New York shouldn't ban gas stoves

New York is poised to ban gas stoves, along with other fossil fuel appliances, in single-family homes and most other kinds of buildings. Gov. Kathy Hochul and her fellow democrat members of the state legislature have all endorsed proposals to this effect. Assuming New York goes through with the legislation, it will be the first state to explicitly ban gas stoves in most new construction. 

The logic behind New York’s bid to restrict fossil fuel appliances is sound: they are a major source of greenhouse gas emissions and electric alternatives do the same jobs quite well. 

The problem with such a ban is that it will confirm many citizens’ fears of government overreach.  Many people prefer gas stoves, and others just don’t want to be told what to do, plain and simple. It’s true that many politicians leverage that fear for their own personal gain, but that doesn’t mean they are responsible for it in the first place.

Even if you aren’t sensitive to the worries and desires of your fellow citizens, you should be concerned about their reaction. Maybe not in New York, but in other states this ban and others like it could engender legislation or just cultural preferences for gas appliances.

To avoid such a reaction, New York and other states that want to reduce fossil fuel appliance use should consider a less heavy handed approach. Democratic assembly member Monica Wallace of Lancaster, New York, has the right idea:

“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.”