VICTORY: Mayor Adams Signs Law Accelerating Phaseout of Major Heating Pollutant!

New York City Mayor Eric Adams accelerated the timeline for phasing out fuel oil grade #4 signing Intro 470-A into law on Monday. We had been advocating for this legislation, which requires building owners to end the use of this heating oil by October 2027, three years earlier than the original timeline.

Northern Manhattan and the South Bronx have the highest concentrations of buildings that burn this grade of oil, which produces harmful air pollutants such as particulate matter, or soot, that can trigger asthma attacks and contribute to lung cancer, heart disease, and premature death.

“We thank Mayor Adams, City Council Member Gennaro, and the other sponsors of this legislation, which is a timely response to long-standing needs in New York's environmental justice communities,” said Caleb Smith, a Cecil Corbin-Mark Fellow at WE ACT for Environmental Justice. “Improving air quality in these neighborhoods aligns with reducing heat stress, chronic absenteeism related to asthma, and a healthier learning environment for youth at home and at school.”