Instead of banning natural gas hookups in new homes as originally planned, Encinitas may strengthen its energy efficiency requirements to encourage the construction of all-electric structures. An ordinance proposing to do this won initial approval from the City Council last week in a 4-1 vote, with Councilmember Bruce Ehlers voting against. Ehlers said he wanted the ordinance to also include new standards for buildings that are taller than three stories.
This isn’t the route that Encinitas officials originally envisioned when they decided to pursue new environmental construction standards some two years ago. In October 2022, the council approved a gas hook-up ban, or what’s called a “decarbonization requirement.” But after the city of Berkeley was sued over its gas-hookup ban, Encinitas suspended its requirement and monitored what was happening with the Berkeley court case.