Mayor de Blasio Proposes Stringent New Greenhouse Gas Mandates

The new mandates target the worst performing 14,500 buildings in the city, which combined produce 24% of the city’s total greenhouse gas emissions.

NEW YORK CITY—In a radical departure to the policies under the fledgling Trump Administration in Washington, New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio proposed on Thursday new stringent measures on owners of buildings more than 25,000 square feet to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, who could face heavy fines for non-compliance.

As part of his earlier pledge to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 80% in New York City by 2050, the proposed new rules to be debated by the City Council would require building owners to undertake upgrades to boilers, water heaters, roofs and windows on an accelerated 2030 timeframe. The measures to comply with the mandated fossil fuel caps will apply to all buildings of more than 25,000 square feet, and will trigger replacement of fossil fuel equipment and efficiency upgrades. The new mandates target the worst performing 14,500 buildings in the city, which combined produce 24% of the city’s total greenhouse gas emissions.