Low-Carbon Fuels Have a Limited Role to Play in New York’s Buildings

This policy brief by RMI argues that low-carbon fuels—specifically green hydrogen, biomethane, and synthetic methane—are impractical for heating buildings in New York State. The document contends that these alternatives are energy-inefficient compared to heat pumps, require costly and risky infrastructure upgrades, pose health hazards, and divert critical resources away from energy efficiency and electrification goals mandated by the Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act (CLCPA).

• Using green hydrogen for building heat is significantly less efficient than direct electrification via heat pumps. A typical New York home requiring 50 MMBtu (15 MWh) of annual heating energy would need over 25 MWh of clean electricity to meet that demand with green hydrogen, whereas a high-performing electric heat pump would require only 5–6 MWh. Consequently, green hydrogen heating requires approximately 4.4 times more clean electricity than heat pumps.
• At a statewide scale, replacing the 828 TBtu of natural gas currently consumed by New York's residential and commercial buildings with green hydrogen would require 308 TWh/y of clean electricity generation. This is nearly equal to the total electricity production of 320 TWh/y for all sectors anticipated by New York’s Climate Action Council by 2050, whereas direct electrification would only require 69 TWh/y.
• Transitioning to green hydrogen would necessitate massive infrastructure overhauls because hydrogen cannot be substituted 1-for-1 for fossil gas. High concentrations of hydrogen can cause "metal pipeline embrittlement," potentially requiring the upgrade or replacement of over 22,000 miles of steel or cast-iron pipes within New York's 49,000-mile distribution system. Additionally, millions of end-use appliances would need to be replaced as hydrogen-capable versions currently have no notable market presence in the state.
• Green hydrogen is prohibitively expensive compared to fossil gas and electrification. While fossil gas prices historically ranged from $2–$3/MMBtu, green hydrogen is estimated to cost around $37/MMBtu today. Even with optimistic 2030 forecasts of $1–$2/kg ($7.40–$15.00/MMBtu), New York’s Climate Action Council assumes costs will be more than $21/MMBtu by 2030 and $13.70/MMBtu by 2050, which would significantly increase resident energy bills.
• Combusting hydrogen in buildings creates human health risks by emitting nitrogen oxides (NOx). Research indicates that NOx emissions from burning green hydrogen can be up to six times higher than those released from burning methane.
• Blending hydrogen with methane is an ineffective decarbonization strategy. A 20% hydrogen blend by volume would only reduce methane use and emissions by 7% due to differences in energy densities, while still requiring significant capital investments in the gas delivery system.
• Biomethane and synthetic methane are insufficient and environmentally risky alternatives. A NYSERDA study found that biomethane supply potential by 2040 (90 TBtu/y) covers only 11% of the state's buildings sector gas demand. Furthermore, production via thermal gasification creates new methane emissions through leakage, and the New York Department of Environmental Conservation accounts for gross CO2 emissions from biomethane combustion similarly to fossil gas.
• The Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act (CLCPA) mandates an 85% reduction in statewide greenhouse gas emissions by 2050 (relative to 1990) and 40% by 2030. Notably, New York law requires the use of the 20-year global warming potential metric (GWP-20), which weights short-lived gases like methane more heavily than the standard GWP-100 metric.

APA

RMI (2022). Low-Carbon Fuels Have a Limited Role to Play in New York’s Buildings. https://rmi.org/resources/low-carbon-fuels-have-a-limited-role-to-play-in-new-yorks-buildings/

Chicago

RMI. Low-Carbon Fuels Have a Limited Role to Play in New York’s Buildings. 2022. https://rmi.org/resources/low-carbon-fuels-have-a-limited-role-to-play-in-new-yorks-buildings/.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=RMI |title=Low-Carbon Fuels Have a Limited Role to Play in New York’s Buildings |date=25 May 2022 |url=https://rmi.org/resources/low-carbon-fuels-have-a-limited-role-to-play-in-new-yorks-buildings/ |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{rmi2022lowcarbon, author = {{RMI}}, title = {{Low-Carbon Fuels Have a Limited Role to Play in New York’s Buildings}}, institution = {RMI}, year = {2022}, month = may, url = {https://rmi.org/resources/low-carbon-fuels-have-a-limited-role-to-play-in-new-yorks-buildings/}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }