When the U.S. 9th Circuit Court of Appeals found that Berkeley, California’s gas piping ban was preempted by federal law, the move to implement natural gas bans had a setback. For instance, Eugene repealed its ban on gas hookups for new residences.
The court ruling doesn’t mean all options to limit natural gas are off the table. The city of Bend is pushing ahead, looking for options to promote electrification.
Staff has briefed council members on the plan to hire a consultant and look for opportunities. City staff have briefed members of the Bend Chamber of Commerce. On Monday, staff gave an overview of plans to the city’s .
What are some options?
It could be voluntary incentives, such as for people to switch to electric appliances. Oregon’s Department of Energy also is in the process of for commercial buildings. Those could be met more easily by electric heat pumps than heating with natural gas because heat pumps can be much more efficient.
It’s not just natural gas companies that are wary of such moves. It was the California Restaurant Association that fought the Berkeley ban. The “ban was passed with a disregard for available cooking technologies and ultimately for small businesses in the community that rely on gas-burning equipment for their cuisines,†.
Whatever the city of Bend comes up with, it should learn from the experience of people adopting electric vehicles. It’s easier for wealthier people to make such a switch. And any increases in electricity costs to meet new energy demand will be felt more acutely by people with less money.
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Just imagine going to any of Bend's finer restaurant's without flame cooking !
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