HomeMy WebLinkAbout9/3/2019 Item 18, Grady
Purrington, Teresa
From:John Grady <johngrady5@yahoo.com>
Sent:Friday, August 30, 2019 3:11 PM
To:E-mail Council Website
Subject:Council Agenda Item 18 - Clean Energy Choice
Dear Mayor and Council members:
I completely oppose your proposed ordinance regarding Clean Energy "Choice". Where's the "choice" in your
proposal? We currently have a choice in the energy we use in our homes. Your proposal removes our choice - or at a
minimum will cost us more to choose natural gas. So at least call this what it really is instead of using euphemisms in your
title. This is government run amok and government overreach of your rightful authority. You should instead focus on your
core responsibilities like filling our potholes, maintaining our sidewalks, providing police and fire protection, paying down
the pension debts, and running an efficient operation.
Your banning natural gas appliances is not going to impact climate change one iota. For this sort of policy to have any
meaningful impact it needs to be at least on a state level and preferably on a national level. You have no business taking
away our choice to cook with natural gas, heat our homes with natural gas, and heat our water with natural gas. Do you
seriously think that all electricity is from green sources? Natural gas is likely a much cleaner energy source than much of
the electricity we are now using or will use even with the new Monterey community electricity choice that will be coming.
We are decades away (if ever) from having all electricity produced being green energy. And by the way, is it true the City
is EXEMPT from these provisions should this become law? If true, you should be embarrassed and ashamed of
yourselves!
Natural gas is so much more efficient as a heat source (furnace, water heater, oven, stove top, etc.) and it allows instant
heat modification for stove top cooking. How many restaurants have you eaten at in your lifetime that are all electric? I
imagine it's zero! Ever heat a tortilla on an electric burner?
Lastly, you propose to offer reduced parking requirements and higher building heights to all electric
developments? What? Where is the connection between all electric developments and the need for less parking? Or the
tie in to further obstructing our views and access to sunlight by enhanced building heights? This proposal is
preposterous! Most developers have already been getting these concessions anyway so will they now get even more
height and even less parking? If you are going to offer something to encourage all electric (which I oppose), at least make
it logical - like reduced planning fees; not reduced parking or taller buildings.
I urge you to NOT take away our choice to remodel or build new homes that include plumbing for natural gas - or to
charge homeowners or developers more money who wish access to natural gas. This is an arbitrary decision on your part
and I believe you have no right to impose your will in this matter upon the residents of SLO. If you all so dislike natural
gas then YOU buy or build all electric homes, but please don't force your way of thinking upon the rest of us. I'd be
curious to know how many of you plan to replace all your home's appliances with all electric appliances? If you want go
out today and do this, but don't impose your will upon us.
Let the residents of SLO keep the free choice they already have.
Thank you.
John Grady
San Luis Obispo, CA
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