In 2016, the New York City Environmental Protection Agency ruled that no pizzeria could deploy new wood or coal-fired ovens unless it included a high-dollar carbon-dioxide capturing system. These systems allegedly reduce carbon emissions by 75%. However, around sixty pizzerias with existing traditional pizza ovens were not affected.
The agency wants to force all the old pizzerias to upgrade or convert to electric ovens. The carbon-capturing equipment would cost around twenty thousand, and most pizzerias would have no room to put the large machinery. They would be forced to either go out of business or spend money on an eclectic oven and remodeling to make an inferior pizza.
A public hearing is scheduled for July 27th.
