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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2/1/2022 Item 7a, Dominguez Delgado, Adriana From:Emily Dominguez <emily@sloclimatecoalition.org> Sent:Monday, January 31, To:E-mail Council Website Subject:Let's Fully Commit To All-Electric Buildings This message is from an External Source. Use caution when deciding to open attachments, click links, or respond. Dear Mayor Stewart and Council, I’m writing to you today on behalf of the SLO Climate Coalition in support of staff’s recommendation to remove the fossil gas compliance pathway from the Clean Energy Choice Program for New Buildings. Because program data from the past year shows that fossil gas is still being installed over half the time, we don’t believe our community can reach its climate goals without taking assertive action to commit to all-electric new buildings. The SLO Climate Coalition believes staff’s recommendation is consistent with SLO City’s goals and policies. It’s the right thing to do for the climate, our health, and for affordability. I ask you to take action on this issue and commit to an all-electric future.. Additional facts to consider as you make your decision:    All-electric buildings are healthier, cleaner, and more affordable.  o o o Gas appliances o leak o methane even when turned off. This is a huge problem for the health of our residents o and our climate. o o o o Children o living in a home with a gas stove have a significantly increased risk of developing asthma. o o o o All-electric buildings have been shown to be o cost o effective to build and operate. o o o o It would be costly for SLO to install fossil gas appliances in new buildings and then later retrofit o those buildings to remove the gas. o 1    SLO City is falling behind on climate leadership.  More than 50 California cities and counties have already committed to phasing out natural gas in new buildings. Our peer cities Santa Barbara and Santa Cruz have both committed to all-electric buildings.     SLO City is committed to achieving carbon neutrality by 2035.  SLO City will not reach this goal at the current rate of building electrification. It makes no sense to continue installing new fossil gas infrastructure in new buildings.  Thank you for considering a stronger commitment to electrifying new buildings in San Luis Obispo. The SLO Climate Coalition strongly supports this choice. Let’s put this issue behind us by electrifying all of our new buildings and focus our resources on bigger issues such as existing buildings and transportation. Sincerely, -- Emily Dominguez (she/her/ella) Climate Justice Organizer SLO Climate Coalition (805) 354-3516 emily@sloclimatecoalition.org To help protect your privacy, Microsoft Office prevented automatic download of this picture from the Internet. 2