The Peru Gazette

By John T Ryan

New York State’s goal of achieving zero on-site greenhouse gas emissions means significant changes will take effect on December 31, 2025.  There are some exemptions, but they are very few.  

The Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act (CLCPA), signed into law on June 18, 2019, mandates the State achieve a carbon-free electricity system by 2040 and reduce its total emissions 85% by 2050. The New York State legislature enacted the NYS All-Electric Buildings Law in 2024. 

Beginning on December 31, 2025, the installation of fossil-fuel equipment in building systems is prohibited in any new buildings seven stories or less in height. Commercial or industrial buildings larger than 100,000 square feet are exempt from the prohibition until 2029. As of January 1, 2029.

There are exemptions from the fossil fuel prohibition in new building systems, including for use in:

• The generation of emergency back-up power and standby power systems
• Manufactured homes (as defined by NYS Executive Law § 601(7) (The Gazette interprets this to mean mobile homes). 

Buildings or parts of buildings used as manufacturing facilities, commercial food establishments, laboratories, car washes, laundromats, hospitals, other medical facilities, critical infrastructure (including but not limited to emergency management facilities, wastewater treatment facilities, and water treatment and pumping facilities), agricultural buildings, fuel cell systems, and crematoriums.

A building owner or applicant may also receive an exemption if they receive a written determination from the local utility indicating that the grid cannot reasonably provide new or expanded electric service. On October 28, the Peru Gazette emailed NYSEG asking if it might grant some exemptions in Peru. To date, NYSEG has not responded.

Key points for existing homeowners: 

• Existing homes are not affected by the ban on new fossil fuel installations.
• Homeowners can continue to use, repair, and replace their current gas, propane, or oil systems and appliances.
• The law does not require existing homeowners to switch to electric appliances.

Anyone planning to build in 2026 who does not intend to go all-electric must file a “substantially complete” building permit application by December 31. What does “substantially complete” mean? Consult with the Peru Code Enforcement office (518-643-2475 x103) as soon as possible. 

Click here to view an in-depth Albany Times-Union story on the issue.