Month: January 2020

Arizona lawmakers are advancing a measure that would protect the natural-gas industry by preventing municipalities from banning gas hookups for new buildings, which has been done in some states to address climate change.

Diversifying our sources of energy provides a variety of benefits, such as greater reliability and lower carbon emissions. While a new mandate for residential solar panels in California represents a step towards diversification the regulations shift the financial burden onto the state’s poorest residents.

San Francisco’s Board of Supervisors has voted unanimously to ban gas appliances in new and significantly renovated city buildings. It’s just the beginning, officials say: The board also passed a law to give incentives for all-electric construction, paving the way for a possible gas ban in all new buildings this year.

The California Public Utilities Commission on Thursday launched a new rulemaking to regulate the state’s transition away from natural gas, addressing issues related to stranded assets and unfair cost shifts among ratepayers.

Seeking to do their part to avert climate change, dozens of cities are exploring ways to limit natural gas heating in new homes. One city may also require existing homeowners to make a switch.

I agree that reducing emissions and fighting climate change ought to be top priorities, but taking away consumers’ ability to choose low-cost, clean natural gas doesn’t help us save the planet.