|
Many local cities are taking swift action to prevent new uses of natural gas (a fossil fuel). Menlo Park adopted a nearly
<br />all -electric Reach Code in September, and Mountain View adopted an all -electric Reach Code last week to prohibit gas in
<br />all but a few specific building types (such as laboratories), while Morgan Hill recently passed a prohibition on gas in all
<br />new buildings. The County of San Mateo also discussed moving ahead with one of these options (All -Electric Reach
<br />Codes or a prohibition on gas use in new construction) at their October 22 "d Board meeting. On October 29`h, the City of
<br />San Jose, the tenth largest in the nation, will consider banning gas in new home construction, small apartments and
<br />condos, and government buildings. Cities are recognizing how important a fossil -free future is to our community's
<br />health, safety, climate, and future. We urge you to improve the staff proposed Reach Code on October 28, by adopting
<br />similar requirements as the above listed cities, going all -electric or prohibiting gas in new construction.
<br />The sooner Redwood City phases out natural gas use, the better off everyone will be. Here's why. Although Natural gas
<br />is commonly used to heat our homes and buildings, and cook with, much of this fossil fuel now comes from "fracking,"
<br />which is extremely polluting and damaging to our environment. Fortunately, electric heating and water heating are
<br />much cheaper and more efficient options that are cleaner, healthier, and safer than gas.'
<br />Many recent studies show that natural gas has exceptionally high global warming emissions when the life cycle of the
<br />fuel (including leaks) is considered. Natural gas also poses direct safety hazards with leaks that can lead to explosions or
<br />fires. For example, the 2010 gas pipeline explosion in San Bruno killed eight people and destroyed 38 homes. Every year,
<br />there are thousands of fires and dozens of deaths caused bygas leaks that do not make headline news. Gas use inside
<br />buildings that are not well ventilated also leads to chronic health impacts, such as substantial increases in asthma, as
<br />well as hundreds more deaths every year from carbon monoxide poisoning.
<br />It is therefore of the utmost importance that the Reach Codes are designed to avoid gas use in all new construction.
<br />Please join the cities of Menlo Park, Mountain View, and Morgan Hill, as well as San Mateo County in leading on
<br />sustainability with a strong, all -electric reach code orgas prohibition for new construction. The health and well-being of
<br />the youth and all residents of Redwood City are at stake. Thank you for considering these comments.
<br />Sincerely,
<br />Diane Bailey, Menlo Spark
<br />Bruce Hodge, Carbon Free Palo Alto
<br />James Tuleya, Chairperson, Carbon Free Silicon Valley
<br />Kathy Voss -Jensen, Member, Fossil Free Mid -Peninsula
<br />Lauren Weston, Acterra
<br />Debbie Mytels, Chair, Peninsula Interfaith Climate Action
<br />Karen Warner Nelson, Chair, Climate Reality Project: Santa Clara County
<br />Janet Walworth, Peninsula Interfaith Climate Action
<br />Cc: Melissa Stevenson Diaz, City Manager
<br />Pamela Aguilar, City Clerk, paguilar@redwoodcity.org
<br />Vicki Sherman, Environmental Initiatives Coordinator, vsherman@redwoodcity.org
<br />3 Find examples of homes, apartments, schools and many other buildings that have gone all -electric and saved money in this guidebook series from
<br />Redwood Energy: https://www.redwoodenergy.tech/research/.
<br />Contact IdaRose Sylvester, IdaRose(Qmenlosoark.oro; and find info at www.FossilFreeBuildinos.org
<br />
|