More than two-thirds of Americans — including Democrats — oppose ban on gas stoves: poll

Now we’re cooking with gas! Americans — both Democrats and Republicans — overwhelmingly oppose government edicts like the one approved by New York Gov. Kathy Hochul that ban the use of gas stoves to address climate change, a new poll reveals.

Of the 2,090 voters surveyed on June 14-15, 69% of voters opposed any rule that would eliminate or phase out gas stoves, while just 31% supported such a ban in a survey conducted by Harvard CAPS Harris.

Despite the gas ban being pushed by liberal climate change activists and mostly Democratic politicians, 55% of Democratic voters joined 83% of Republicans and 71% of self described independent voters in opposing a ban on gas stoves.

The National Republican Congressional Campaign on Tuesday pounced.

“Fresh polling shows that people overwhelmingly disagree with extreme House Democrats’ vote that would allow the Biden administration to `virtually eliminate gas stoves,’” the NRCC said in a statement on the poll’s findings.

Said NRCC spokesman Will Reinert: “Extreme House Democrats want control over every aspect of Americans’ lives, and people hate it.” 

The Republican-led House passed a bill last week that would prevent the Consumer Product Safety Commission from finalizing any rule banning gas stoves. To date, there are no federal proposals to ban the sale of gas stoves.

The 248-180 vote for the bill from Rep. Kelly Armstrong, R-N.D., included 29 Democratic supporters.

In New York, Hochul signed legislation in April that requires all new buildings under seven stories to be fully electric by 2026 with larger structures following three years later — an effective ban on gas stoves.

While the governor hailed the plan as a way to fight climate change, polling showed average New Yorkers said it wasn’t a hot idea.

Critics claim the ban will drive rising energy costs while depriving many New Yorkers of their right to beloved gas stoves in future homes. Current homes are exempt. Even the governor’s mansion in Albany and Hochul’s personal residence has a gas stove.

A February Siena College poll in New York found just 39% of registered voters support banning all fossil-fuel burning equipment for new family homes by 2025 and all construction by 2029. But 61% of Democrats backed the gas phase-out.

The law bans gas-powered stoves, furnaces and propane heating and effectively encourages the use of climate-friendly appliances such as heat pumps and electric stoves.