NW Natural is an obstacle to Oregon’s clean energy future.
“But even as [Oregon] moves away from fossil fuels, its largest gas utility keeps sinking money into expanding its system of “natural” gas pipelines, and passing the extra costs on to Oregon families through higher energy bills. Simply put, NW Natural’s business model is incompatible with Oregon’s clean energy future.” — Gas Leaks
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