Did you all get , read and understand?
Where will the electricity come from?
Fellow Residents,
As you may know, Menlo Park is contemplating an ordinance "to prohibit the installation of new gas equipment in buildings throughout the city." The ordinance would mandate the "conversion of gas, water and space heating to electric." It does not include gas dryers and stoves (because they do not currently require inspection by the city when replaced).
But in a September 17th, Palo Alto Weekly editorial, physicist Bill Zaumen asks:
" Where is this additional electricity going to come from? That a problem exists should be obvious:"
He continues: " … switching from gas to electricity for heating is going to be less effective in reducing global warming than one would think, and in the worst case — if demand got ahead of production — it could be counterproductive. Basically, switching from natural gas to electricity can increase greenhouse gas emissions if done faster than so-called clean energy sources can be built… We should be careful we do not inadvertently make the situation worse."
The name of his article is What most environmentalists don't know can hurt us.
I hope that before going forward with the very consequential and costly Menlo-Park ordinance, the City Council will gather some experts to publicly address Zaumen’s key question: Where will the electricity come from?
●We know that the demand for electricity will increase many fold. ●We know that all new cars bought in 2035 must be electric. ●We know that the nuclear power plant which now supplies 9.38% of California's power is scheduled to be retired. ●We know that our hydroelectric plants have been shut down because of drought; ● that our water-storage facilities need repair--should we ever get rain; ● that our current electric infrastructure is inadequate. ● And we know that power outages are massively inconvenient and dangerous.
You may not know that Governor Newsom declared a state of power emergency and in August the State authorized the building of 5 "temporary" gas-fueled generators to boost the State's grid. Cost? $171.5 million each.
We all care about the climate threat, so let’s be smart and cautious and certify that major and costly changes we introduce will benefit—not conflict with—our desire to do the right thing.
If you think, as I do, that we should get some academic electricity guidance before proceeding with the ordinance, you can let the City Council know at City.Council@menlopark.org.
