{"type":"rich","version":"1.0","provider_name":"Transistor","provider_url":"https://transistor.fm","author_name":"Radio Chatskill","title":"Hochul Faces Backlash for Delaying New York’s All-Electric Buildings Law","html":"","width":"100%","height":180,"duration":1149,"description":"New York Gov. Kathy Hochul is under fire from environmental advocates and progressive Democrats after her administration postponed a landmark law that would ban natural gas in most newly constructed buildings. The All-Electric Buildings Act was set to take effect January 1.Hochul’s office says the move is merely an extension and that she remains committed to the law. But critics say the delay signals a retreat from major climate goals — and arrives alongside other decisions that have frustrated environmentalists. The administration recently approved a natural gas pipeline that had long been stalled, and it green-lit a power plant in the Finger Lakes that is prepared to operate for crypto-mining.Lt. Gov. Antonio Delgado, who is challenging Hochul in the Democratic primary, has emerged as one of the sharpest critics, calling the actions “a shame” and accusing the governor of backtracking on climate commitments.Lisa Marshall, advocacy and organizing director at New Yorkers for Clean Power and a leader of the Renewable Heat Now campaign, said the delay undercuts years of climate progress.“Well, you know how they say when you’re in a hole, the first thing to do is stop digging. That’s what the all-electric building act does,” Marshall said. “These are just better, healthier, safer buildings. It’s a win for everybody, and it’s an extreme disappointment to have Governor Hochul delaying this law today.”Marshall argued Hochul is wavering on climate commitments. “She really seems to be going back and forth on these common-sense climate measures,” she said. “She is not doing this because she supports the law. She is doing this because she is not brave enough to stand by her own policies and bring the case to the people of New York.”Marshall said the delay will allow developers to continue “building systems that are sort of like an anachronism in these brand-new buildings.”“This is really giving an out to the corporate developers,” she said. “They should be state-of-the-art,...","thumbnail_url":"https://img.transistorcdn.com/q7XXsnSXT_u4mZLCn3chUorwDmUD_kWiB272D6emB18/rs:fill:0:0:1/w:400/h:400/q:60/mb:500000/aHR0cHM6Ly9pbWct/dXBsb2FkLXByb2R1/Y3Rpb24udHJhbnNp/c3Rvci5mbS80N2Uy/OGY5MWUwZThkYTEw/NDVkZGM2ZGZkZDIw/ZjliOS5wbmc.webp","thumbnail_width":300,"thumbnail_height":300}