Sonoma County suspends natural gas ban
By Emma Murphy The Press Democrat
Sonoma County is suspending its prohibition on natural gas or propane appliances in new construction following a court determination that federal law overrides such a ban.
The 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals earlier this year determined that the federal Energy Policy and Conservation Act preempts local regulations restricting or banning natural gas appliances.
The decision affected jurisdictions in California, among them Santa Rosa and Healdsburg.
Berkeley had led the way on natural gas restrictions when, in 2019, it adopted a measure requiring new residential and commercial buildings to feature entirely electric utility lines and infrastructure, rather than natural gas piping, with few exemptions. Other California municipalities followed suit, but the regulations were thrown into question when the California Restaurant Association challenged Berkeley’s ordinance.
Courts, including the appellate court panel in April, found in favor of the restaurant association. Cities and counties have been trying to unwind regulations that ran afoul of the ruling ever since.
“It’s a substantial economic issue and environmental issue,” said Tennis Wick, director of Sonoma County’s building and permitting department.
In 2022, the Board of Supervisors approved an all-electric building code that banned natural gas appliances in buildings with a few exceptions, including secondary units and additions to a house if the main residence already uses natural gas, and homes where alternative energy sources like solar panels won’t work, such as in Camp Meeker, said Wick.
The all-electric code was intended to help the county meet its climate goals and reduce fossil fuel emissions. It applied to construction outside city limits.
Natural gas use represented about 77% of the total emissions from energy used in buildings in Sonoma County in 2022, according to the Regional Climate Protection Authority’s latest greenhouse gas inventory published in July.
In the aftermath of the court ruling, some municipalities, including Santa Rosa and Napa County, have begun pursuing building codes that contain “electric-preferred” efficiency standards.