Eugene bans natural gas, other fossil fuel infrastructure in some new residential buildings
Gas, Policy Eric Rehm Gas, Policy Eric Rehm

Eugene bans natural gas, other fossil fuel infrastructure in some new residential buildings

“Eugene has banned natural gas and other fossil fuel infrastructure in new homes, townhouses and other residential structures no taller than three stories.

City councilors voted 5-3 Monday night to pass an ordinance that will apply to building permit applications submitted on or after June 30, 2023. They've cited concerns about climate change and public health during several years of discussions about decarbonization and electrification.”

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Heat Pumps for Peace and Freedom
Policy, Home Eric Rehm Policy, Home Eric Rehm

Heat Pumps for Peace and Freedom

President Biden should immediately invoke the Defense Production Act to get American manufacturers to start producing electric heat pumps in quantity, so we can ship them to Europe where they can be installed in time to dramatically lessen Putin’s power. The most recent estimates from Europe I’ve seen is that the current electric grid could handle fifty million heat pumps. We’re not going to get that many over there in a year—but any large number hacks away at Putin’s power.

Bill McKibben, The Crucial Years, 2/27/2022

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Here’s the first U.S. city to swap gas and oil for all-electric buildings, on the path to zero carbon emissions
Policy Eric Rehm Policy Eric Rehm

Here’s the first U.S. city to swap gas and oil for all-electric buildings, on the path to zero carbon emissions

Ithaca, the upstate New York city of about 30,000, known for Cornell University and the natural beauty of its gorges, will be the first in the country to try to decarbonize every last one of its buildings by switching to electric power.

Decarbonization, or eliminating all heat-trapping carbon emissions generated by fossil fuels, will be funded through private investment, grants and rebates. The conversion takes on everything from how a building is heated — pushing heat pumps over natural gas and heating oil — to how appliances run.

Ithaca has some 6,000 commercial buildings, multifamily and single-family homes, schools, government facilities and more. The existing energy code in the city already bans natural-gas hookups in new construction and major renovations; similar rules are in place in California.

Market Watch
By Rachel Koning Beals, 11/4/2021

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