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I'm writing to urge you to go beyond the staff proposal for reach codes and mandate all -electric buildings in <br />new construction for the following reasons: <br />• We must electrify all buildings to run off clean electricity to achieve science -based climate targets. <br />Buildings are >25% of the state's greenhouse gas emissions, and building electrification is the only <br />viable pathway for reducing emissions at scale, based on years of research from universities and <br />national labs. <br />• All -electric new construction costs less than building with gas. There's significant savings when you <br />do not install two separate utility connections (electric and gas). Everyone from affordable housing <br />developers in Silicon Valley to the University of California & Stanford are already building all -electric, <br />because they've researched it and know the benefits. <br />• Any gas infrastructure installed in buildings today is a stranded asset. Requiring all -electric new <br />construction is the fiscally prudent decision. All gas infrastructure will need to be ripped out and <br />replaced with electric in the coming decades. Requiring it now will save our community - residents and <br />businesses - millions if not billions of dollars. <br />• All -electric buildings with solar and battery storage enhance community resiliency. Buildings with <br />gas are not more resilient: modern gas appliances require electricity to operate. All -electric buildings <br />with solar and storage offer greater resiliency benefits for residents and businesses, especially in light <br />of PSPS events. <br />• Advanced electric appliances are not new - they are industry standard in other regions of the US <br />and abroad. Advanced electric technologies using heat pumps for space and water heating (not <br />resistance appliances) and induction stoves for cooking (not coil cooktops) are already tested and <br />proven. These technologies dominate most markets outside California. <br />• PG&E supports all -electric new construction. Here is a copy of their letter of support for all -electric <br />new construction to the City of Morgan Hill, which just passed a gas ban last week. They offered to <br />show up at city council meetings to answer questions and voice support. <br />• Eliminating indoor combustion improves indoor air quality for residents. Buildings with gas in <br />California release more smog indoors than all gas power plants, which impacts the health of our <br />families and pets. Removing combustion indoors by moving to all -electric eliminates the release of <br />toxic gases and the need for CO detectors, improving public health. <br />• Redwood City will fall behind if it does not take a stronger position. In our region, San Jose, <br />Berkeley, Menlo Park, Mountain View, and Morgan Hill have already banned gas or strongly favored <br />all -electric new construction in the ordinances they've adopted. Here's a list of active local government <br />efforts to decarbonize buildings. Several other local jurisdictions will be considering eliminating gas in <br />the coming weeks. Redwood City will be an outlier and fall behind in the region if it does not adopt a <br />stronger position. <br />Rarely will you have the opportunity to help your community save money and the planet, not to mention <br />materially improve community resiliency and public health. That is the fortunate position you are in now. For <br />the sake of your children and future generations, do not waste this opportunity. <br />Thank you for your consideration. I look forward to seeing you at the council meeting tomorrow. <br />Best regards, <br />