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

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It's clear that climate change is starting to show its ugly head and that we have to deal with it much more rapidly than we had hoped. It's clear now that as public officials we have to heed the worldwide panel of scientists' advice to reduce methane and carbon pollution through new means that are 1) Rapid, 2) Far Reaching and 3) Unprecedented. One more thing is clear. We already have the tools, and equipment to cost- effectively solve the problem in new buildings at a lower cost than running environmentally obsolete gas pipes to them. But old habits die hard. Recently, I was part of the City of Palo Alto Technical Advisory Commission that reviewed the low uptake of their 10% differential 2016 Reach code meant to encourage all electric buildings. The results appear that very few builders (less than 1 in 10) look into building the modern affordable, high performance, clean all -electric way. Designers and builders are simply busy pursuing opportunities the same old way they always have with gas fired equipment. The bulk of builders found acceptable -to -them workarounds that let them install (strand) gas fired equipment in new buildings, and this leaves the owners with a climate liability to be addressed later in an expensive retrofit case as climate preservation becomes an even more obvious local goal. I hope you can see this is an opportunity for councils to make the prudent choice of eliminating the temptation for builders to strand even more new gas assets in our communities. A strong Reach Code now will save our constituents money in initial building costs and save much more money in not having to do inconvenient retrofit projects to later implement the carbon saving equipment that is already available and widely used in other parts of the country and the world. Menlo Park staff looked at the type of differential code (like the one proposed by staff with only a 10% efficiency improvement as a small hurdle to surmount in order to keep building the old gas fired way)... and they realized, not only would it be difficult to administer, it also wasn't going to result in the needed transformation to a safe climate that we need to preserve our way of life. So they developed a simpler code option, to simplify life for all concerned by having the builders start implementing all electric construction in all new construction. As what will be a temporary partial concession in Menlo Park, there are also a couple of small exceptions allowing gas cooking and gas fireplaces in homes. We will have to re-examing that compromise. But I hope you will find it easier to skip that political compromise we made as an early mover before momentum for decisive climate protection has built around us in recent weeks. Menlo Park staff have made their reports, analysis, findings and ordinance language available to all PCE members including Redwood City. I hope you will find them helpful in following or leap -frogging our example. Thank you for considering these thoughts and observations from a neighbor and partner in protecting our way of life. Best regards, Tom Kabat Menlo Park resident