Heating, cooling and powering buildings accounts for nearly 70% of the city's emissions of carbon dioxide and other heat-trapping gases. Supporters say it's a substantial and necessary move to combat global warming. Hospitals, commercial kitchens and some other facilities would be exempt.
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New York City lawmakers are poised to decide whether to prohibit most new buildings from using natural gas, a move that would make the nation's most populous city a showcase for a climate-change-fighting policy that has been both embraced and blocked around the country. Brittainy Newman/AP Show More Show Less 14 of15 Climate activists from the #GasFreeNYC coalition and elected officials rally and hold a press conference in City Hall Park on Wednesday, Dec. Brittainy Newman/AP Show More Show Lessġ2 of15 13 of15 Plumbers and gas fitters from local union #1 protest against climate activists from the #GasFreeNYC coalition who are rallying and holding a news conference in City Hall Park, Wednesday, Dec. Brittainy Newman/AP Show More Show Less 11 of15 Plumbers and gas fitters from local union #1 protest against climate activists from the #GasFreeNYC coalition who are rallying and holding a news conference in City Hall Park, Wednesday, Dec.
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9 of15 10 of15 Vincent Palma, plumber and gas fitter from local union #1, protests against climate activists from the #GasFreeNYC coalition who are rallying and holding a news conference in City Hall Park, Wednesday, Dec.