Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAbout2/1/2022 Item 7a, Sletteland Delgado, Adriana From:Holly H. Sletteland <hslettel@calpoly.edu> Sent:Saturday, January 29, To:E-mail Council Website Subject:Clean Energy Choice Program This message is from an External Source. Use caution when deciding to open attachments, click links, or respond. I was so disappointed to learn that gas service is being installed in over 50% of new homes in San Luis Obispo under the Clean Energy Choice Program for New Buildings. Clearly, a stronger ordinance is necessary to overcome the reluctance of home buyers to try living in an all-electric home. We’ve been doing it for decades. I admit, I was reluctant at first, but in our case, our decision to purchase as driven by the many other benefits of the home. The house was built in the 70’s when nuclear was going to make electricity “too cheap to meter”. We could have retrofitted our home with propane, but soon realized that was foolish. Over time, we’ve upgraded the energy efficiency of the home with solar panels, added insulation, dual pane windows, a heat pump and most recently an induction range. We would never consider going back to gas. All electric homes are cleaner, more efficient and better for the environment. I urge you to adopt the staff recommendation to remove the natural gas compliance pathway for new buildings in the program. This is an absolute necessity if you are serious about meeting the city’s climate goals. Looking for alternatives only postpones the inevitable. We simply have to end our reliance on fossil fuels if we want to continue living on this planet. The sooner we do this, the better off we will all be. I am really frightened by the impacts we are already witnessing, and the tipping points we have already crossed. I’m now and “elder” and probably won’t live to see the worst. But if you care about the young people just starting out, you owe it to them to take stronger steps to transition to clean energy so they have a chance for a livable future. _____________________________________________________________________________ Holly Sletteland 1