Requires gas corporations to file maps with the public service commission

Showing the cosponsors who are on Agora, A to Z. The official record may list more.

• Democratic30

Shown in neutral colors by design; Agora is non-partisan.

◆ The sponsor's argument

Why Kristen Gonzalez says this is needed

Leak-prone gas infrastructure has become increasingly costly in New York and ratepayers are paying the price. Aging gas mains, some of which haven't been upgraded since the 1880s, accelerate climate change by leaking methane into the atmosphere, expose New Yorkers to hazardous conditions, and cost residents and businesses $4.3 million per mile of leak-prone pipe that is replaced. It is expected that the cost of replacing these leak-prone pipes will cost Con Edison roughly $1.8 billion over the next three years. So far, the eight major utilities that serve gas to New York ratepayers spent $2 billion in 2022 and 2023 replacing gas mains. The immense cost incurred by ratepayers on replacing leak-prone gas infrastructure with new gas infrastructure continues despite the fact that the amount of gas used by New Yorkers in their homes and businesses (excluding power plants and industry) has dropped by 15% since 2018. This bill addresses a critical disconnect between New York's climate law and current utility practices. The Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act (CLCPA) requires emissions reductions of 40% by 2030 and at least 85% by 2050. Continued large-scale replacement of aging gas mains with new, long-lived fossil-fuel infrastructure risks locking in assets that are inconsistent with a decarbonizing future, creating a credible risk of stranded assets and long-term costs for ratepayers and investors. Twenty-four states and Puerto Rico have already eliminated cast-and- wrought-iron distribution mains, according to the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA). In Massachusetts, the Home Energy Efficiency Team (HEET) produces publicly accessible maps that make gas leaks and planned pipe replacements visible to residents. Mean- while, recent PHMSA rulemaking (2023 NPRM; Final Rule issued January 17, 2025) strengthens leak detection, grading, and repair requirements underscoring the nationwide urgency for better planning, transparency, and non-pipeline alternatives. This legislation offers New York the opportunity to align utility prac- tices with our state's legally binding climate commitments while protecting ratepayers from billions of dollars in unnecessary costs. It requires gas providers to map and decommission leak-prone infrastruc- ture, directs the State to designate neighborhood priority decarboniza- tion zones with public input, and launches pilot projects across the State to replace faulty gas infrastructure with green infrastructure. By prioritizing transparency, we can prevent stranded fossil fuel assets, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and safeguard public health. With other states already moving toward more transparent and forward-looking prac- tices, New York cannot afford to fall behind.

This is the sponsor's own case for the bill, quoted from their memorandum. It is not Agora's description of what the bill does.