AgdaPkt 2019-10-28 Joint SA PFA - Laserfiche WebLink

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CLK-Pamela Aguilar From: Aimee Bailey <aimeebailey@gmail.com> Sent: Sunday, October 27, 2019 11:53 AM To: GRP -City Council Subject: Adoption of Reach Codes - Oct 28 agenda item Dear Redwood City City Council, My name is Aimee Bailey, a homeowner and resident of Redwood City's Centennial Neighborhood since 2014. By way of personal background, I'm an energy industry professional with a PhD in physics and over a decade experience in the utility sector in positions at the US Department of Energy, PG&E, Palo Alto Utilities, EDF, and Silicon Valley Clean Energy. I pivoted my career from physics research to energy to address climate change, the greatest existential threat of our time. I'm writing to urge you to go beyond the staff proposal for reach codes and mandate all -electric buildings in new construction for the following reasons: • We must electrify all buildings to run off clean electricity to achieve science -based climate targets. Buildings are >25% of the state's greenhouse gas emissions, and building electrification is the only viable pathway for reducing emissions at scale, based on years of research from universities and national labs. • All -electric new construction costs less than building with gas. There's significant savings when you do not install two separate utility connections (electric and gas). Everyone from affordable housing developers in Silicon Valley to the University of California & Stanford are already building all -electric, because they've researched it and know the benefits. • Any gas infrastructure installed in buildings today is a stranded asset. Requiring all -electric new construction is the fiscally prudent decision. All gas infrastructure will need to be ripped out and replaced with electric in the coming decades. Requiring it now will save our community - residents and businesses - millions if not billions of dollars. • All -electric buildings with solar and battery storage enhance community resiliency. Buildings with gas are not more resilient: modern gas appliances require electricity to operate. All -electric buildings with solar and storage offer greater resiliency benefits for residents and businesses, especially in light of PSPS events. • Advanced electric appliances are not new - they are industry standard in other regions of the US and abroad. Advanced electric technologies using heat pumps for space and water heating (not resistance appliances) and induction stoves for cooking (not coil cooktops) are already tested and proven. These technologies dominate most markets outside California. • PG&E supports all -electric new construction. Here is a copy of their letter of support for all -electric new construction to the City of Morgan Hill, which just passed a gas ban last week. They offered to show up at city council meetings to answer questions and voice support. • Eliminating indoor combustion improves indoor air quality for residents. Buildings with gas in California release more smog indoors than all gas power plants, which impacts the health of our families