Congressman Nick Langworthy speaks Friday at P.P.P. Future Development, 100 E. Chautauqua Ave., in Mayville. Looking on is John Healy of the Builders Exchange of the Southern Tier. P-J photo by Michael Zabrodsky

MAYVILLE – Nick Langworthy wants to give area residents and businesses a choice – a choice for affordable, reliable energy.

U.S. Rep. Langworthy spoke Friday at P.P.P. Future Development, 100 E. Chautauqua Ave. to stress how important his proposed Energy Choice Act is for consumers and businesses.

The congressman said that New York State government policies affect residents’ energy costs and reliability.

“Starting on Jan. 1, 2026, it will be illegal to build a new home or any commercial construction under seven stories with a natural gas or propane hookup,” Langworthy said.

He added that renters and homeowners are already seeing increases in their utility bills. Langworthy said because of the energy policies coming from Albany, the state is in the midst of an energy nightmare.

He said Gov. Kathy Hochul has waged a crusade against natural gas that is increasing home energy costs, and crippling the energy supply.

He wants to ban, “the ban on propane and natural gas” in New York State.

“Now (state) Governor (Kathy) Hochul and the Democrats that control our state legislature woke up one morning and decided arbitrarily, that they were going to declare war on natural gas and propane in our state,” Langworthy.

Langworthy’s proposed legislation will prohibit states or local governments from banning an energy service’s connection, reconnection, modification, installation, or expansion based on the type or source of energy to be delivered. Langworthy, who serves as a member of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, and as a member of the Energy and Environment subcommittees, has made protecting Americans’ energy choices a top priority.

The lawmaker said that the ban is an assault on state residents and businesses freedom, and pocketbooks, but most importantly he stressed, “on our safety.”

He said in the region, propane and natural gas are lifelines in a winter storm where there is an electrical outage. He referenced the December 2022 Winter Storm Elliott or the Christmas Blizzard.

“We lost 69 beautiful souls during that storm, and I believe with full conviction that the death toll probably would have been ten-fold had the Hochul electrification mandate been on the books back then,” he said.

Chautauqua County Executive PJ Wendel echoed Langworthy’s thoughts.

“We’re looking for choice,” Wendel said. He added that Hochul is taking away that choice.

The county executive said natural gas was first discovered in the county and it can be very prosperous for the state.

“Pennsylvania is not walking away from oil (production),” Wendel added. “Why do we choose to walk away from natural gas?”

Wendel added that natural gas not only powers home furnaces, natural gas provides power to stoves, to hot water heaters, and to ovens.