Gov. Kathy Hochul on Monday shrugged off the potential of New York's plan to end natural gas hookups in newly constructed buildings and homes by 2027 being impacted by a legal challenge to a similar provision in Berkeley, California while also pointing to the rebates for consumers to help make the transition. 

"There are court cases happening all over the country, whether they have an effect here is another question," Hochul said on Monday in Buffalo. 

New York state's $229 billion budget sets in motion the changes as part of a broader push to transition to cleaner and more renewable forms of energy in the coming years in order to sharply reduce carbon emissions by the middle point of the century. 

The federal court challenge to the measure in Berkeley addresses a municipal statute; New York's measure has statewide reach. 

There are carveouts out in the final agreement for people who live in areas where the power grid cannot handle electrified buildings and homes as well as hospitals, restaurants and infrastructure deemed to be critical. 

At the same time, Hochul pointed to the effect of rebates helping consumers make the changes. 

"Some of the changes I was able to get into the budget deal with the affordability issue — billions of dollars in rebates," she said. "This is a progression toward a cleaner energy future for our children, but I want to do so in a way that's affordable and we can sustain the change." 

The changes will effect new construction, and existing appliances like gas stoves and furnaces would not be impacted. Still, Republicans have criticized the measure as unworkable for many New Yorkers. 

"This affordability crisis continues to mount and now we're implementing an energy plan that doesn't address affordability or reality," said state Assemblyman Phil Palmesano.