San Francisco officials are pushing for a policy update that would phase out gas appliances in more buildings.
Since 2020, the city has required all new builds to use electricity for water heating, heating and cooling systems, and cooking appliances. The proposed change would require homes and businesses undergoing major renovations to do the same. However, buildings with gas appliances protected under the Energy Policy and Conservation Act are exempt, and affordable housing units would get a temporary exemption.
“I do think the climate crisis is real,” Board of Supervisors President Rafael Mandelman told CBS News, which summarized the proposed change. “The health impacts of natural gas and fossil fuels are real, and we can’t ignore them. We have to address them.”…