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Now you don’t cook with gas.
As of June, buildings constructed in San Francisco will no longer be able to have natural gas heaters, gas appliances or gas fireplaces.
The city’s supervisory board voted unanimously on Tuesday to ban fuel in buildings that apply for a building permit after June 30, 2021. The ordinance would affect the planned development of more than 54,000 homes and 32 million square feet of retail space, according to the Chronicle of San Francisco.
The action was taken as “a gradual but important step to help save our planet,” said District 8 Supervisor Rafael Mandelman, sponsor of the legislation.
“Natural gas is the second largest source of greenhouse gas emissions in San Francisco and poses major health and safety risks,” Mandelman said in a Twitter message. “Fully electric construction in new buildings is a critical step towards a safer, healthier San Francisco and planet for future generations.”
The gas is responsible for about 44% of San Francisco’s global greenhouse gas emissions, according to 2017 data.
Other reasons cited for converting to electricity only include reducing the risk of fire or explosion in gas pipelines or other infrastructure that could be ruptured during an earthquake and improving the indoor air quality.
San Francisco joins Berkeley in adopting a natural gas ban. While Berkeley’s one goes into effect in January, San Francisco has delayed implementation for six months so developers can request a waiver to allow gas ranges for restaurants in otherwise fully electric buildings. The exemption is valid until the end of 2021.
San Francisco had previously banned natural gas in buildings owned by the city.
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