The state could outlaw gas stoves in new homes by 2026.
If you’ve got gas burners in your home, you might want to step away from the stove. Recent studies have shed light on the dangers of this type of flame, and while the debate simmered down a bit after the initial uproar earlier this year, it’s heating back up thanks to a new proposal in New York State that’s thrown more fuel on the fire. Not to fan the flames, but we had to take a closer look at what first generated the concern and if this common appliance is really unsafe.
What ignited the gas stove debate?
The controversy began earlier this year when Bloomberg reported that the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) was considering a ban on the appliance because studies suggest they emit an unhealthy level of air pollutants. Researchers have been saying this for years, but the debate was fueled by a new study released last year, which linked nearly 13 percent of childhood asthma cases to gas stove use.
“This is a hidden hazard,” Richard Trumka, Jr., a CPSC commissioner, told Bloomberg. “Any option is on the table.”
The story sent conservative pundits and a handful of politicians into hysterics. Fox News aired a segment called “My Kitchen, My Choice,” while Ted Cruz attempted to roast First Lady Jill Biden for sautéing spinach on her gas range…more than two years ago.
Then there was Texas Rep. Ronny Jackson, who tweeted that if the appliance were outlawed, they’d have to pry his stove “from my cold dead hands.” Meanwhile, some prominent Democrats have weighed in too. New Jersey Senator Cory Booker urged the CPSC to address the potential health hazards the appliances pose, writing: “Consumers have the right to know their exposure risks and need adequate ventilation.”
What is New York’s gas stove rule?
New York is on the cusp of becoming the first-ever state to ban gas stoves in new homes and apartments. The state’s legislature passed a bill this week that prohibits gas hookups (powering not just stoves, but water heaters, furnaces, and dryers) in new residential buildings and some new commercial buildings. New York Gov. Kathy Hochul is expected to sign off on the measure, the Wall Street Journal reports.
The law doesn’t impact gas appliances in existing homes and won’t go into effect until 2026 for buildings seven stories and smaller (and 2029 for larger structures). It’s intended to help the state reduce its carbon footprint.
Will gas stoves be banned nationwide?
After the outrage that erupted in January, the White House made clear that President Biden doesn’t support a ban, while the CSPC declared that it wasn’t looking to implement one.
The agency is, however, considering its first set of health regulations for the product. Some proposals include setting standards for range hoods to ensure they’re filtering harmful emissions, requiring stoves be sold with a ducted hood, or banning their import or manufacture altogether, Vox reports. The agency has not suggested forcing Americans to ditch their existing gas stoves.
The members of the CSPC aren’t the only ones questioning gas stoves, though. States, like New York and California, have been looking to limit their use as a way to curb climate change. Plus, the Inflation Reduction Act includes rebates of up to $840 for consumers who want to get rid of their gas range and go electric.
However, the natural gas industry has lobbied hard to protect the product, making the case that gas is safe and cheaper to operate than an electric stove.
“Attempts to generate consumer fears with baseless allegations to justify the banning of a natural gas is a misguided agenda that will not improve the environment or the health of consumers and would saddle vulnerable populations with significant cost,” the American Gas Association said in a statement.
Are gas stoves dangerous?
When you turn the knob on your gas stove, a mix of particulate matter, methane, and other chemicals is released into the air, at levels considered by the EPA and World Health Organization associated with respiratory illness, cardiovascular problems, cancer, and other conditions, Bloomberg reports. And researchers have linked one chemical in particular, nitrogen dioxide, to the development of childhood-onset asthma.
But “just because you have a gas stove doesn’t mean you’re guaranteed to develop asthma or cancer,” Eric Lebel, a senior scientist at P.S.E. Healthy Energy, tells The New York Times. Health experts say the average person can protect themselves when cooking with gas by taking a few precautions, like ventilating your kitchen by cracking a window or opening a door, or using an air purifier. And by using your exhaust hood every time, even if you’re just boiling water, Lebel says.
