HomeMy WebLinkAbout6/16/2020 Item 11, Norwood
From:Gabby Reynaga <
To:E-mail Council Website
Subject:CPSA Decarb Testimony_San Luis Obispo
Attachments:CPSA Decarb Testimony_San Luis Obispo - Heidi Harmon.docx
Please see attached the California Pool and Spa Association testimony regarding Agenda Item 11 of the upcoming city
council meeting.
PLEASE NOTE NEW SUITE NUMBER.
Gabby Reynaga
Administrative Specialist
915 L Street, Suite 1100
Sacramento, CA 95814
916-447-5053
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1
June 11, 2020
Heidi Harmon
San Luis Obispo City Mayor
990 Palm Street
San Luis Obispo, CA 93401
Dear Mayor Harmon:
Thank you for the opportunity to provide additional comments relative to Agenda Item 11, Consideration of
a Resolution Establishing a Policy for Clean Energy Choice for New Buildings And Implementation
Measures Including an Ordinance Approving Local Amendments to the Energy Code and an Ordinance
Establishing Regulatory Flexibility for a Limited-Term to Support All-Electric New Buildings.
I am submitting these comments on behalf of the California Pool & Spa Association (CPSA). CPSA is a
statewide trade association that represents all segments of the swimming pool and hot tub industry in
California which includes swimming pool builders and service personnel in the San Luis Obispo area. CPSA’s
membership includes manufacturers of equipment to operate swimming pools, hot tubs, ancillary equipment,
testing and safety products; manufacturers of outdoor kitchens and recreation areas; swimming pool and spa
builders and subcontractors; and the swimming pool maintenance and service industry.
CPSA supports a balanced energy portfolio for California which includes continued access to clean natural
gas for both residential and commerci al consumers, especially as it applies to appliances associated with the
swimming pool and spa business where practical alternatives to heat water and provide fuel for associated
appliances are not practically available in the marketplace today.
Eliminating the use of natural gas in new buildings, providing incentives for home builders to construct new
housing tracts or commercial buildings without natural gas lines or hookups, or otherwise phasing out the use
of natural gas, will undermine the swimming po ol and hot tub business in California and the San Luis Obispo
regional area. The result will be a significant economic blow to your local small businesses who make their
living in the swimming pool and spa business; the elimination of choice for homeowners , restaurants, hotels,
and schools; and the imposition of a regressive energy tax on the residents of San Luis Obispo due to the
much higher cost and inefficiency of electric appliances versus appliances using clean natural gas.
The “California Dream,” so to speak, is still a home in the suburbs with a big backyard with a swimming
pool. This fact is supported by the last five years of record -breaking pool construction since the nation
emerged from the 2009 economic meltdown . This trend is destined to continue in numerous areas of the
state for 50% of new home buyers are millennials, many of which desire a home with a backyard that
contains a swimming pool, hot tub, or exercise pool. This is especially true given the experiences with the
onset of COVID-19 for families are staying at home more than ever. They want and need a staycation
environment where they can relax and spend time with family members and/or have a place to exercise.
In the swimming pool and spa industry, pool heaters, fire pits, fireplac es, decorative fire features, pizza ovens,
barbeques, outdoor ranges, and outdoor space heating all operate on natural gas. Together these elements
produce spaces in backyards that provide families a place for recreation, exercise, entertainment, and
relaxation. The pool and spa industry do es utilize solar heating and electric heating where possible, especially
for hot tubs, but there are no current alternatives to heating swimming pools especially in numerous
commercial settings, coastal and mountain residential areas of the state, or at night for homeowners. The
same is true for outdoor kitchens and recreational areas relative to fire pits, fireplaces, outdoor space heating,
and outdoor cooking equipment. It is hard to believe, in the name of reducing greenhouse gases, public policy
leaders are intent on taking barbeques, fire pits, decorative fireplaces , and spas away from consumers.
Moreover, these proposed bans on natural gas would effectively shut down every high school, college, and
resort swimming pools as there is currently no other alternative but gas to heat these commercial size
swimming pools that is affordable.
In addition to reducing greenhouse gas emissions, it would seem that one of the major goals in this
proceeding is to improve energy and housing affordability. We do not believe the elimination of natural gas in
California will accomplish either. Energy costs in California are extremely high as compared to the other
Western States. The cost of electricity from both traditional and renewable sources is significantly higher than
natural gas and not as efficient. Adding to the electrical grid by manufacturing, transporting, installing , and
building the facilities for more renewable electricity creates large amounts of greenhouse gases in and of itself.
Moreover, as to remodeled homes, the cost of converting these homes to electricity will add significant costs
for consumers. Many homes will require an electrical panel upgrade and new wiring, adding close to $10,000
to the cost of a remodel. Electrical costs for consumers are bound to increase due to the fact that many
electrical appliances are simply less efficient as natural gas, and electric utilities will be increasing monthly bills
due to the billions of dollars the California State Legislature and Public Utilities Commission are requiring
them to invest in new wildfire protections and costs associated with upgrading the electrical grid in California.
Wildfire costs alone will add $60 to $90 annually to utility electric bill according to recen t testimony provided
to the California Energy Commission.
The swimming pool and hot tub industry is an exceptional contributor to the California economy. In 2014,
PK Data, Inc. opined that the swimming pool and spa industry contributed roughly $5 billion annually to the
California economy. This number did not include costs associated with the pool remodeling industry or the
hot tub industry. In fact, California is the largest market in the world for swimming pools and hot tubs.
Moreover, the industry provides good-paying jobs in communities throughout California, supports numerous
individuals and firms that are in the construction subcontracting business, and employs tens of thousands of
people in the pool and hot tub maintenance and service business, estim ated at approximately 60,000
individuals statewide. Swimming pool contractors purchase their construction materials, i.e., steel, cement,
tile, sand, lumber, electrical, plumbing, and drainage materials locally, thus supporting other local businesses.
The economic effect of this industry is multiplied by the demand for pool/hot tub chemicals, toys, backyard
furniture, barbeques, outdoor kitchens, fire pits, fireplaces, and lighting desired by both commercial and
residential owners of swimming pools and hot tubs.
Swimming pools and hot tubs use only an estimated 4% of the natural gas demand in California,
whereas the problem the decarbonization is trying to address stems primarily from how residential
and commercial buildings are heated. The swimming pool, spa, and backyard appliance industry
should not be the target of these efforts and should be exempted from efforts to reduce the carbon
footprint from the way we heat residential buildings and indoor water systems. However, without
natural gas hookups in new residential and commercial construction, citizens of this state who
reside in these areas will be deprived of all the benefits associated with access to swimming pools
and hot tubs. CPSA would urge the City Council to focus the ir decarbonization efforts on the real
problem that has been identified and forestall any efforts to eliminate consumer choice by banning
clean natural gas in California.
Sincerely,
John A. Norwood
CPSA Director of Government Relations