Berkeley's backtrack on gas ban won't stop the electrification trend

Berkeley’s agreement to throw out its first-in-the-nation ban on gas hookups in new buildings after losing a court challenge might seem like a big loss for climate action. To meet our fossil-fuel reduction goals, after all, we have to stop using natural gas to power furnaces, stoves, water heaters and clothes dryers and switch to electric heat pumps, induction ranges and other zero-emission technology. But in reality, the East Bay city’s recent settlement with the California Restaurant Assn.

But the impact is not as sweeping as it might seem. Not all local measures to discourage gas piping in new construction are subject to the decision because some weren't copies of Berkeley’s ordinance or as prescriptive. And the ruling was narrow enough that there are other options to reach the same goal, including adopting more stringent energy performance standards for buildings and emissions rules for appliances.

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