a BIG deal. The financial center of the world is moving to stop all new fossil fuel projects. New Yorkers are celebrating a groundbreaking win in the fight for climate justice today, as Mayor Bill de Blasio announced New York City’s intention to stop all new fossil fuel projects within and serving the city. Source: Facebook/350.org

Please sign the petition to stop the Williams Pipeline and National Grid’s other fracked gas proposals for good

National Grid is in the gas business but climate science and City and State climate law make it very clear that we need to get off of fracked gas to meet our greenhouse gas emission reduction goals. We can’t continue business as usual; we need New York to say no to fracked gas and fund renewable solutions instead! Tell Governor Cuomo/Public Service Commission: Listen to the CLCPA & reject all of National Grid’s fracked gas pipelines and proposals.

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